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To mark this significant anniversary, an ecumenical team had put together a series of events that marked the movements of the friars in the first few months of their arrival in England. It began on 9^th September, with a gathering on the beach with a prayer and then a search for a stone with a hole in it (9^th 1&1a). The significance of this became clearer after we had walked to St Edmund’s Chapel, in central Dover, one of the few almost- 800 years old buildings in Dover. It was here that pilgrims came, with their holed stone, when they arrived on the English shore, so the friars would have followed this unusual, but already well-established custom. At the chapel, (9^th 2 & 3) the pilgrims would pray about the purpose of their pilgrimage – for healing, renewed faith, the well-being of their family, or whatever – before setting off on their journey to Canterbury. Canterbury – Rome was one of the main European pilgrim routes in medieval Europe.(9^th 4)

On 10^th September, after an early morning Mass on Dover beach, (10^th 1-3 )then a simple breakfast, two groups of pilgrims set off to walk to Canterbury (10^th 4-5). The main group walked the whole way, aiming to get to Canterbury by the early evening, and a small group (6 of us) went by car to Womanswold, and 5 of us (Christopher John SSF, Sian Yates TSSF, Pat Mossop TSSF, Judi N/CSF and Maureen CSF) then walked the rest of the way to Canterbury (10^th 2)  (the 6^th person walked part of the way then went back for the car),  arriving in time for the service of Evening Prayer  in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral, led by Christopher John. (10^th 6-8).

After Evening Prayer, attended by around 70 people including Roman Catholic Franciscans (Third Order Regular sisters, First Order friars, Third Order Friars, a Poor Clare, and Secular Franciscans) as well as Anglicans from the First Order sisters and brothers, and tertiaries, Companions and other friends, there was a short talk by a historian about the arrival of the friars in Canterbury. Those first friars very soon split into two groups, one remaining in Canterbury, the ecclesiastical centre of the day, the other group going to London, the economical and political centre. Within a few months, both groups having increased in number, they were able to establish a presence in Oxford, which with its new university was the educational centre of England. Subsequently, they spread to other locations, as well as expanding their mission and ministries in those places.

The following day, 11^th September, the Canterbury celebrations continued with Morning prayer (at 10.30 am) in the cathedral crypt, led this time by the Roman Catholics, and then an Anglican Eucharist in the Greyfriars gardens, ( 11^th 2-6 with no. 5 in 3 parts) the actual building (11^th 1) being inaccessible due to essential building works taking place. We had two short, brilliant sermons, very different from one another, from Samuel during Morning Prayer in the crypt and Micael Christoffer at the Eucharist in Greyfriars gardens.

The London-based celebrations took place on 17^th September, with the double celebration of 800 years since St Francis received the stigmata, as well as the arrival of the friars. After Morning Prayer in the Anglican Southwark Cathedral, groups of people made pilgrimage,(17^th 1-4) by a slow route, to the Roman Catholic Southwark Cathedral (St George’s) (17^th 5 & 6) for a midday Mass, followed by lunch and then time in the Lambeth Palace garden (17^th 7). The afternoon concluded there with a symbolic watering of some fig tree saplings of ecumenical significance, and a blessing.

The third part of the celebrations took place on Friday evening and Saturday morning, 20 and 21 September, in Oxford where, appropriately, the Saturday event was two lectures relating to Franciscans in England.

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On the 10th of September 1224 a group of Franciscan Friars arrived in Dover under the leadership of Agnellus of Pisa and from there travelled to Canterbury in order to ask for the Archbishop’s blessing on their Mission. This marked the beginning of the Franciscan Order in England (and in the United Kingdom as a whole). To mark this important date various events are being organised in September and more information may be found by clicking here.

Sr Elizabeth’s ashes were interred in the Cemetery at Hilfield during the Joint Provincial Chapter. As her mortal remains were lowered into the ground the Sisters and Brothers sang the Kontakion for the Departed. Sr Elizabeth was ‘Mother’ for fifteen years and lately served as a Sister and Priest in east London. She was 92 years old and in the 65th year of Profession in vows. May she Rest in Peace!

Br Micael was commissioned as an Edinburgh Street Pastor at a service in Bruntsfield Evangelical Church following a delicious meal. Micael has served as a Street Pastor in Canterbury and Newcastle and is now serving in Edinburgh. More information about the Edinburgh Street Pastors may be found by clicking on the link here.