Seeking God with all my heart - A 92-mile faith journey
Craig on Good Friday in Trentham, Staffordshire.
ON PALM SUNDAY 2025, Craig Bailey from the Open Table Chester community was baptised, and confirmed as a member of the Methodist Church.
The next day, he set out on a 92-mile pilgrimage along the Two Saints Way from Chester to Lichfield for the duration of Holy Week.
Here Craig reflects on his experience of becoming a Christian and committing to this journey of faith.
I wanted to undertake the Two Saints Way pilgrimage both as a way of fundraising for the Open Table Network, and also to allow myself time away from day-to-day life to reflect on the commitment I had made and to strengthen my relationship with God.
I had been planning the pilgrimage since early January and had familiarised myself with the Two Saints Way route and the various points of interest along the way.
“Sometimes our carefully made plans change, but God’s plans offer hope and a future.”
Overall, the experience was wonderful, and I was welcomed into many churches along the route - some who were expecting me and others who were not. Regardless, I received such a warm welcome and genuine interest in what I was doing, with several churches opening their doors especially for my visit.
There were challenges along the way, such as overgrown hedgerows, rotten stiles, missing signs, and even a collapsed bridge over the River Trent. At times, I felt frustrated when what had been a well-planned route ended up changing, but looking back I see that this was a fundamental part of the pilgrimage experience.
In life, we often strive to follow our own carefully made plans, and sometimes things simply don’t go the way we expect. During my personal testimony at my baptism, I spoke of scripture that has held personal meaning for many years, reminding me of God’s plans for each of us:
For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’
- Jeremiah 29:11–13.
I felt that God was guiding me throughout my journey. On day one, the Methodist Church Bible study focused on Hebrews 12:1–3: ‘Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith… Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.’ This gave me a deep sense of determination over the following days, as I felt that God was speaking to me and cheering me on.
I ended my pilgrimage at 9:30 am on Easter Sunday in Lichfield, where I was greeted by the Canon of Liturgy and Music, who allowed me a private moment at the shrine of St Chad before Holy Communion, followed by a short walk to St Chad’s Well where I was met by my partner and family.
In total, I raised £630 for Open Table. I was humbled by the amount of support and well wishes I received, as well as the generosity of those who donated to OTN.
