On Good Friday, 29 March, the BBC screens the first of three hour-long episodes of its series ‘Pilgrimage’ following seven celebrity pilgrims, of differing faiths and beliefs, on a spiritual journey across North Wales.
This, the sixth series of BBC Two’s ‘Pilgrimage’, takes the well-known personalities along the North Wales Pilgrims Way. The route celebrates Celtic early Christian saints, and concludes at Bardsey Island, or Ynys Enlli, Snowdonia’s “Isle of 20,000 saints” situated off the western tip of the Llyn Peninsula.
The series features the Catholic National Shrine at Holywell where Bishop Peter Brignall, Bishop of Wrexham, was filmed for a segment.
“Within hours of beginning their pilgrimage the celebrity pilgrims came to their first station, Saint Winefride’s Shrine and Well discovering the story of Saint Winefride and the reality of her life and faith,” said Bishop Brignall. “Inspired, enthused and invigorated they set off from Holywell across North Wales to the extreme westerly point of Bardsey Island.”
Bishop Brignall believes this early stop on the route helped the celebrities prepare for the pilgrim journey ahead:
“For many the National Shrine of Saint Winefride’s is a pilgrimage destination, coming in faith to give thanks, praise and glory to God; for others to discover and seek restoration, healing and renewal.
“For these celebrities it was an immersion – a baptism even – into the pilgrim life they were about to lead. This, in microcosm, is life’s journey; a journeying together providing strength and support, delighting in the companionship of sharing discoveries and joys, sharing sorrows and weaknesses.”
The celebrity pilgrims embarked on a two-week, 220km adventure from Flint Castle on the bank of the Dee Estuary, across the foothills of incredible mountain ranges, and taking on England and Wales’ highest peak Yr Wyddfa, or Mount Snowdon.
Picture from CBCEW: Bishop of Wrexham features on BBC series that follows celebrity pilgrims across North Wales – Catholic Bishops’ Conference (cbcew.org.uk)