A new pilgrimage route from North Berwick to Lindisfarne in Scotland has been launched on October 22, 2017, East Lothian Courier reports.
Five Pilgrim Ways are being developed in Scotland, one of which is the Forth to Farne Way. It is a beautiful coastal scenery where tourists will journey along historical places related to the early days of Christianity in the European nation.
“After visiting the well the Countess was healed and she went on to put up a shrine here that became famous throughout Europe,” said Rev. Joanne.
Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, Patron of the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum and former Lord High Commissioner of the Church of Scotland formally opened the route at a service in St. Mary’s Parish Church, Whitekirk.
Whitekirk is a tiny village that pilgrims visited in the late Middle Ages. Rev. Joanne Evans-Boiten, minister of Athelstaneford, Whitekirk and Tyninghame, explained that they have a large church because tourists flock the small village for its holy well, reports BBC News.
She shared the story of Agnes, Countess of Dunbar, who defended the Dunbar castle in East Lothian against a siege. The countess asked a hermit to heal her injuries and he told her to drink the water from the holy well.
“After visiting the well the Countess was healed and she went on to put up a shrine here that became famous throughout Europe,” said Rev. Joanne.
Around 200 people attended the launch. After the service, light refreshments were provided to the guests. A group of people then walked a part of the route from Whitekirk to North Berwick.
The pilgrimage route measures 72 miles and is split into 11 stages. Each stage measures between two and 13 miles.
“The route goes through some very important places with a strong pilgrimage heritage, from Whitekirk itself to Coldingham Priory, which was one of the largest Benedictine monasteries in Scotland in its day,” said Nick Cooke, secretary of the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum.
Cooke added that future developments for the pilgrimage route include marking footpaths with stories about the sites and providing accommodation for visitors.
Sources:
East Lothian Courier
BBC News
