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The Pilgrim Pastor

January 10, 2024

My name is Duncan Weaver and I am that Pilgrim Pastor appointed and funded by the Church of Scotland and the Episcopal Church. Since my appointment in November 2022 I have been seeking to get people walking along the Pilgrim Way and as they do so to take some time to ponder and reflect about their lives.

In my second year as the Pilgrim Pastor I have continued to lead a variety of different day walks for groups of individuals as well as already established groups. Some people have only managed three or four miles whilst others have done many more. Whatever the distance it has been wonderful to see people of all ages and fitness levels, of faith and of no faith enjoy walking in the wonderful fife Countryside and making new discoveries about themselves and their environment.

 

The highlight of the year for me was a five day pilgrimage along the route with eleven pilgrims drawn from across Scotland. Each day we walked together and then slept overnight in a church or church hall. A minibus carried our overnight kit as well as a camp bed for us to sleep on. It was a but rough and ready but it proved to be a rich experience as we spent the days together and shared our lives together over meals and shared times of worship. The penultimate day to Ceres was very wet indeed but the final day to St Andrews and the cathedral was in lovely sunshine and many of us enjoyed the refreshing waters of the North Sea to mark our finish. The short video below gives you a bit of a flavour of that adventure.

 

If you are thinking of planning a pilgrimage walk of whatever length please do get in touch as I am here to help.

 

Photo gallery

 

Pilgrims in the fog
Fife Pilgrim Way Trailhead St Andrews
Fife Pilgrim Way January 2024
Walking the way in January 2024
Fife Pilgrim Pastor Duncan Weaver
Duncan Weaver
Pilgrims in single file
FPW Waymarker
Single file on the FPW
The Fife Pilgrim Way near Ceres
Ceres FPW Trailhead
Across the Forth Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing Bay
Pilgrim Walkers
Dunfermline Abbey
Walking the FPW in May
Mining Heritage Sign

 

 

Duncan led a group of pilgrims along the Fife Pilgrim Way in May 2024, this video gives a flavour of their experiences.

 

Churches

Part of my role is to encourage the churches along the route to not only use the Fife Pilgrim way as a resource for spiritual growth but also use it as an opportunity to support those who are walking the way. Many of the churches are in the process of working on how best they can support pilgrims, especially those walking over several days, and there are some interesting developments in progress. St  Markinch Church of Scotland is now staffed and opened from April to October each day to welcome all and offer the use of facilities as well as information and chance to look around this historic church.

Ceres is also open daily and this church as well as others are looking at how they might provide accommodation for Pilgrims. If you are planning a walk along the FPW it is well worth contacting churches along the route to see where they might be able to offer welcome and support.

The following churches are on the route or close by and have websites.

 

Culross to Dunfermline

 

Dunfermline

 

Dunfermline to Lochore

 

Lochore to Leslie

 

Leslie to Kennoway

 

Kennoway to Ceres

 

St Andrews

For further details of these events or any other matter or event involving the FPW that you think I might be able to help you with do contact me by email pilgrimpastorfife@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook