THE Bishop of Gloucester is setting out for his final one-day pilgrimage this weekend which will take him through the Cotswolds.

Bishop Michael, the Rt Revd Michael Perham, will be joined by a group of walkers as they make the 13-mile trek from St Mary’s Church, Westcote, to St Leonards, Lower Lemington on Saturday.

It is part of a series of pilgrimages Bishop Michael has been doing during his time in office.

His final pilgrimage, which takes place in June, will see him complete his ambition to walk through every parish on the boundary of the diocese.

During his time as Bishop of Gloucester, he will have spent 35 days walking across 438 miles, visiting 173 churches.

As part of his pilgrimage on Saturday, morning prayers will be held at St Mary’s, Westcote, midday Communion will be held at St Nicholas’, Oddington and Evening Prayers will be said at the finishing point of St Leonards, Lower Lemington.

Prayers will also be said at St Leonard’s, Bledington, St Mary Magdalen, Adlestrop, St Edward’s, Evenlode, and St David’s, Moreton.

The walk creates a chance to talk, pray and share and to appreciate God’s world at a more leisurely pace than normal.

Bishop Michael said: “There isn’t time and space here to explore all the reasons for going on pilgrimage, though it is an important spiritual theme.

"There has been the welcome and hospitality of the church communities we have visited, often with sufficient food that one needed to be on pilgrimage to walk it off.

"There have been significant conversations that have moved people on in their spiritual journey. There have been stunning views in the countryside and engagement with urban life in walking through the city and the towns.

"I invite you to look in your diary and, if you are fit and well enough, to see whether you could join me and my fellow pilgrims. You would be very welcome indeed. Come and be a pilgrim.”

To find out more and see the timetable for the day, visit experiencepilgrimage.org.uk