CAPTION: Bishop James travelled by steam train from Buckfastleigh to Totnes
Prayers, Trains and Walking Boots as New Bishop of Plymouth Goes on Devon Pilgrimage
The new Bishop of Plymouth is on a six-day prayer pilgrimage through south Devon from Exeter to Plymouth.
The Rt Rev’d James Grier, 48, was consecrated as a bishop at Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury on 29 September.
He is spending his first week in his new role walking through the Devon countryside stopping at churches and schools in some of the areas under his care (known as the See of Plymouth).
He said “I’m going on a pilgrimage at the very beginning of being a bishop because I wanted to force myself to slow down and pray for this amazing area of Devon.
The Bishop has been walking to churches and praying with the people he meets, including here at St Mary’s, Bickington
“I want to pray for its people, its churches, its communities.
“Most importantly, with the prayer, I want to talk to people wherever I go, to hear their God stories, or to hear their struggles and challenges.
“I want to hear their vision for their places and pray with them and for them for their communities.”
So far on his Going in Prayer pilgrimage he has been to Chudleigh, where he enjoyed a harvest supper at the parish church, Heathfield Primary School, where he had a chicken korma school lunch and a Q&A with pupils and Bickington, where he was treated to a cream tea in St Mary’s church and blessed the congregation.
Bishop James enjoying a Harvest Supper at Chudleigh Parish Church
On Tuesday Bishop James took his first ever steam train ride (he believes), travelling from Buckfastleigh to Totnes in the driver’s cab on the South Devon Railway.
He then visited St John’s church, Totnes, before walking to Harberton and Avonwick, praying with people at each church along the way, ending-up with tea and cake at St Petroc’s in South Brent.
Wednesday will see the bishop visiting Harford, Ivybridge and Ermington.
On Thursday he will travel through Yealmpton and on to Newton Ferrers, where he will attend an evening choir practice.
On Friday he will cross the river Yealm by boat, walking to Oreston Chapel before finishing his pilgrimage at St Andrew’s church in Plymouth.
Bishop James grew-up in Plymouth and was previously the Diocese of Exeter Mission Enabler and formerly a rural and urban parish priest in Birmingham, East Devon and Exeter.
His pilgrimage week will end with a welcome service, to which all are invited, at Exeter Cathedral at 3pm on Sunday 9 October.
