KEEILLS WEEK 2007
Has Keeills Week become a fixture in the Manx calendar, I wonder? Last year the Lord Bishop felt strongly that many people on the Island were not aware of the ancient spiritual heritage here and he encouraged the churches to “claim” the keeills, which are the ruins of simple chapels often hidden in out of the way places. He wanted us to pray in them and to discover their potential for deepening our faith. Christians have worshipped God on this Island for one and a half millennia, a fact to celebrate!
This year the idea has gathered momentum and crowds came to Peel Castle on Sunday afternoon to walk with the Bishop between the three ecclesiastical sites there, praying the pilgrim psalms (121, 122 and 123) and being encouraged in our Christian pilgrimage by listening to the words of the great saints associated with the Island; Patrick, Ninian and Columba. The final station was the old Cathedral, filled that afternoon with people. We left invigorated and, as far as I was concerned, keen to continue the keeills week pilgrimage.
Rather like joining one of the historic pilgrim walks, this week has brought fresh discoveries every day. As we have walked together, gathering more people each day, new friendships have been formed and old friendships renewed. It is easier to talk about deeper things as you walk along. I will long remember watching a rain storm approaching from Ireland at Lag-ny-Keeilley, being drenched for the service and drying off by the time we had staggered to the top of Cronk-ny-Iree Laa. Another day, brilliant sunshine put a spring in our steps as we walked along the beach from Ballaugh old Church to Jurby Church. “Let the sea roar and all that fills it” was not particularly appropriate that day but we did have a splendid meditation on the beach. For our evening expedition, more than fifty people came on the coastal walk from Scarlett, past three sites of keeills to the important Balladoole Keeill where we said Evening Prayer. I walked at the back of the procession and could watch the long string of pilgrims wending their way. At Corrody Keeill, beneath Snaefell, my abiding memory will be of one of us, just back from walking to Santiago de Compostella, taking water from the holy well (walk in) and to our amazement, drinking the rather smelly liquid and pouring it over himself! On another day, miracles seemed to happen when some frail pilgrims managed to reach Saint Maughold’s well which is perched on the cliff edge.
Whatever sort of pilgrimage we make, we won’t be the same at the end of it as at the beginning. It is the nature of pilgrimage to change us. At Saint Matthew’s we are lucky to have a tradition of going to Walsingham. It has now been suggested that some of us go on retreat next spring, preferably to a community of monks or nuns where we can join in the rhythm of their daily prayer, enjoy the silence and peace and hopefully hear some talks to help us in our walk with Christ. If you are interested in coming, please tell Father Duncan or contact me (email :stmatthewsiom@aol.com). Please say if you would be prepared to take a car.
Barbara Bregazzi
Read more about retreats here
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Vicar's letter |
St. Matthew's Church, Douglas, Isle of Man