CPT - Centre for Practical Theology

CPT - Centre for Practical Theology Where theology meets practice.

Pilgrimage Stop: St. Martin’s Church, CanterburyRecognized as the oldest church in the English-speaking world still in c...
07/24/2026

Pilgrimage Stop: St. Martin’s Church, Canterbury

Recognized as the oldest church in the English-speaking world still in continuous use, St. Martin’s Church has been a place of Christian worship for more than 1,400 years. Long before Canterbury became a renowned pilgrimage destination, this humble church was where Queen Bertha worshipped and where St. Augustine is believed to have begun his mission after arriving in Kent in AD 597.

Together with Canterbury Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey, St. Martin’s Church forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of the beginnings of Christianity in England.

Final Pilgrimage Stop: St. Martin’s Church, CanterburyOur final stop on this UK pilgrimage brings us to St. Martin’s Chu...
07/24/2026

Final Pilgrimage Stop: St. Martin’s Church, Canterbury

Our final stop on this UK pilgrimage brings us to St. Martin’s Church, recognized as the oldest church in the English-speaking world still in continuous use.

For more than 1,400 years, this sacred place has welcomed worshippers and pilgrims seeking God through prayer, reflection, and community.

It was here that Queen Bertha worshipped before St. Augustine arrived in Kent in AD 597, and where his mission to establish Christianity in England is believed to have begun. Alongside Canterbury Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey, St. Martin’s Church forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of the Christian faith taking root in England.

As we conclude this pilgrimage through the UK, we are reminded that pilgrimage does not end when we return home. The journey continues as we carry what we have learned into our daily lives.

Thank you for journeying with us. Where might your next pilgrimage begin?

Pilgrimage Stop: St. Augustine’s Abbey, CanterburyFounded in AD 598 by St. Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury...
07/24/2026

Pilgrimage Stop: St. Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury

Founded in AD 598 by St. Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, St. Augustine’s Abbey played a central role in the spread of Christianity throughout England.

Once a thriving monastery and a place of prayer, learning, and mission, its ruins continue to tell the story of the Church’s earliest roots in the country.

Today, pilgrims visit the site to reflect on the courage, faith, and vision of those who helped establish a Christian community that would shape generations to come.

Pilgrimage Stop: Canterbury Cathedral & LibraryOne of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in the Christian worl...
07/24/2026

Pilgrimage Stop: Canterbury Cathedral & Library

One of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in the Christian world, Canterbury Cathedral has welcomed pilgrims for more than 800 years. Following the martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170, people travelled from across Europe seeking healing, prayer, and spiritual renewal.

During his journey, Rev. Dr. Jeff Crittenden also visited the Canterbury Cathedral Library, home to centuries of manuscripts, rare books, and theological scholarship. It is a place where history, faith, and learning come together, preserving stories that continue to inspire pilgrims today.

Every pilgrimage stop offers a new invitation to pause, reflect, and discover how sacred places can shape our understanding of God, ourselves, and the journey ahead.

Applications are open! 📢The United Church of Canada Foundation opened its Fall Grant Cycle. Applications are now open fo...
07/23/2026

Applications are open! 📢

The United Church of Canada Foundation opened its Fall Grant Cycle. Applications are now open for the Crittenden Pilgrimage Bursary.

Pilgrimage has a remarkable way of changing you. It invites you to slow down, notice the world around you, and discover something new about ourselves.

After spending time on pilgrimage in the UK this summer, we are reminded just how meaningful these journeys can be.

That’s why we created the Crittenden Pilgrimage Bursary. The bursary is designed to help make pilgrimage more accessible to those who may not otherwise be able to undertake the journey. It supports human-powered pilgrimages made on foot, by bicycle, by paddle, by wheelchair, and other self-propelled means.

You may be eligible if you:
• Are planning a human-powered pilgrimage.
• Are willing to share what you learn from your experience when you return.

If you’ve been dreaming of embarking on a pilgrimage, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. You never know, you may end up on a pilgrimage experience with us.

