The Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome secured formal recognition for the Francigena Britannica route from London to Canterbury. The European Association of the Vie Francigene (EAVF) General Assembly unanimously approved the route as the Via Francigena link between London and Canterbury. The newly recognized route allows for Via Francigena signage to be placed along the path. This recognition connects English church communities directly to the historic Via Francigena pilgrimage route leading to Rome. The Via Francigena is a 2000-kilometer historic pilgrimage route based on the journey recorded by Archbishop Sigeric in AD 990.
9 days ago
The Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome has announced the formal recognition of the Francigena Britannica as the northern extension of the historic Via Francigena pilgrimage route, linking London to Canterbury.1 This approval came via a unanimous vote by the General Assembly of the European Association of the Vie Francigene (EAVF) during a meeting on October 18, 2024, at Monte Sant’ Angelo in southern Italy.1 Permission has been granted to mark the route with official Via Francigena signage, enhancing its visibility for pilgrims.1
The Via Francigena is a 2,000-kilometer ancient pilgrim path from Canterbury to Rome, originating from the journey of Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, in AD 990.1 Sigeric documented his return from Rome in 79 stages after receiving his pallium from Pope John XV, with the record preserved as De Roma ad usque Mare in the British Library.1 This itinerary forms the foundation for the modern route spanning southern England, France, Switzerland, and Italy.1
Development of the Francigena Britannica began in 2019, adding 140 kilometers to the overall Via Francigena by connecting London to Canterbury.1 The path starts at Southwark Cathedral, proceeds through the Darent Valley, follows the North Downs Way and Stour Valley Path, and ends in Canterbury.1 It highlights landmarks such as the Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, Eynsford Castle, Otford Palace, Aylesford Priory, and scenic chalk grasslands, woods, and orchards.1 Resources for undertaking the pilgrimage, including route details, are available through the Confraternity's website.1
Nick Dunne, Chair of Trustees for the Confraternity, described the extension as a "physical and spiritual adventure" that connects English church communities to the broader journey to Rome.1 He emphasized how it fosters "pilgrim conversations" among diverse backgrounds, potentially revitalizing declining church attendance by increasing interactions between travelers and local parishes.1 Phil McCarthy, lead of the Hearts in Search of God project, hailed it as a milestone in rediscovering walking pilgrimage in England and Wales, enabling Catholic pilgrims to start from London to Vatican City.1 Overall, the recognition is expected to boost long-distance pilgrim routes amid growing interest in such travels.1
Via Francigena’s English links illuminate medieval pilgrimage theology
The Via Francigena, stretching from Canterbury through England and France to Rome, exemplifies the medieval era's "golden age of pilgrimage," where journeys to apostolic tombs like those of Saints Peter and Paul served as acts of devotion, penance, and cultural exchange across Europe. These English links highlight how pilgrimages embodied a theology of the homo viator—humanity as wayfarers seeking God amid life's exile—fostering spiritual growth through hardship, prayer, and encounters with sacred sites that mirrored the soul's journey to the heavenly homeland.
What aspect of this theology, such as its penitential or eschatological dimensions, interests you most in the context of the Via Francigena?