Paths of Faith to Lincoln

Storm Darragh has thrown a spanner in the works.   It cut down our days of walking, and the storm, combined with the fact we were unable to find accommodation, meant that plans and destinations were changed.  

The storm meant that there was minor flooding where we were going, but more dangerous were the high winds.  Thus we decided to train it to Selby (we'd already booked the pub), and the next day we caught the train to Thorne, a place we had never heard of, and certainly wasn't on the itinerary.  From there we were able to get back on track and walk, along the canal initially, to Epworth. 

Heading to Epworth 

Heading to Epworth

In Selby we stayed in a pub with very peculiar heating,  creaky floor boards, and a sloping floor in the bathroom.   No heater was on in the room, which was very warm, and in the bathroom even the bath was warm when standing in it for the shower.

Leaving our pub we were greeted with a market set up at the door

Selby has a large, very striking Abbey Church, right in the centre of town, and opposite a very nice park.  On visiting the Abbey we discovered there was to be a special service later that afternoon and so we took ourselves off to it.  It was a service run for the hospice in York, for those who had lost loved ones during the year.   The music was splendid, the organ playing the carols during the service, and a brass band playing before and after the service.  I am not sure why, but Silent Night and Hark the Herald were in very high keys - it would have been nice if the organist had transposed them to a more singable key!

The Abbey at Selby

We were disappointed that circumstances were such that we couldn't walk from York as we had discovered that this day (and only this day) we would have been walking on the Camino Inglese to Santiago de Compostela!  Camino buffs reading this will understand the significance of such a name for a path.

The Camino Inglese - but it is only labelled on this section of about 20kms. 

We both really enjoyed Epworth, though apart from the pub, we didn't see much of it till the next day as we arrived yet again in the pitch dark - about 5.00pm!  We stayed in the Red Lion pub right in the centre of town, and went exploring the next morning before setting off.

The Christmas tree outside the Red Lion.

Before leaving Epworth we visited St Andrew's Church, where John and Charles Wesley's father, Samuel, was rector for 48years.  Apparently he was quite an unpopular rector, the rectory at one point being burnt down - nearly killing 6 year old John in the process.  John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Church, and his brother,  Charles, co- founder, has left a legacy of over 6,500 hymns - including Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and the favourite wedding hymn, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.  John was banned from entering the church in Epworth due to his radical views, but as his father's grave was the family's property he stood on that to preach, and the authorities could do nothing about it!  

A statue of John Wesley at Epworth. 

Samuel Wesley's grave on which John Wesley stood and preached.

St Andrew's Church, Epworth,  where Samuel Wesley spent 48 years as the Rector

The childhood home of John and Charles Wesley  - the old Rectory. 

It was a big day from Epworth to Gainsborough, though we did resort to taking a short cut.  Because we were unable to get appropriate accomodation there we headed to Lincoln, where we will spend 5 nights, catching buses back and forth.  At one point we slipped and slithered across the path that went through the centre of the farmers paddock.   It was clay, and we grew taller with every step, while our poles got heavier as the mud attached itself to the bottom.  My poles gave a slurping sound each time I pulled them out of the mud, and I had to keep checking that the rubber tip was still there.  Amongst all this though we were treated to several flights of geese honking their way above us.

Paths just go through the middle of fields.

Mud, on shoes, and on the poles 

Sometimes the paths were grassy.

The wild geese - so good to hear them again

The sun tries to shine!

Sharn was not feeling well, and so the next day, while she slept and recovered I walked to the village of Stow, catching a bus back to Lincoln in the afternoon.  

Lunch, just before Stow, a giant Yorkshire pud!

Again, right through the middle of fields. 

Stow is a very small village, with a very large Minster Church.  It was open and I was able to have a sing in it too.  The church was built in Norman times and the baptismal font dates from the 12th C.  Interestingly, the church was enriched and endowed with much by Leofric, the Earl of Mercia and his wife Lady Godiva.

12th C baptismal font

Inside Stow St Mary

Stow, St Mary

The next day Sharn was well enough to walk and we headed from Stow to Lincoln, through fields and along back roads.  Because we had spent quite a long time in Stow looking at the church, AND having a second breakfast in the tearooms we were set to walk along a busy road in the dark.  It was not very safe, and so I bailed up a couple turning onto the road and managed to persuade them to give us a lift a mile or so down the road to the outskirts of Lincoln, where we able to follow the path back to our hotel.  Sharn was impressed with my "hitching" skill!

Stow to Lincoln 

Only a few miles from Lincoln

As we walked into Lincoln we passed the Cathedral, dressed in purple light.

Other than the above photo, the delightful city of Lincoln, with its wonderful Cathedral, can wait till the next post.