Walking the parish

On September 3 the Aberdeenshire congregations of Blairdaff/ Chapel of Garioch, Cluny, Echt/Midmar, Kemnay, Kintore and Monymusk united to form Bennachie Parish Church of Scotland. In advance of the union, the churches decided to celebrate with a Walk-the-Parish Pilgrimage.

The River Don, which flows through the new parish, was one of the routes of St Machar’s early mission to the local Picts in the 6th century. On the weekend of August 12-13 the congregations followed in the footsteps of some of these early Christian missionaries. Over two days, a total of 40 members from all the congregations walked all or part of a 31-mile trek from Kintore to Echt, stopping to worship at each of the eight church buildings in the new parish. Seven walkers covered the full distance, many more participated in one or more stages and the Presbytery Moderator, the Rev Stella Campbell, joined in for part of the walk.

Apart from the walkers, many more joined the services along the way, sharing in the prayers for the new union and providing refreshments for the journey. A fair crowd gathered at Echt church to cheer on the 20 walkers who finished the pilgrimage together, and the weekend concluded with a lavish barbecue at Echt Hall.

The pilgrimage was led by the Rev Neil Meyer and his daughter, Christine, who walked the Camino de Santiago from St-Jean-Pierde-Port in France to Santiago de Compostella last year. The Rev Euan Glen led the team providing logistical support for the pilgrims and cheering them on at each of the pilgrim services along the way, and the Rev Sheila Mitchell led the team that provided the hospitality at the barbecue on the Sunday.

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