Pilgrimage

Welcome to Reading, a modern destination with a medieval history. Reading is the departure point for modern pilgrims and walkers retracing the steps of medieval pilgrims along St James’ Way to Southampton and then on to Galicia in north-west Spain to join the Camino Ingles, one of the routes of the world-famous Camino de Santiago.  Reading has lots of things to do and see while you are here, including a number of important pilgrim sites and religious landmarks as well as history and heritage activities, so take a day or two to explore Reading's medieval history and get your Pilgrim Passport stamped before you set off on the St James’ Way. 

Pilgrimage in Reading

Throughout the Middle Ages, Reading and Caversham were recognised centres of pilgrimage. The focus in Reading was Reading Abbey, which possessed over 230 relics including the Hand of St James, which made Reading the centre of the cult of St James in early medieval England. On the other side of the River Thames was the Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was visited in person by Queen Catherine of Aragon as late as 1532. Both were dissolved in the late 1530s, after which the location of the Shrine of Our Lady was lost to local memory, and has only been re-identified in recent years.

Our map guide will show you where all the places of historic or pilgrim interest can be found. Don't miss Reading Abbey Ruins, the Abbey Gate and Forbury Gardens, St James Church and the modern Shrine at St Anne's Church in Caversham, as well as Reading Museum, where you can get your pilgrim passport stamped. 

During your pilgrim visit to Reading, take the time to visit some key places:

• St James’s Church in Reading Abbey Quarter. The church marks the starting point for people setting out on the long-distance walking route, the St James’ Way and is one of two places to get your trail passport stamped (also in Readng Museum).

• Reading Abbey, founded in 1121 by King Henry I, which held over 230 relics including The Hand of St James, one of Christ’s disciples.  Now in its 900^th year, the Abbey Ruins are a popular visitor attraction in the heart of Reading.

• The Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham, a leading shrine to the Virgin Mary located in Caversham in medieval times, was closed down during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. A modern shrine, which includes a shrine chapel with a statue of Our Lady and Child, exists at the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Anne in Caversham.

Walking the St James' Way

The St James’s Way is a long-distance walk of 68 miles running from Reading Abbey south to Southampton, and part of the Camino Ingles/English Way, the network of pilgrimage trails that run as far north in England as Durham to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where St James is buried. This route will soon be marked with the scallop shell, symbol of the pilgrims to Santiago, and the yellow arrow to point you in the right Camino. 

Get your passport stamped at Reading Museum ands then head to St James' Church in the Abbey Quarter, the departure point of the Way. Stamps all count towards your Compostela. Buen Camino! 

Useful information and links

• More information on the St James’ Way and the Camino Ingles (English Way) in Galicia.

• How to get your pilgrim passport

• Maps and guides for Reading for Modern Pilgrims