Glastonbury Pilgrimages 2016

Every year since the early 1950’s the Glastonbury Pilgrimages have been held in Glastonbury. The first pilgrimage to Glastonbury in modern times was in 1895 to celebrate the beatification of The Last Abbot of Glastonbury Richard Whiting, on the anniversary of his martyrdom at Glastonbury Tor on 15 November 1539.

This year the Anglican Pilgrimage will take place on Saturday 9th July and the Clifton Diocese on Sunday 10th July.

The Anglican Pilgrimage commences with a Vigil Mass in the Undercroft of the Lady Chapel at 6.00pm on Friday 8th July.

On Saturday  9th July at 12.00 noon Solemn Concelebrated Mass will be sung in the Nave of the Abbey Church.

The Procession of the Blessed Sacrament will start from the eastern end of Glastonbury High Street, starting outside St John’s Church, from 2.45pm. The Procession will move off following the traditional route down the High Street, through the main Abbey entrance.

The Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Abbey for Solemn Benediction in the Nave of the Abbey Church will take place at 3.00 pm.

The Clifton Diocese Pilgrimage starts in St Mary's church, the Shrine of Our Lady, at 11.30am.

A Liturgy of the Word, commemorating the martyrdom of Blessed Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, and his fellow martyrs, Blessed Roger James and Blessed John Thorne in the Abbey Grounds, followed by the start of the procession at 2.15pm.

The procession exits the Abbey grounds through the Abbey House Gardens and proceeds through the town centre via Chilkwell Street, the High Street and Magdalene Street, returning to the Abbey through the Magdalene Street Gates, opposite the Shrine Church at approximately 3pm.

The Pilgrimage Mass will be celebrated by Rt. Rev. Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton, in the Abbey grounds at 3.30pm.

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