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Winchester Cathedral
Hampshire England United Kingdom
Pilgrimage

Winchester Cathedral Hampshire England United Kingdom Pilgrimage . Saint Swithun Shrine in the South of England in the county of Hampshire, a pilgrimage church site since the early Christianity times around 600 AD. First a decent cup of barista brewed coffee in the adjacent coffee shop , a peek at the cathedral guidebook before entering the cathedral.

Winchester Cathedral Hampshire England Pilgrimage

First - a little History Delving

" ...what first claims our attention is the Cathedral. This sacred edifice is, perhaps, the most venerable and interesting monument of antiquity within the compass if the island . Whther we consider the antiquity of its foundations , the importance of the scenes which have been transacted in it, or the character of the personages whose mortal remains it is enriched and hallowed .. "  proclaims a group of scholars around 1830 (M. H. C.)

• One of the monks , Thomas Rudborne, was an ancient historian of this cathedral around the middle of the 15th century. He stated that this religious structure was first built buy a British prince named Lucius in the second century of the Christian era. Rudborne wrote that Winchester cathedrals form was " the same it was ever worn, namely that of a cross " . 
• The church was dedicated in the honour of " The Holy Saviour" and the British apostles Fugatius and Duvianus
• It is understood that hey had been sent from Rome at the request of Lucius by Pope Eleutherius 
• However this church structure did not last long and it is thought to have been levelled to the ground 120 years later. A second structure followed but was thought to have been inferior to the first around the year 510 AD.
• Several pagan invasions later, upon the conversion of Kinegils , who embraced the Christian faith in 635 , after hearing the preaching of Saint Birinus , this ancient cathedral was still here and again functioning as a Christian cathedral. King Kenewalch, the son of Kinegils proceeded to complete its restoration and renovation. It is said that Saint Birinus was very pleased to see it completed in his lifetime and before his death he was able to consegrate it in the name of " The Holy Trinity " and the apostles saint Peter and Saint Paul in 548 

 Pictures of Winchester Cathedral
Hampshire England United Kingdom
Pilgrimage Photos and Journaling

• City of Winchester coat of arms picture above the historical city hall which can be found at one end of the High Street near the Saint Swithun bridge - look up to spot it . 

Winchester Cathedral Pilgrimage History 

• Winchester Cathedral is the first stop on the Winchester to Canterbury Pilgrim's Way also known as Pilgrimage Road or Old Road or Old Way.
• Saint Swithuns shrine in Winchester cathedral has become to set off point for this route, there is another beginning from London to Canterbury 
• The Shrine of Thomas Becket is traditionally why Canterbury became a pilgrimage road destination, after the martyrdom of Becket 
• As of yet I do not know much about Sant Swithun but am looking forward to learn as I begin planning my pilgrimage. 
• What does pilgrimage mean to me, you might ask. I will go perhaps into a little more details as I go along, particularly focussing on what pilgrimage is not for me. I prefer the immersive contemplative prayer pilgrimage rather than the hiking sprint as it were. But more on that another time 
• I am likely going to be able to visit Winchester cathedral several times, this month I am able to catch a lift for a day pilgrimage , so I am looking forward to praying in place. 

Winchester Cathedral Hampshire England United Kingdom Pilgrimage Photo Journal at Pilgrim on HolyGround 

• Just after the entrance is an information desk but there was no specific camino literature or pilgrimage information available at the desk. They had several children's trails for church stained glass windows highlights, a simple map in lots of different languages showing the cruficform layout plan map of the cathedral , and lists of the available christian services that day. I was told on some days there is an christian orthodox service beeing held near the shrine of St Swithin where there is a collection of icons displayed.
  
  
• An official cathedral guidebook is available in the coffeeshop which is situated outside of the cathedral, there is none available to purchase inside. 

PLANNING
Winchester Cathedral
Hampshire England United Kingdom
PILGRIMAGE

Saint Swithun Shrine

• I am hoping to learn more about Saint Swithun and the early christianity and Jesus movement in that part of the southern England, Hampshire country

Winchester Cathedral Rose

• I am hoping to get a good look at the Winchester cathedral rose window on my day pilgrimage, it will be worth taking a zoom camera as I expect it to be situated fairly high looking at the cathedral architecture style

Tickets Winchester Cathedral

• It is worth noting to purchasing online tickets Winchester cathedral entry is reduced price
• Sometimes coupons are available and there is an option to add one
  
• If you arrived at the front desk to begin your Winchester to Canterbury pilgrimage, you can request a pilgrims passport which can de stamped with the official Winchester cathedral pilgrims stamp. I discovered the at the cathedral coffee shop also has a stamp which is of a slightly different design, which I enjoyed asking for as I made my own personal Bible Study pilgrims passport which I like decorating. 

