Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, will visit the Diocese of Sodor and Man from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September for a weekend of pilgrimage, prayer and worship with churches and communities in the Isle of Man.
During his visit – part of Faith in the North’s focus on pilgrimage across the Province – Archbishop Stephen and the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Rt Revd Patricia Hillas, will walk around 25 miles, sharing conversation and prayer with people along the way.
On Friday afternoon the pilgrim group, which will include local people, will walk from the Sound Café in the south of the island, past Spanish Head to Cregneash, concluding their journey with Evening Prayer at St Peter’s Church in this historic village.
This being the 10th anniversary of the Triskelion Way, on Saturday morning, Archbishop Stephen and Bishop Tricia will walk a circular route, taking in stretches of the Triskelion Way, Spooyt Vane Waterfall and Glen Wyllin. In the afternoon, they will walk from Ramsey to Maughold in the north east of the island.
The day will conclude with Evening Prayer in Maughold Parish Church which will include an opportunity for all attending to renew baptismal vows, using water from the ancient well of St Maughold.
On Sunday morning, Archbishop Stephen and Bishop Tricia, led by a giant puppet of St German himself, will meet at 10am at the ancient cathedral located within Peel Castle and process to Cathedral Isle of Man, arriving for a service there at 10.30am. All are welcome, with the Archbishop preaching and presiding at this service.
As not everyone will be able to join the physical walk there will be a special drop-in event, ‘Pilgrimage in Place’ which will include opportunities for silence, and for prayer activities on Saturday 26th from 10 to 12 noon at St Andrew’s URC Church (St Ninian’s Crossroads). Everyone is welcome to drop in for as long or as little as they wish. Prayers and poems will include those featured throughout the weekend and there will be a special recorded message from Archbishop Stephen.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Archbishop Stephen said
“There is massive interest in pilgrimage at the moment. I think it’s because in a fast-moving world in thrall to things shiny and new, many of us are looking for something slower and tested by time. Pilgrimage can’t be hurried. It doesn’t happen on a screen. It takes the time it takes. It puts you back in touch with ancient pathways and time-honoured wisdom. It has always been a way of encountering God and discovering that the whole of life can be a pilgrimage. It is the best antidote to today’s quick fixes.”
Bishop Tricia said
“The Isle of Man has many ancient places and routes where saints and people of faith have been before us. Their faith and lives still shape us today. We can encounter the same God today that they knew hundreds of years ago. Stepping out, physically or mentally, can take us on a life-giving journey of discovery and encounter.
2026 is the Year of the Manx Language, a year-long, Island-wide celebration of the Manx language. This will help shape some of the prayers and liturgy in the churches across the pilgrimage focussed weekend.”
Opportunities to join the Bishop and Archbishop include:
Friday 25 September at 4pm
– Manx Evening Prayer in Cregneash Church – Archbishop Stephen will be teaching.
Saturday 26 September at 6pm
– Evening Prayer at Maughold with the renewal of baptismal vows, the Archbishop will be speaking.
Sunday 27 September at 10.30am
– Service at Cathedral Isle of Man in Peel, the Archbishop will be preaching and presiding.
Faith in the North offers an invitation to seek together the renewal of prayer, storytelling and church planting. Throughout 2026 it has had a key focus on pilgrimage including the launch of its Pilgrim Places Network, resourcing and encouraging each church to see itself as a place of pilgrimage.
You can find out more about Faith in the North
and how your church can become a Pilgrim Place at the Faith in the North website