Press & News Release 2
FINAL / FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION ( March 2015)
Discover the real meaning in Easter by walking on pilgrimage...
'Make Easter mean more by walking a pilgrimage journey' – the annual Northern
Cross pilgrimage prepares for its journeys through the Borders
PILGRIMS LOOK FORWARD TO A WEEK OF LAUGHTER, FELLOWSHIP, PRAYER, AND THE
EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. The annual Christian cross–carrying Northern Cross walking pilgrimage
to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne takes place once again during the week before Easter.
More than 80 pilgrims from across the country and abroad are making final preparations before the
annual Easter journey of the Northern Cross pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, in
Northumberland. Now in its 40th year, the walking pilgrimage is a reminder of the true meaning behind
the Christian festival of Easter to all who see the pilgrims pass.
To quote a previous pilgrim: “Pilgrimage is a shower for the soul.”
From the 28 March to 5 April, up to 80 pilgrims will journey through various parts of Northumberland and
the Scottish Borders, in 4 groups, known as 'Legs'. Most legs will walk around 70 – 120 miles during Holy
Week. Each group carries a large wooden cross as a sign of Christian witness. They stay in church and
village halls along the route, and join in with people of local churches for worship. The legs will gather
together on 3 April, Good Friday, to cross the Pilgrims Crossing to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The
dramatic bearing of these crosses over the tidal causeway sands and the arrival onto Lindisfarne on Good
Friday morning, mark the beginning of the pilgrimage's unique celebration of Easter.
Ken Williams, Overall Coordinator of Northern Cross 2015, said: “Northern Cross is a unique
experience, a week of fellowship that can be tremendously rewarding as we share a common pilgrimage.
Making this time for Easter, participants come from many different backgrounds, denominations and
ages, all have left daily routines to enjoy pleasant walking, new friendships, and joyful liturgy. Walking
together, we are boosted in many ways through experiencing the beautiful countryside, the local
communities and by sharing prayer, worship and song."
Northern Cross was founded in 1976 by a small group who walked from Penrith to Lindisfarne that first
year. Since then it has grown, and now typically consists of 4 or 5 main groups or 'Legs' as well as an
occasional Leg focused on those with children. Included in this year's pilgrims are walkers who will have
traveled from various distant locations.
Ken continued: “People may think pilgrimage is a historic concept, yet Christian pilgrimage is very much
alive, demonstrated yearly by the 5 million people who go to Lourdes, or the 200 thousand who walk the
Camino di Santiago. Northern Cross is another example of this. On pilgrimage we are removed from
many trappings of modern living, and just require whatever can be carried in a small bag. Cut down to
essentials - a pilgrimage is a chance to mirror life, to step back and look to see what the important things
are. You have time to look for meanings in life; or to work out things that trouble you, or just to reflect.”
“Northern Cross, and any walking pilgrimage, is a chance to get away from the demands of the world.
The destination alone is not solely important – it is a goal – but the important thing is to form a small
Christian group of people, travelling together on the road, using each others skills, helping with each
other's weaknesses, working as a team to achieve an aim. That community is an important part of
experiencing the Easter celebration and we share that community spirit with the places we pass
through.”
There are still places available for the pilgrimage. Visit www.northerncross.co.uk for information.
ENDS
For further information:
For more information please contact [email protected],
or call Michael Hanson, Publicity on 07799 002256 or Ken Williams, Coordinator on 07881 523745
PHOTO / FILM OPPORTUNITIES, FACTS & FIGURES – SEE NEXT PAGE
www.northerncross.co.uk
The overall coordinator of Northern Cross and the individual group organisers are elected each year, but
you can always contact us by n o r t h e r n c r o s s @ n o r t h e r n c r o s s . c o . u k
or write to us c/o Mike Blood, 43 Brynlea Terrace, Barrow Bridge, Bolton, Lancashire. BL1 7NB. U.K.
[please note this address is not to be re-published on media websites]
Press & News Release 2
FINAL / FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION ( March 2015)
Photo & film opportunities during the 2015 pilgrimage :
 Opportunities to photograph & film pilgrim groups during their journey are available between
Sat 28 March to Fri 3 April. Please contact us to discuss details for location and times.
 Crossing to Holy Island on the tidal causeway, Beal Sands, south of Berwick on Tweed,
gather at 10am, crossing will start 10.30am Good Friday morning, 3 April.
Details available to download, see: http://www.northerncross.co.uk/goodfriday.htm
 Easter liturgy, St Mary’s Church, Holy Island 8.45 pm. Easter Saturday 4 April.
& Easter Eucharist service, St, Mary’s Church, Holy Island. 10.45am Sunday 5 April.
(media photography inside the church must be confirmed with the local Vicar Paul Collins)
 Procession of decorated crosses through the streets of Holy Island, Easter Sunday, (after
10.45am Easter Eucharist service). Starts approx 12.15pm from outside St.Mary's church/by
St.Aidans statue to end by c.1.15pm. Sunday 5 April.
Notes to editors – facts and figures:
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/northerncrossuk or follow @northerncrossuk or hashtag #nx2015
Website: www.northerncross.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northern.cross.pilgrimage
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This will be the 40th year for the pilgrimage, which began in 1976 and has grown steadily
since. Pilgrims in 1976 walked to Lindisfarne from Penrith firstly, and originally had to carry all
their belongings. That route evolved to become Carlisle leg (with support vehicles), and
subsequently Lanark, Newcastle (then Hexham, Northumbrian & now Bellingham), Haddington
(now Dunbar) and St. Cuthbert’s (now Melrose) legs were set up and the routes evolved to those
walked today.

On Good Friday morning, 3 April, the groups join up at the tidal causeway to Holy Island and
cross the sands to Holy Island at low tide along the ancient pilgrim route, where they celebrate
Easter together with the local community. Around 100 or more people will cross the two miles of
sands with their wooden crosses.

Legs this year will start from Dunbar, Carlisle, Melrose and Bellingham. The pilgrims are
linked by their enthusiasm for walking through beautiful countryside (in all weathers), meeting
new people, sharing prayer, worship and song – in pubs as well as churches, and having a really
good time. Chaucer’s pilgrims were a mixed bunch – so is Northern Cross – young and old, from
0 to 80 and above, all walk with us. Most of the route is on small quiet roads, tracks or footpaths
and avoids any main roads. Many have walked before and return time and time again. Others
walk for the first time this year.
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Lindisfarne, a tidal island, was an important centre for the spread of Christianity in the 6 th to 8th
centuries, and was the home of St Aidan and St Cuthbert. Today the ruined priory, Norman
Church and other relics remind us of our Christian heritage, while pilgrims, visitors and the
people of Holy Island join together in a joyous celebration of Easter.

Funding support is available to help pilgrims in need, to walk Northern Cross.

Applications to walk can be accepted until the week we start, so it might not be too late to join...
contact us now, via the website www.northerncross.co.uk
For further information:
For more information please contact [email protected],
or call Michael Hanson, Publicity on 07799 002256 or Ken Williams, Coordinator on 07881 523745
www.northerncross.co.uk
The overall coordinator of Northern Cross and the individual group organisers are elected each year, but
you can always contact us by n o r t h e r n c r o s s @ n o r t h e r n c r o s s . c o . u k
or write to us c/o Mike Blood, 43 Brynlea Terrace, Barrow Bridge, Bolton, Lancashire. BL1 7NB. U.K.
[please note this address is not to be re-published on media websites]