She said: “I’m delighted to be taking part in the launch of
The Way of St Hild which is a really exciting route celebrating the
importance of Hild to both Hartlepool and Whitby and recognising the
huge contribution she made to our Christian heritage.”
Following this service, a number of walkers and runners will depart St Hilda’s Church, bound for Whitby.
A
small number of guests – including Sue Snowdon, the Lord-Lieutenant of
County Durham, Councillor Brenda Loynes, the Ceremonial Mayor of
Hartlepool, Gill Alexander, the Chief Executive of Hartlepool Borough
Council and Bishop Sarah – will be transported to Whitby on HMS Example,
an Archer-class patrol vessel of the Royal Navy. This is particularly
fitting as it is believed St Hild herself would often have made the
journey between Hartlepool and Whitby by sea.
Ultra-distance
runner Sharon Gayter – who set a new record in 2019 by running the 822
miles between John O’Groats and Land’s End in 12 days, 11 hours and 7
seconds – also plans to run the 48 mile route on the day.
In the
afternoon, a short service of reflection will be held at Whitby Abbey at
2:30pm and The Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, Bishop of Whitby, will then lead a
service at St Hilda’s Church in Whitby at 4.00pm. He said: “Hild’s
remarkable life came to a climax in Whitby and it will be very special
to be part of the launch of The Way of St Hild on International Women’s
Day. I hope many people will join in the celebration services at
Hartlepool and in Whitby, where I look forward to welcoming Bishop Sarah
to preach.”
The creation of The Way of St Hild – which will use
existing public rights of way and established National Trails – has been
supported by the Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, Dean Emeritus of
Durham, who said: “The Way of St Hild is offered as a journey that
carries multiple significance. It begins and ends with churches
associated with St Hild herself, a traditional way of setting out on and
completing a pilgrimage at a sacred site. But the journey also embraces
the many contrasting natural and human environments of this stretch of
coastline, and helps us understand the long history of these landscapes
both before and since Hild’s time”.
Events taking place to mark the launch of The Way of St Hild are open to all.
www.hartlepool.gov.uk/way-of-st-hild