THE Society commenced its new season with 106 members.

Tim Porter presented “Pilgrimages in Gloucestershire.” The Romans established pilgrimage centres at Bath and Lydney. Christian pilgrimages followed the Roman style and possibly both pagan and Christian pilgrims used similar routes.

In Winchcombe young King Kenelm ruled until murdered by his sister Cynfuth in 821. The local Christian community needed a saint to rival St Pancras, child saint in the East. So, “Martyred”, Kenelm’s sanctified remains in a shrine at Winchcombe became for 600 years an important place of pilgrimage.

Pilgrimage was important for the church. The remains of St Oswald held in the Danelaw area were seized by a raiding party and brought to a shrine in Gloucester.

Hailes Abbey was established in the 13th century as a contemplative Cistercian abbey : presented with another Holy Relic, stated to be the true blood of Christ ,it became a place of pilgrimage. For over 300 years and only 2 miles apart were two important places of Christian pilgrimage. Both were deliberately destroyed during the Reformation.

On 20 October the Society will hear “Folklore and Folksongs of Warwickshire and Worcestershire” .

JOHN ALEXANDER-HEAD