Welcome

This project asks two key questions: Why did pilgrimage matter in the past and why does it still matter today?

To help answer these questions it focuses on the rich histories and contemporary stories of four important English cathedrals: Canterbury, Durham, Westminster and York.

As well as exploring the experience of pilgrims in the past, the research team is also asking those visiting and managing cathedrals today to share their own experiences and views through this website.

Discover more about the project, its aims and those involved.
See where we've been and what we've been doing via our blog.
View and upload photos about pilgrimage and visiting cathedrals.

Updates

Tiina on the Camino de Santiago in Spain
28th February 2018

What are some of the challenges faced when carrying out fieldwork in sacred spaces? Find out in this blog by project researcher Dr Tiina Sepp.

8th June 2017

Registration is now available for the Fresh Perspectives on Pilgrimage and Place Conference taking place on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th July 2017 at The University of York. There are only a few places left, so please await confirmation of your place prior to booking the dinner or making any other related arrangements.

The tomb of Venerable Bede
15th April 2016

‘Is there any one feature or area of the cathedral to which people/you personally feel especially drawn? Can you explain why?’ ‘What is your least favourite feature or area of the cathedral?’ These are some of the questions that we ask people who visit cathedrals or who work and volunteer there. Find out more in this bog by project researcher Tiina Sepp.

St Cuthbert's Shrine in Durham Cathedral
10th December 2015

Christmas has long been associated with receiving ghostly and spectral visitations. St Cuthbert died in 687, but nearly 500 years later he paid a special Christmas morning visit to one of his monks on the tiny Northumbrian island of Inner Farne.

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