Fountains Abbey - Boxing Day Pilgrimage 2011

This year was the 25th(?)  annual pilgrimage on Boxing Day from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey.

This is the second blog page I have written about the event - See also yesterdays post - 

Fountains Abbey Pilgrimage - Fungi, Flowers, Ferns; Feathery and Furry Friends

Today's post deals with:-

Striding-out, Scenery, and Cellarium Song

(Scroll down for a video of the singing in the Abbey)

We haven't tropical forest in the UK but we are grateful

• that this Parkland exists - 
• that the magnesian limestone gives rise to a variety of lime loving plants -  
• that the National Trust who own the Abbey, and the main landowners between Studley Park and Ripon care for nature conservation now.

There was a service at the Cathedral before the pilgrimage - I arrived too late for that this year, but met the people here, near the Tennis Courts opposite the Spa Hotel in Ripon. On the far right you can see the Bishop (with crook) and Dean.

This path used to pass through the open field. Now a hedge has been planted. The white birch trees in the background have all been planted and grown since the walk started. In the foreground there are dead-heads of knapweed a wildflower - perhaps left so it can seed.

Short halt whilst we let others catch up.

At the end of that path  near Stuldey there is a big old Small-Leaved Lime tree - see the suckers - It could have been here even before the Monks founded the Abbey in the Abbey in the 1132

The gatehouse at the entrance of  Studley Park - (with the relatively new Studley church a head)

The Gatehouse from the other side - and Ripon Cathedral in the distance

At the entrance to Fountains Abbey Grounds we were allowed in free by the National Trust up till 12 o,clock - though donations welcome.

Another third of a mile - Approaching the Abbey. The blue flag with a white rose in it on the right is the Yorkshire Ridings Flag

The sun came out briefly and lit up Huby's Tower - this was one of the latest parts to be built before the dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539

Inside the cellarium (the long low hall where the grain used to be stored) -
people assembled - It was packed.
There were some loudspeakers outside
and we could look in through the windows

Looking in through a window

Making friends at another window -- and looking in ..

We sang carols - and there was a prayer which included thanking God for the beauty of creation and reminding us to remember our responsibility to look after it.

Here is singing at the Abbey:-

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The Bishop of Ripon after the service... and member of congregation drinking the welcome hot punch, (or coffee)

The band

A good view of the Abbey from the River Skell on the way home

Plenty of water today

A view back to the Abbey

More pictures at Fountains Abbey Pilgrimage - Fungi, Flowers, Ferns; Feathery and Furry Friends