A group of walkers from a Lancashire church who trekked 30 miles are celebrating after hitting their fundraising target of £3000 - and the donation page remains open for now. 

The group, from St Matthew’s Church in Burnley, crossed the county boundary into West Yorkshire during their walk to raise the much-needed funds and enable more good work to take place in their local community, 

The walk was called ‘St Matthew’s to the Monastery’ because the final destination was the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield, home to a number of Benedictine monks.

The journey was both a pilgrimage and a sponsored walk. The group, from St Matthew’s Church in Burnley, slept overnight on Sunday night in St Mary’s Church, Todmorden and tonight (Monday) they will be sleeping in Halifax Minster. In the churches, and on the road, they paused to pray and reflect.

A good chunk of the money came in during the period of the walk itself while the rest has come in since, meaning that by August 1 the total stood at £3085. 

The group ranged in age from teenagers to people in their 70s. Some of them had hiking experience but most had never attempted a long distance walk over consecutive days.

They were joined by others for parts of the trip and were encouraged by associated events such as an online quiz.

The route for the first day of the walk was planned by Rev. Kat Gregory-Witham, Associate Priest at St Matthew’s and walk co-ordinator.

From Todmorden onwards however, the group joined the Paulinus Way, a pilgrimage route following in the footsteps of a monk who shared the Christian faith in northern England in the 7th century.

Excitement about this unusual expedition had been growing before it took place. Leon, one of the youngest walkers, said he was looking forward to ‘sleeping in different churches’.

Another participant, Hannah, when asked if she thought they would manage the distance said: “We’re gonna smash it!”. And they certainly did!

You can still donate online here: www.justgiving.com/page/stmatthewstothemonastery

Meanwhile, photos and updates of the journey were shared on the St Matthew’s Church Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/stmatthewsburnley/

Captions for the above pictures, top to bottom:

• Stunning Lancashire scenery stretches out in the distance ahead of the group from St Matthew’s as they continue their trek
• Rev. Kat Gregory-Witham (four from right, back row) and the group from St Matthew’s, Burnley, pause for a breather on their long trek

Ronnie Semley, July 2024