A special “pilgrim’s staff” has been unveiled by the Diocese of St Asaph to mark a year of celebrations on the theme of pilgrimage which will get underway in May.

The Year of Pilgrimage will be launched on Sunday 5 May and the pilgrim’s staff has been carved out of wood to mark the celebrations.  Now the staff will be taken by pilgrims on tour around Wales, visiting ancient churches, wells and other sites of spiritual and historic interest.

Created by Keith Price from Llandegla near Wrexham the staff is made of polished holly and includes a hook of ram’s horn for pilgrims to hang their coat on and also a scallop shell – the traditional emblem of pilgrimage.

The staff will be taken to Bardsey Island in May as walkers complete the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way to mark the start of St Asaph’s Year of Pilgrimage.  Pilgrim’s will then be able to borrow the staff to take it on journeys around churches and parishes to continue the celebrations.

Commenting on the creation of the staff, the Archdeacon of St Asaph the Venerable Chris Potter who is also Chair of the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way said:

“I think it’s a lovely staff, traditionally made out of holly and it’s a really sturdy stick to carry me across North Wales and several other people much further than that.

“We are hoping that it will go all across Wales in the coming months especially through our Year of Pilgrimage and we hope it will get around as many parishes as possible so that they can all enjoy it as well.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

Please find attached a photograph of the staff with Archdeacon of St Asaph the Venerable Chris Potter and Archdeacon of Wrexham the Venerable Shirley Griffiths.

The Year of Pilgrimage is being organised by the Diocese of St Asaph and will run from Sunday 5 May 2013 until Monday 5 May 2014. 

For more information please visit www.yearofpilgrimage.org.uk  or for the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way please visit www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org