St Mary’s Abbey cemetery and tower, Virsey Island, Wiki Image: David Medcalf
Pilgrimage: Road to North Wales is currently broadcast on BBC 2 and IPlayer. In a tried-and-true format spanning six series, the three-hour episode follows seven British celebrities from different faiths and cultural backgrounds as they traverse the North Wales Pilgrims Way from Flint to Virsey Island on foot and by bus. Chasing (Innis Enri). The premise behind the original series was to have people of different faiths interact with each other during pilgrimages, an increasingly popular “non-faith” leisure activity.
Dotted with important sacred sites, including St. Weinfried’s Well to the east and the fabled Island of Twenty Thousand Saints (Bursey Island) to the west, the 220km route followed by these famous pilgrims is a much-maligned route. It is centered on Christianity. In the BBC series, the road winds between ancient chapels and holy wells dedicated to early medieval saints. Along the way, the pilgrims meet local clergy, including the Bishop of Wrexham. But despite this emphasis on Christian culture, this year’s pilgrimage conveys the message more clearly than in previous series: You don’t have to be religious to go on a pilgrimage. Looks like it’s coming.
This message is most evident in the BBC’s choice of performers. Of the seven pilgrims participating in the program, only one, Amanda Lovett, a Catholic, is listed as a religious believer. Most of her peers fall into the “spiritual but not religious” category. They include actor Tom Rosenthal, Springwatch presenter Michaela Strachan, former model Christine McGuinness and Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews. The other two pilgrims are Ishaan Akbar, a Catholic who disappeared, and Sonali Shah, who the BBC described as having been “raised in a Jain family”.
The Office for National Statistics estimates that almost three-quarters of adults in England and Wales probably belong to some religion, given that 37.2% of people identified themselves as having no religion in their latest census. can. This year’s TV lineup is therefore not a very accurate representation of religious practice and belief in the UK. Cynics might even suggest that the BBC is promoting the idea that formal religion is largely being replaced by a culturally inclusive ‘spirituality’. In the words of Daisy Scalch, head of religion and ethics at the BBC, it could be defined as ‘spirituality’. With heart and soul about who we are and what makes life meaningful. ”
Pilgrimage: Road to North WalesDescribed as a “spiritual hiking show” by one journalist, the show capitalizes on this universalized understanding of modern spirituality, particularly by adding a forest eco-retreat and a Buddhist meditation center to the pilgrims’ itinerary. are doing. The program also draws on contemporary spirituality and other Western cultural trends and values, particularly the growing demand for immersive tourism, the popularity of country walks to improve physical and mental health, and It strengthens the connection with “Celtic” Christianity, etc. existential question.
As a researcher specializing in emerging pilgrimage trends, and having participated in many walking pilgrimages myself, I was intrigued by how this year’s series was received by viewers. I analyzed his 108 social media comments posted by viewers of X (formerly Twitter) over a 48-hour period over Easter weekend. All I found was that the vast majority of commentators gave this show high praise.
A few people complained about the narrator’s attempts to pronounce Welsh place names, but other than that it was “amazing”, “fantastic”, “special”, “amazing”, “unexpected treasure” There were many compliments such as, and almost 1/10 were that person. A number of X reviewers have declared it “the best series of all time.”
What is it about this program that has sparked such praise, with 12% of social media commentators describing it as ‘powerful’ or ‘inspirational’? Similar to The Road (2022), the stunning countryside scenery and group dynamics were highlights for many. However, a notable number of viewers were fascinated by the emotional journey of self-discovery undertaken by the pilgrims and by the concept of God in relation to nature, an important aspect of modern spirituality. The idea of a “thin place” seems to have particularly struck a chord, even though it was not invented by George MacLeod, the founder of the Iona community.
Of the 108 comments about X, there was only one negative voice. Despite admitting that there were “some heartwarming moments” in the current series, the Welshman, an Anglo-Catholic, admitted he was “frustrated and frustrated” by the disdain for Christianity in particular. She continued, “I think the concept of ‘spirituality’ separate from any particular religious tradition is pointlessly vague.”
Of course, other critics may have stayed away from social media or avoided the series altogether. But judging by those who have expressed their views on X over the past 48 hours, the pilgrimage is well on its way to becoming a religion-free zone in the British public’s imagination.
Sister Gill Price FC commented on X/Twitter:
“Is the fact that Program 1 was broadcast on Good Friday the cause of the perceived lack of Christian engagement? It’s a shame that I didn’t mention Nofa Recreation Center as a place where I did that.”
