Sunday 7th April is traditionally known as ‘Low Sunday’, partly I think because after a long and solemn Lent, the busy-ness of Holy Week with all the thoughtful daily acts of worship and a devotional and emotional Good Friday, followed finally by a jubilant and joyous Easter Day, most Christians naturally feel a little low by the second Sunday of Easter: this week has been a week to reflect, take stock and rest, and I for one am glad of a slower pace.

Part of my resting has included a little bit of TV. One programme in particular has been an interesting if rather challenging watch. Pilgrimage: The road to Wild Wales (BBC 2) follows a group of seven celebrities of different faiths and non, walking across an ancient Celtic pilgrim way in North Wales, starting at St Winefride’s Chapel in Holy Well and ending at Bardsey Island off the coast of the Llyn Peninsula. The search for meaning and purpose is a driving force for most of the pilgrims, and all of them are open to exploring new ideas and experiences, but by the time we enter the second week of walking when tiredness is beginning to set in, it becomes apparent that there is a need for healing – from the pain of separation in particular – and a longing to find closure on issues which have held pilgrims back from living more fully and joyfully.

And so it’s a relief that as we approach the end of the journey the pilgrims are offered an experience which speaks of Easter and a rolling away of issues which have become a barrier and barred the way for them to new life. The final programme sees the pilgrims arrive at the mediaeval church of St Hywyn’s Church in Aberdaron, on the shores of the Irish Sea, where the poet RS Thomas was one time parish priest. Unable to continue to Bardsey Island due to bad weather, the pilgrims settle in the church and are met by the present day parish priest, who invites them to choose a stone from the beach to add to the prayer cairn which sits at the entrance to the churchyard. He kindly and gently prays with them and acknowledges their pain. He explains that the cairn is dismantled at the end of each month and the stones are returned to the sea, a washing away of all that is left behind. And so each pilgrim prayerfully and carefully choses a stone and symbolically attaches to it all the pain they have been carrying, before finally laying their burden down amongst the great weight which has been left here by other weary pilgrims who have also rested here and found healing and peace. Stones rolled away, burdens laid down, new life taken hold of.

Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Rev Anne Crawford, St Matthias, Richmond