It was the perfect day for a pilgrimage and hundreds turned up at Ripon Cathedral this morning to take part in the four-mile walk of faith to Fountains Abbey.

The annual St Stephen’s Day trek from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey, attracted family groups, individuals, dog walkers and keen hikers.

Many came prepared for cold and rain but, as with last year’s pilgrimage, they found dry and pleasantly warm weather, with sunshine all the way to Fountain’s Abbey.

The pilgrims head up Kirkgate

The walkers followed in the footsteps of 13 monks who, on a cold day in 1132, walked from Ripon to a completely deserted valley by the River Skell.

This is where Fountains was established and the link with the church founded in Ripon by Wilfrid, who subsequently became the city’s patron saint,  was established and has remained to this day.

Fountains, which was one of the richest abbeys in England, closed in 1539 as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries ordered by Henry VIII.

Canon Matthew Pollard (pictured left), the Bishop of Ripon Anna Eltringham and Dean of Ripon John Dobson, prepare for the carol service in the cellarium.

The pilgrimage concluded with a carol service in the awe-inspiring vaulted cellarium of the ruined abbey. Musical accompaniment was provided by the Harrogate-based quintet Stray Brass.

The annual Boxing Day pilgrimage from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey will be held on Tuesday (December 26),

As in previous years, pilgrims who take part in the four-mile walk, starting from outside the Cathedral at 10.15am, will not have to pay to enter the World Heritage site.

An item about the pilgrimage in the events section of Ripon Cathedral’s website says:

“Please Note: Fountains Abbey is owned and managed by the National Trust and you may need to provide either proof of membership or pay an entrance fee to enter the abbey.”

However, on its website the National Trust, has confirmed that it is a free event for pilgrims and no prior booking is required.

For non-National Trust members, the standard admittance price for adults is £18 and £9 for children.

Prior to the start of the pilgrimage, pilgrims will be welcome to attend a Eucharist service in the cathedral at 9.30am

The walkers will follow in the footsteps of 13 monks who on a cold day in 1132, walked from Ripon to a completely deserted valley by the River Skell.

There they started their own community from nothing and Fountains Abbey was born.

The traditional event, which will conclude with a carol service in the awe-inspiring vaulted cellarium of the ruined abbey, has become a firm favourite in the cathedral’s Christmas calendar. In previous years it has attracted hundreds of pilgrims.

St Stephen’s Day in this busiest of years for Ripon Cathedral started with a Eucharist service, followed by a leisurely four-mile walk to Fountains Abbey.

The annual Boxing Day pilgrimage linking the two internationally famous and historic religious sites has been taking place in all weathers since 1976.

Bright sunshine and clear skies saw hundreds of pilgrims participate in this morning’s walk, following a procession led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson and children, who took it in turns to carry a cross along the way.

The pilgrims on the start of their journey head up Kirkgate.

With celebrations during 2022 to mark the 1,350th anniversary of the cathedral’s foundation by Wilfrid, this year’s walk had an added significance. as the pilgrims again retraced the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who were the original founders of the abbey in 1132.

A group of pilgrims arrive at Fountains Abbey

At the abbey, the hundreds who completed the walk from the cathedral were joined by hundreds more (pictured below) for a carol service held in the cellarium.

The service included readings, prayers and traditional carols, with musical accompaniment provided by the Stray Brass Ensemble.

Read more:

• Ripon Cathedral’s landmark year
• A message of hope from the Bishop of Ripon