From a nine day trek round Richmond deanery to a parish walk round the Sanctuary Way, thy Kingdom Come, the ten day ‘wave of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost , in the Ripon Episcopal Area, included several examples of people enjoying God’s creation as they prayed.
Ripon Deanery organised a prayer walk following the ‘Sanctuary Way’ footpath which circles Ripon as one way of marking the Archbishops’ call to prayer.
The Way commemorates Ripon as a City of Sanctuary as granted by King Athelstan in 937AD as part of the Liberty of St Wilfrid. The Sanctuary Boundary of the settlement in those days, within which anyone could be granted sanctuary overnight was marked by eight Sanctuary markers that the footpath today follows this route is approximately 10 miles in distance.
Prayer & fellowship in the beautiful sunshine & surroundings was appreciated by all who participated. Starting at the Cathedral for Morning Prayer at 8.30am on Thursday 1st June the group were warmly sent on our way by Canon Paul, completing the prayer walk 4 hours later.
The Revd Yvonne Callaghan (pictured right), Area Dean of Richmond, the most northerly deanery in the diocese – and one of the largest – spent nine days between Ascension and Pentecost walking the deanery and praying for God’s Kingdom. Accompanying Yvonne on the 120 mile walk was her PA, Diana, and they put regular updates to friends and supporters on Facebook.
“The aim of the walk is to pray for God’s Kingdom to come among us in our communities”, said Yvonne.
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Meanwhile in Harrogate, churches came together for Thy Kingdom Come prayer events including a united half-night of prayer at St Mark's Church.