Winchester Cathedral Services today 

• Evensong, Evening prayer and other services are live-streamed for the congregation that can't travel to Winchester Hampshire Cathedral 
• During my pilgrimage visit prayer was " streamed" over loudspeakers several times, perhaps hourly. A reminder to wuieten, take a moment to pray for peace and the Lords prayer was offered to listen and join with wherever one founds itself on the hour. It was lovely to see the cathedral tourguides interrupting their " spiel" and inviting people to sit in the prayer niches of St Swithun shrine, like hundreds of thousands of pilgrims before the. A beautiful contemplative prayer minute. 
• Winchester cathedral Hampshire England united kingdom pilgrimage welcome stamps are available at certain times

Winchester Cathedral Tours

• Just inside the front entrance of Winchester Cathedral is a big noticeboard as to times that tours are commencing. I noticed visitors joining the crypt tour, there were general historical tours as well as plenty of tour guides for pilgrims journeying to pay Jane Austen their respects as she is buried here. Hoping to discover if there are any specific pilgrimage Winchester cathedral tours or only general historic ones. 
  
  
• DAY 1 of my Winchester Cathedral Pilgrimage - Photo Diary and Journali ng

What is a Pilgrimage Church? 

Churches for Pilgrimages in England

• in the olden days they often held a relic or revered sacred item of a martyr or saint, many times with certain healing miracles attributed to them
• The expectation of a blessing, a favour or a healing encouraged many to travel to be in the vicinity of the venereted item
• Shrines and pilgrimage churches developed for particular saints and  destinations of religious biblical events
• Through worship, confession and contemplative prayer the inner connection to God is sought after in these liminal places
• particularly in pilgrimage cathedrals the architecture served to inspire awe, veneration and a sense of transcendence
• What is a pilgrimage church in England. Major cathedrals such as Canterbury cathedral with the shrine of Thomas Becket, Winchester Cathedral with the shrine of Saint David and Durham cathedral honoring Saint Cuthbert are but a few. Pilgrim's ways with varying starting points developed over time and many a pilgrim prayed his way along the many winding journeys taken. 
• Cathedrals are also home to the bishops seat of a particular christian diocese , and their art, venerated relics and stained glass filled chapels invite reflection and contemplative prayer along the pilgrimage road. 
• For me sacred travel, immersive pilgrimage with contemplative prayer and a slowing down to experiences God's presence in place keeps me centered and firmly facing GOD as I walk my path. Knowing that I am standing on Holyground , where countless other feet have taken off their " proverbial" sandals to encounter God in prayer is at certain times deeply palpable. 
• So for me the question of what is a pilgrimage church is answered by the way I sense holyground that is cared for, walked upon and blessed with His grace. How one encounters it, whether hiking , walking, wheelchairing or riding a horse is a deeply personal decision, it becomes pilgrimage when the heart faces GOD at all forward motion. 

Bible Dictionary - What is a Pilgrimage Church - P for Pilgrimage

• Saint Helena Holy Sepulchre Pilgrimage Church in Jerusalem , Calvary, Golgotha
• Calvary / Golgotha  meaning the place of the skull
• the spot near Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was crucified
• scripture reference in the gospel of Matthew, Gospel off Mark 15: 22, Gospel of Luke and Gospel of John
• Here jesus was placed in the sepulchre 
• Saint Helena  erected the church of the Holy Sepulchre at this place which became one of the earliest christian pilgrimage churches

What is a cathedral?

Origin and Usage of a Cathedral 
Online Bible Dictionary Free Study at Pilgrim-on-Holyground.com

• a cathedral is the principal church building in a Christian diocese
• the name cathedral comes from the latin tern " cathedra" which means chair, seat to throne , as in a seat signifying spiritual authority 
• The first cathedrals as we understand them today developed in the early church , the beginnings of Christianity when people were free to build places of worship. 
• The word " cathedra;" does not appear in the bible , neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament uses this exact term. However many biblical scholars link both its symbolic role as well as its architectural stature to places of worship that do appear in the bible, biblical places like the Jerusalem temple describe in 1 Kings 6 and 2 Chronicles 3 as well as synagogue in Luke 4:16
• Other sacred places of worship and focus of Gods presence on earth in the bible also have similarities with todays cathedral symbology like the Tabernacle in Exodus 25-27 
• Saint Paul refers to the whole community of the church as the  " Temple of God" in 1 Corinthians 3:16  and Ephesians 2:19 -22 for example
• In the medieval era ( approx 1100 - 1500 AD ) cathedral constructions flourished across Europe.
• There were many different architectural cathedral styles such as the Romanesque cathedral, the imposing Gothic cathedrals as well as later Renaissance cathedral architecture. The addition of bible scripture stories told in church stained glass windows, adding tall spires and vast spaces evoking a sense of transcendence and awe served to function as a representative structure of the majesty of GOD. 
• When a cathedral is present in a town, that town becomes known as a CITY, which the cathedral as the christian heart and centre for worship, education , community fellowship , social care and as a showcase for contemporary as well as traditional christian art. 
• Many cathedrals are pilgrimage destinations , some very famous across the whole of Europe like Chartres Cathedral in France, Saint Peters Cathedral in Rome , Winchester to Canterbury Pilgrims's Way Cathedral in England UK, 

return from Winchester Cathedral Hampshire England United Kingdom Pilgrimage to main page of What is a Cathedral 
Winchester Cathedral History Scholar Resourced
- (M. H. C.) Milner, Husenbeth, Charles around 1830

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" A Pilgrims Margin"
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