‘Beating the Bounds’ is an ancient tradition where parishes walk around their boundaries, praying for, and asking God to bless the people and work. Participants from all the churches in Mission Community Two, Bury, sought to echo this in two ‘pilgrim’ walks, linking all the parishes.
The Revd Paul Sanderson, Vicar of St Stephen’s, Elton, prepared the walks, the first of which was on 19th August. It was all carefully timed so churches, where possible, were open, so hospitality could be offered and comfort breaks taken. Each walk is about five miles and includes rest, a picnic lunch and an opportunity for prayer. Paul even brought two reflective jackets for front and back markers. Drawing on the Northumbria Prayer Book, the group consciously paused and offered to the Lord their praise and thanksgiving as well as bringing their intercession.
The Revd Julian Heaton, Rector of Bury Parish Church and Mission Community leader, who attended the event, said:
“Walking together is a great opportunity to mix. As people from different churches, getting to know other people can be a bit daunting and opportunities are few. This will be but the first of a number of activities where we will mix together prayer and social life. It was a blessing and we are looking forward to walking the second part. As they say on that well-known Pilgrim Walk to Santiago de Compostella, ‘Buen Camino!’”