The Archbishop of York has released data taken from his iPhone detailing the distances covered during his 6-month long Pilgrimage of Prayer, Witness and Blessing which concluded yesterday in York Minster. According to the data, the Archbishop’s 1,627,226 steps amounted to a walk of 1,578 miles (2,359.5km).
“The longest walk on the Pilgrimage was a 16-mile trek (25.7km) along the route from Wilton to Redcar, and out onto The Gare – the most northerly point of the Diocese of York,” said Archbishop Sentamu. “In total I have walked 1,578 miles (2,539.5 km) wearing my reliable Chris Brasher boots and with my walking poles. I have taken 1,627, 226 steps. I have climbed 1,204 floors. I have walked in all weathers, rain, wind, hail, sleet, snow and glorious sunshine.”
In addition to the distance covered, the Archbishop also revealed other facts and figures from the Pilgrimage in the Diocese of York - an area of 2,661 square miles - which began on 1 December in St Mary’s Church, Whitby and finished on 22 May 2016 in York Minster.
“I am very grateful to Welcome to Yorkshire and Sir Gary Verity, who arranged for a support vehicle, supplied by JCT600, which covered 12,814 miles (20,622 km) during the pilgrimage.
“I’ve prayed with 25,100 people using prayer beads, and saying the Lord’s Prayer as well as singing a TaizĂ© chant in over 480 churches. I also said prayers in most schools and hospitals. I have visited 148 schools, including nursery pre-schools, primary, secondary and sixth form colleges, where the standard of teaching and the level of learning taking place is excellent. I have visited 22 hospitals and hospices along the route. Throughout the Pilgrimage we have distributed many booklets exploring how one encounters Jesus Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit; 60,000 book marks and prayer cards.