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New signs aim to put Reading on the map for Santiago pilgrims
21st March 2022
Plans to revive a historic English route that medieval pilgrims used to walk to Santiago de Compostela in Spain have taken a big step forward as signs pointing the way have now been put up throughout Reading.
The signs are part of an ambitious project to revitalise St. James’ Way, an ancient path linking Reading, itself an important historical pilgrimage site, to Southampton.
From there, medieval pilgrims would have embarked on a boat to northern Spain to continue their journey to Santiago de Compostela, whose world-renowned cathedral holds the tomb of St. James, a disciple of Christ and one of the most revered saints for Christians.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world trek each year to the imposing cathedral in Santiago, the third most visited pilgrimage destination in the world for Christians. Pilgrims often walk hundreds of miles along a network of paths or “caminos” that radiate out from Santiago to points all over Europe.
The historical route through England still exists but is relatively little used by pilgrims today. The hope is that by clearly and consistently waymarking the route - eventually all the way to Southampton - it will encourage many more pilgrims to take the path.
The distinctive dark blue waymarkers with yellow arrows and a scallop shell – the symbol of St. James - will help pilgrims, walkers, and families who set out along the route to enjoy their experience and keep on track.
The project to waymark the full 68 miles/110-kilometre length of the St. James’ Way, will see a total of 430 waymarkers put up in Berkshire and Hampshire over the course of this summer. It was launched by the Confraternity of St James (www.csj.org.uk) and its main sponsors, the Association of Councils on the Camino Inglés, or English Way, to boost pilgrimage along the path.
The starting point for St. James’ Way is the Church of St James in Reading, built within the vast grounds of Reading Abbey, which was an important place of pilgrimage before it was mostly destroyed in 1538 as part of the dissolution of the monasteries ordered by King Henry VIII.
What drew pilgrims to the abbey was a holy relic, the reputed “Hand of St. James”, which is thought to have been given to the abbey by its founder, King Henry I, in the 12th century. Hidden by the monks, the hand was rediscovered in 1786 by workers building Reading Gaol.
From Reading, the route runs through Silchester, Alresford and Winchester to God’s House Tower in Southampton, retracing the footsteps that a typical medieval pilgrim would have taken to travel from church to church to the coast before boarding a boat to Spain. Nowadays a detour to Plymouth or Portsmouth to catch a ferry, or to Southampton airport, secures further passage.
Before setting off on this modern-day pilgrimage, a guide to St. James’ Way and a pilgrim passport (known as a “credencial” in Spanish) are essential kit. These can be obtained from either the Confraternity of St. James or Reading Museum (open Tues. – Sat., 10am – 4pm).
Pilgrims who continue on to Spain must present their passports filled with stamps obtained at churches, cafes and hostels along the way to the Pilgrim Office in Santiago to receive a devotional “Compostela” certificate, acknowledging their achievement and the distance they have walked.
Pilgrim stamps are currently available at churches along the St James’ Way. The most notable being St James Church in Bramley, that reportedly has the largest known pilgrim stamp anywhere!
David Sinclair, a CSJ volunteer overseeing the operational side of the waymarking project, said: “This mammoth project to firmly establish the St. James’ Way as a UK Camino has been an aim of the CSJ for over 30 years. We are immensely pleased, along with our partners, to see these waymarking steps take root in Reading. We hope this initiative opens the path for many individuals to put on their walking gear this summer and, as a pilgrim, discover the St. James’ Way.”
Alex Brannen, Reading UK, said: “Visitors are set to discover Reading’s history as the medieval departure point for pilgrimage along the Camino Inglés to Santiago de Compostela. The 68-mile-long St James’ Way starts in Reading and is now waymarked through the town. Complemented by the Reading for Modern Pilgrims free map guide and a new film showcasing Reading’s pilgrim heritage, modern pilgrims and walkers can now set out confidently in the footsteps of 12th century pilgrims.”
Find out more:-
Reading for Modern Pilgrims film
