July 2010
A priest from Edinburgh has completed a 350-mile pilgrimage to Walsingham in Norfolk to raise money for his church and Christian Aid.
Father Simon Tibbs, assistant curate at Old Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, walked from the Scottish capital to the famous Norfolk shrine as a thanksgiving for his ordination.
As a long-standing Christian Aid supporter, he also wanted to mark a sense of solidarity with the poor.
‘The walk was obviously very physically demanding,’ said Fr Simon, who averaged 15 – 20 miles a day.
‘But there was also the sense of, what would this be like if I didn’t have enough money in my pocket for food or enough medical supplies? And if I wasn’t just using my holiday to do this, but this was it; if you had to walk for life, not for sanctification?’
Father Simon, 39, carried only a tent, sleeping bag, carry mat, medical supplies and spare underwear.
Using a mobile phone, Simon updated his Facebook and Twitter pages as he went, earning him the nickname ‘cyber-priest’ and around 400 ‘virtual’ supporters.
‘I am interested in using modern media to connect with people who may not have an established faith,’ he said.
‘Traditionally on a pilgrimage, you walk with others. I found support from strangers along the way, but the virtual community became a real boost towards the end, when I was finding that I was getting more and more solitary.’
A faithful friend
Simon set off from Scotland accompanied by Poppy, his five-year-old Vizla dog
‘You can’t sink too far into your thoughts when you are walking with a dog,’ said Simon. ‘You’re constantly checking she isn’t lost!’
When Poppy stepped on some glass near York, she had to return home, leaving Simon to complete his pilgrimage alone.
Christian Aid supporters put Fr Simon up en route.
‘The family of support and concern for the poor, linking up as I went down the country, was brilliant,’ he said.
Support along the way
Eldred Willey from Christian Aid’s Norwich office, met Fr Simon in Walsingham, which he said was ‘a delight’.
‘I was greatly encouraged by Fr Simon’s commitment to Christian Aid. He immediately strikes you as a spiritual person – deeply reflective and intelligent. It had clearly been a tough journey, and he deserves all the sponsorship he managed to raise.’
So far, Fr Simon has raised £1700 and he remains ‘cautiously optimistic’ that this will reach his goal of £5,000.
Donations can be made online at: http://www.everyclick.com/fathersimon
