Bishop's 330-mile trek across county

Bishop Price started on 4 May

The Bishop of Bath and Wells Peter Price is halfway through his 330 mile walk he is carrying out to celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of the diocese. He started on 4 May 2009 and is due to complete it two months later at Glastonbury Abbey.

Nearly 1,100 years ago it was common practice for bishops to walk or ride on horseback around their diocese as a way of building the church and spreading the message of God.

Between 4 May and 2 June 2009 the Bishop covered the Somerset coastline stopping off at Burnham-on-Sea, Weston-super-Mare and other towns, as well as parts of Wiltshire.

Bishop Peter Price said: "It's been brilliant, absolutely wonderful. It's been the best thing I've done in terms of (my) ministry because you meet such interesting people.

"You have such lovely conversations and you have the opportunity to walk around this beautiful county, which of course, is amazing."

'Great deal of goodness'

The walk itself is being carried out in several stages over 33 days across two months so that he can fit in his work and personal commitments.

"I had a significant family wedding in Ireland which I took part in and took the wedding service so we had to be away for a few days in the middle of it and other things that have kept us busy was the Royal Bath and West Show, where I am chaplain."

It's been brilliant, absolutely wonderful. It's been the best thing I've done in terms of (my) ministry because you meet such interesting people Bishop Peter Price

On 4 May 2009 the pilgrimage began with a walk up Glastonbury Tor where dozens of churchgoers joined him at this stage but throughout the pilgrimage people have welcome to join him.

"Personally and spiritually is that where ever you are in the country you meet people who are living their lives day by day and yet you find that they are involved in the most extraordinary things.

"What I sense is that there's a great deal of goodness out there; the media paints our society as one that's sort of dislocated but actually there's a whole bunch of really good things going on."

'Fancy dress'

This level of interest has remained constant from people who are not just regular church-goers.

"They welcome it too which is nice - one or two think I'm dressed in fancy dress and that I'm going to a party or something and then when they find out I am the real thing they get quite interested I think," he said.

During some of the longer stages of his walk, the Bishop has stayed at hotels, inns, friends' houses, or with local church wardens, while other stages have been possible to complete in a day.

"I was walking along quite a busy road the other day day and a chap came out the garage and said, 'you're the Bishop of Bath and Wells aren't you?' and said, 'I've heard about your walk I really think it's a great thing you're doing and I really wanted to come out and shake your hand,' and he walked along with me for a little bit.

"It was very touching that he should have made the effort to come out and talk with me as I was passing by and so that's been nice, and I've had some meaningful conversations, it's very touching; people have shared with me some of their problems, their concerns and asked me questions. It's been good."

The walk is set to finish on 4 July where the Bishop will be joined by other church leaders to walk to Glastonbury Abbey where a big celebration will be held to mark the 1100th anniversary of the Bath and Wells Diocese with live music, talks and drama.