The Archbishop of York continues his pilgrimage around North Yorkshire

PASSERS-BY seem genuinely amazed.

Again and again, people are shocked at the idea that they should meet the Archbishop of York, not at a formal gathering or in a church, but at their bus-stop, in their local shop, or in their workplace.

I spent one morning with Dr John Sentamu; one relentlessly wet morning on his six-month pilgrimage around the Diocese of York, but the goodwill expressed along the way was, I was told again and again, typical of the whole journey.

In Dunnington, primary school children cheered loudly as he walked past, high-fiving pupils beside the road and chatting away. Caroline Hancy, head teacher, said: "It's been such an occasion for the children. They have been talking about him coming for weeks."

In Scrayingham, earlier in the pilgrimage, villagers were equally bowled over. They said it was the first visit by an Archbishop of York for 271 years.

Across the region but perhaps particularly in small settlements and villages, residents appreciate the church coming to them.

Dr Sentamu says he was felt called, while praying in Northumbria, to emulate the northern saints, like St Aidan, who walked throughout the land talking to people along the way, who were always on the road.

Parts of his pilgrimage are clearly planned, itineraries arranged with local churches. He stops at every church he passes to say the Lord's Prayer. But there are also chance meetings.

In Dunnington, three elderly women greeted him excitedly while waiting for the bus. "Have you been skiing?," joked one, noting his walking poles. He shook hands, gave them prayer cards and headed on.

Along the way, he says, there have been remarkable moments. He says he led prayers at HMP Full Sutton, and 37 of 39 in the room came forward asking for one-to-one prayer. He says a father wanted prayer for his young son who had a painful condition, and says that almost immediately the boy's sores disappeared. Several people, he says, have reported feeling a loss of pent-up anxiety after prayer.

What will it mean for him?

Dr Sentamu has been here for ten years but turns 67 in June and Archbishops must retire at 70.

"The time is in God's hands," he says, when asked about his plans. "I have the energy to encourage the Diocese of York to be more engaged in praying and people are becoming very confident about the good news and in blessing all the wonderful things Yorkshire stands for."

He says one thing he has learnt afresh from the pilgrimage is the importance of simplicity. In a job where everyone wants a small slice of his attention and time, he seems determined that the power of his pilgrimage will not dissipate when he returns to Bishopthorpe Palace.

"One great lesson I have learnt, and I have always known it, is to make everything more simple, to simplify my lifestyle and my communications with people."

THE Archbishop of York took in Tadcaster during his six-month pilgrimage of prayer, witness and blessing, Ed Mezzetti writes.

Archbishop John Sentamu toured the town and met many of its people during the Ainsty Deanery leg of his walk. (He is pictured above meeting Martyn Sibley, headteacher at Tadcaster Grammar School.)

Between December 2015 and June 2016, the Archbishop is walking throughout the York Diocese to proclaim the Christian message.

His Tadcaster trip, which included the town's temporary footbridge across the River Wharfe and Tadcaster Grammar School, was captured on camera by Wendy and David Binns.

(Dr Sentamu is pictured below in Tadcaster. He stopped at Calcaria Carpets and is pictured with from left to right - Helen Christmas, Reverend Canon Sue Sheriff, Peter Carlton-Scott, Mel Pratt and Ian Turner. Photo by David Binns)

THE Archbishop of York also met employees at Drax Power Station.
Doctor John Sentamu met apprentices Matthew Hill and Alice Gill during his pilgrimage last week (pictured below). 

He said: "It was fantastic to be able to meet with a group of employees as part of my Pilgrimage of Prayer, Witness and Blessing at Drax Power Station. 

"I was very impressed by the opportunities and the training given to apprentices at the site. They are clearly enjoying working there! I was also encouraged to hear more about how those at Drax are finding and implementing innovative energy projects responding to the challenges surrounding climate change."