A cyclist riding part of the Cathedrals Cycle Route which links all 42 Anglican cathedrals in England in one 2,000-mile cycle, has lost her Pilgrim Passport along the way.
Lost Pilgrim Passport – Have you seen it?
Susan Womersely lost her passport while cycling the 68-miles between Carlisle and Newcastle cathedrals with the Durham Redstarts, a women’s cycling group.
The A6-sized Pilgrim Passport was produced by the Association of English Cathedrals (AEC) as part of a national campaign, Discover Cathedrals Discover Pilgrimage in 2020.
The passport is available to anyone and is full of inspirational quotes, prayers, a checklist of cathedrals by region, and blank pages for visitors to record their thoughts and get their passport stamped at every cathedral they visit.
Susan had collected 26 cathedral stamps in her passport over three years!
She said:
“I was very sad to find I had lost my pilgrims passport when I arrived home from our most recent trip from Carlisle to Newcastle cathedrals.
“I had enjoyed collecting the stickers and stamps from each cathedral and sharing these memories with the other ladies, so it would mean a lot to get it back and continue to add to the collection.“
The passport was lost on the weekend of 13 and 14 July somewhere between Carlisle and Newcastle cathedrals.
The Redstarts, who began to cycle the Cathedrals Cycle Route in 2021 and hope to complete them all, left Carlisle Cathedral on 13 July, made one stop at Lanercost Priory and then overnighted at The Sill YHA.
On 14 July they left The Sill, and made one stop at the Halcyon House Cafe in Corbridge before ending the ride at Newcastle Cathedral.
Susan, who has cycled to 15 of the 42 cathedrals (an estimated 400 miles) said:
“It would be great to get my passport back, but more than that I’m hoping this will be good promotion for ladies and cycling and of course the cathedrals and the Cathedrals Cycle Route.”
The passport has Susan’s name inside. If anyone has picked it up or remembers seeing it please email: anne.locke@englishcathedrals.co.uk so that we can return it.
The Cathedrals Cycle Route (CCR) links all 42 Anglican cathedrals in England in in one 2,000-mile cycle route.
It was launched in 2021 with a relay challenge taking in all 42 cathedrals, and since then many cyclists have participated in rides between cathedrals, fundraising rides and independent all-cathedral rides.
It was set up by entrepreneur and keen cyclist Shaun Cutler from Northumbria University to help us all out of lockdown with opportunities for cycle rides between cathedrals, new partnerships and fundraising for activities to support physical and mental wellbeing through a unique partnership between the Association of English Cathedrals and Cycling UK, with the support of Sustrans, the British Pilgrimage Trust and Northumbria University.
A second relay taking in the whole CCR is expected to set off from Bradford Cathedral in 2025 to mark Bradford City of Culture.
Pilgrim Passports are available from cathedral shops or here.
