Day three of Bishop Chris’s pilgrimage of Cornwall –

Bishop Chris is keeping a diary of his travels along the #Cornish Celtic Way and you can follow it each evening on Facebook: Click for Facebook

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley…

Except I didn’t have to dream because today I had tea there. More of that later.

Today felt like a really big day, in every sense. Physically it’s been quite challenging. It’s probably the longest stretch I’ve done so far, about 13 miles or so when all the little bits and pieces are added in, with a lot of up and downs. But it’s been absolutely magnificent! On the south coast it’s been sunny all day with a nice cooling breeze, which has been appreciated. And again it’s been lovely with about half a dozen people or so walking different sections of the route with me today, with more people waiting at each of the churches we’ve come to.

I started out at Schlerder Abbey, a wonderful Christian community where I stayed overnight, then down to Polperro and out on the coastal path along to Lansallos. That was the probably the hardest stretch but rewarded with incredible views. The church there was like many I saw today, deliberately tucked away and hidden from the sea. The folk were very welcoming and it’s been a delight to me again that the people who greet us feel part of what we’re doing, as well as those who walk. I’ve been able to pray with them and do what I do at every church, leave a packet of seeds from flowers grown around St Germans Priory, spreading a bit of St Germans throughout Cornwall.

Something I’ve come across over the last couple of days, but today in particular, is the recurrence of the legend of Joseph of Arimathea visiting these lands and shores with Jesus as a child. The legend was around Looe, Looe Island and Polruan, where the church is called St Saviours by way of connection.

At Lanteglos by Fowey there’s a beautiful church, a bit like a Tardis, seemingly bigger on the inside than the outside! After being regaled with delicious pasties, I walked to Polruan where I caught the ferry then up Readymoney Cove and joined the Saints Way. Originating at Fowey, it goes across to Padstow and I’m looking forward to following in the footsteps of the early missionaries.

It was at Tregaminion that I had my encounter with Manderley. I was met by Sir Richard Rashleigh who very kindly invited me to Menabilly, his family home that was once rented by Daphne Du Maurier and inspired Manderley in Rebecca. So I didn’t just dream I went to Manderley, I went there for tea – and very nice it was too!

To find out more about Bishop Chris’s pilgrimage and how to join him click here: Join Bishop Chris on the Pilgrimage of Cornwall