‘The Transformative Experience of Pilgrimage’
The essential event for pilgrims planning their journey to Rome on the Via Francigena – talks and Q&A led by experienced pilgrims.
The Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome will hold its annual conference on 14 March, at St. George’s Cathedral in Southwark. This event is a wonderful opportunity to hear pilgrim tales of their experiences on the Via Francigena and to learn from fellow pilgrims how to plan your own amazing journey on this historic route.
‘The Transformative Experience of Pilgrimage’ – our theme for 2026 will explore the ways a pilgrimage can impact and transform the lives of those who undertake them.
The day will begin at 10, for those who are able to join, with a guided walk – ‘The Southwark Pilgrim Adventure’, from Southwark’s Church of England Cathedral to St. George’s Roman Catholic Cathedral. The walk will be led by Pilgrims to Rome’s vice-Chair Brian Mooney, who has walked to Rome and back, and trustee Eamonn Mullally, an official City of London tour guide who completed the Francigena last year.
The official conference events will begin at 1 pm at Amigo Hall at St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark which is opposite the Imperial War Museum and close to Waterloo station. Tea and coffee will be served from 12.30 pm.
Conference programme
A Welcome by The Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome by Nick Dunne (Chair)
Talks:
Rev’d Dr Robert Wainwright – Sabbatical Journey – Canterbury to Rome in 85 days
The Rev’d Dr Robert Wainwright is Chaplain and Fellow of Oriel College, one of the oldest colleges in the University of Oxford. His principal responsibility is to pray with and for the students at daily services in the college chapel, and to oversee pastoral and welfare support. In his academic work, he teaches Early Modern Church History and he has published on Covenant Theology in the Reformation.Robert was raised in Scotland by keen hill-walking parents. For his sabbatical, he walked the Via Francigena in one go between March and June 2025. He chose to walk alone, hoping to cultivate a discipline of solitude, think about theological questions, and to spend quality time with God.
Dr. Victoria Field – Silence, simplicity and effort: pilgrimage and transformation
Victoria Field works as a writer and poetry therapist. She has published poetry, a memoir, translations, edited books on therapeutic writing, and has had two plays professionally produced. She is a Sessional Academic and an Associate in the Academy for Sustainable Futures at Canterbury Christ Church University where her doctoral research focused on narratives of transformation in pilgrimage. Together with her husband Eduard Heyning, she completed the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome in May 2025, walking it in stages over a period of seven years. Her earlier experience on the Camino to Santiago resulted in a memoir ‘Baggage: A Book of Leavings’ (published by Francis Boutle in 2016). She and Eduard collaborate on music and poetry performances, usually in sacred spaces.
Update – ‘The Francigena Britannica’
Updates on the Francigena Britannica and news from our European partners on the route across Europe – An update on Pilgrims to Rome’s extension of the Francigena from London to Canterbury which in October 2024 was recognised by the European Association of the Vie Francigene as an official extension of the Via Francigena. We will also have the latest on a new route into Rome and future plans on the Via Francigena
Q&A Pilgrim Panel
Come prepared with all your planning questions for the expert pilgrim panel.
The conference and walk are free to members. If you are a member, please enter the promo code included in the most recent e-newsletter or email events@pilgrimstorome.org.uk to receive it directly. If you are not yet a member, consider joining today to receive free tickets to the walk and the conference: Become a member
Tickets – free tickets to members for the guided walk and the conference will appear in the checkout when you enter the promo code and click ‘apply’. If you have any questions about tickets, please contact info@pilgrimstorome.org.uk
