More than 600 people gathered at St Albans Cathedral on Easter Monday or a day of reflection, celebration, and community as part of the Diocese’s 79th annual Easter Monday Pilgrimage.
A tradition stretching back nearly eight decades, the pilgrimage brings together people from across the Diocese and further afield. Some walk all the way from their home churches, others join along the route, and many travel by car, bike or bus. Among the crowd this year were visitors from as far as Hong Kong and Iran.
The theme of the day was Joy, inspired by Psalm 16 and Matthew 28, and explored through reflections from two local ordinands: AJ Wade, who will soon begin serving as Assistant Curate at St Mary’s Church, Marshalswick, and Becki Chafe, training at St Luke’s Church, St Albans. Their reflections were about how the joy of the Resurrection shows up in our lives.
Prayers were led by young people from St Andrew’s Church, Biggleswade, offering a thoughtful contribution to the service.
The celebration concluded with communion, led by the Bishop of Bedford, the Rt Revd Richard Atkinson, and finished on a high with the rousing Easter hymn Thine be the Glory, sung by hundreds inside the Cathedral.
Churches from across the region shared their experiences, many of them walking miles to reach the Cathedral. Flitwick Parish Church said: “We made it!!! Pilgrimage from Flitwick to St Albans over 2 days … 24 miles…. 62,000 steps and we picked up a few extra walkers along the way!”
From Watford, members of St John’s and St Luke’s walked eight and nine miles respectively. “We walked beneath a canopy of grace, with hearts open and spirits eager,” shared St John’s. And St Michael and All Angels, Birchwood summed up the mood of the day simply: “Easter Monday Pilgrimage 2025 lived up to its name—JOY.”
Among the many walkers, a team from St Mary’s Church, Baldock took on a 24-mile route—just shy of a marathon—raising an impressive £1,500 as part of their pilgrimage. They set off early on Monday morning, walking the full distance from their church to the Cathedral in time to join the afternoon celebration.
Reflecting on the day, organiser Alex Huzzey said: “There is nothing like the St Albans Easter Monday Pilgrimage for sheer unadulterated Easter joy. The nave was rammed with adults, dogs and children gathered from all over the Diocese as we raised the Cathedral rafters with our worship and celebrated together the joy and new life of the Resurrection.”
Next year marks a major milestone: the 80th Easter Monday Pilgrimage. Organisers are already planning for what’s expected to be an even bigger celebration. Whether you’ve joined before or are new to the tradition, all are welcome.
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