We encourage you to apply and to share this opportunity with someone who has been longing to take the journey.



📍 Pilgrimage Stop: Durham Cathedral, EnglandFor centuries, pilgrims have made their way to Durham Cathedral to pray at t...
07/23/2026

📍 Pilgrimage Stop: Durham Cathedral, England

For centuries, pilgrims have made their way to Durham Cathedral to pray at the tombs of The Venerable Bede and St. Cuthbert.

Rising above the River Wear, Durham Cathedral has been a place of prayer, pilgrimage, and worship for nearly 1,000 years. After St. Cuthbert’s remains were brought here in 1104, the cathedral became one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in medieval England, welcoming people seeking healing, hope, and a deeper connection with God.

The cathedral is also the final resting place of The Venerable Bede, whose scholarship and writings have inspired generations of Christians and historians alike. To stand before the tombs of these two remarkable figures is to encounter a place where faith, history, and pilgrimage continue to meet.

📍 Pilgrimage Stop: Newcastle Cathedral, EnglandDedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and travellers, Ne...
07/22/2026

📍 Pilgrimage Stop: Newcastle Cathedral, England

Dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and travellers, Newcastle Cathedral has welcomed worshippers and pilgrims for centuries. Standing in the heart of the city, it has long been a place of prayer, hospitality, and sanctuary for those journeying by land and sea.

Originally built as a parish church in the 12th century, it became a cathedral in 1882 and continues to serve as a spiritual home for the city and the Diocese of Newcastle. Its distinctive lantern tower has guided travellers along the River Tyne for generations, earning it the nickname “The Lantern of the North.”

For pilgrims, Newcastle Cathedral offers a place to pause, reflect, and reconnect before continuing the journey. Its rich history, beautiful architecture, and enduring witness to faith remind visitors that pilgrimage is not only about reaching a destination, but also about being transformed along the way.

📍 Pilgrimage Stop: St. Paul’s MonasteryThere is something profoundly moving about standing in a place where the Venerabl...
07/22/2026

📍 Pilgrimage Stop: St. Paul’s Monastery

There is something profoundly moving about standing in a place where the Venerable Bede lived his daily life. This was where he worshipped, studied, wrote, and spent his years as part of the monastic community.

Walking through St. Paul’s Monastery, it is easy to imagine the quiet rhythm of prayer, learning, and reflection that filled these grounds for centuries. Rather than simply reading about history, we were able to stand in the very place where it unfolded.

Moments like these are what make pilgrimage so meaningful. They invite us to slow down, connect with the past, and reflect on how places of faith continue to inspire us today.

Have you ever visited a place where you felt deeply connected to its history?

📍 Pilgrimage Stop: Jarrow, Home of the Venerable BedeThe Venerable Bede devoted his life to prayer, study, and writing a...
07/21/2026

📍 Pilgrimage Stop: Jarrow, Home of the Venerable Bede

The Venerable Bede devoted his life to prayer, study, and writing at the monastery in Jarrow. More than 1,300 years later, his words continue to shape our understanding of Christian history and pilgrimage.

One of the most memorable moments of the visit was seeing Jeff Crittenden’s book, Leisure Bound and Free, resting in the hands of Bede’s statue.

It brought a smile to Jeff’s face and felt like a beautiful conversation across centuries. One writer of pilgrimage standing alongside another, each inviting people to discover the spiritual richness of the journey.

🏰 Pilgrimage Stop: EdinburghA new stop on the pilgrimage brought us to Edinburgh, where history, faith, and breathtaking...
07/20/2026

🏰 Pilgrimage Stop: Edinburgh

A new stop on the pilgrimage brought us to Edinburgh, where history, faith, and breathtaking landscapes come together.

From the iconic Edinburgh Castle to the summit of Arthur’s Seat, every step offers a new perspective on this remarkable city.

The journey also follows the legacy of St. Columba, whose ministry helped shape the Christian story in Scotland. Visiting places connected to his pilgrimage is a reminder that faith is not only found in destinations, but in the journey itself.

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