Bishop of Hull to lead pilgrimage for Wilgils, the long lost Saint of Spurn
EXCLUSIVE
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
It’s cherished by birdwatchers and walkers and is an inspiration for artists, but a lesser known fact about Spurn is that it has its own saint.
His name is Saint Wilgils, a 7th century hermit who lived at the remote beauty spot on the East Yorkshire coast and devoted himself to prayer.
And now Wilgils is to be honoured in a Spurn Pilgrimage led by the Bishop of Hull, Eleanor Sanderson.
About 30 people have already signed up to the pilgrimage that will leave Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Spurn Discovery Centre near Kilnsea at 10am on Saturday, June 6.
The event is being organised by Philip West, Church of England Priest to the Churches of South Holderness Deanery. He began organising day and weekend pilgrimages between three South Holderness churches – St Patrick’s in Patrington (known as the Queen of Holderness), St Augustine’s in Hedon, and St Nicholas in Keyingham – four years ago and said they are “really popular”.
Mr West said he hoped the pilgrimage would help Wilgils become more widely known as he had helped revive Christianity in the area.
“It’s not very well known and I want it to be better known,” he said. “I started to organise pilgrimages in South Holderness where we walk to the churches, have a bit of a prayer and some silence and they are really, really popular.
“Then Bishop Eleanor discovered this saint was actually at Spurn and there’s not an awful lot known about him. But I think he was really important because he went there as a hermit to pray and eventually people joined him and a church was built.
‘HOLY GROUND’: Spurn Point
“These were days when the church was really fighting back after the Anglo-Saxon invasion had pushed Christians right to the margins of the country – Wales, Cornwall and Ireland is where the Britons went.
“So people like Wilgils were quite important. People would go there, get their faith and then go back and spread it around.
“Bishop Eleanor said we need to have a pilgrimage so we can reclaim this man – he’s a very important saint attached to Spurn. She wanted a pilgrimage and found out I’d been involved in them.”
He added: “It has the added attraction of being for a saint. We are hoping to have a fantastic day.”
Although Wilgils is little known, his son Willibrord is. Willibrord became a missionary to the Netherlands, where he is still known and celebrated.
One person who does know more about Wilgils is local historian Phil Mathison, whose book, St Wilgils the Saint of Spurn Point, was published in 2010.
Mr Mathison will give a talk on Saint Wilgils to pilgrims before they set out and will also sign copies of the book, which is published by Dead Good Publications and costs £6.99.
Mr Mathison said Wilgils was born somewhere between York and Ripon in 635AD.
‘THE SON IS MORE FAMOUS THAN THE FATHER’: Phil Mathison
“He took up Christianity and studied at Ripon Ecclesiastical Centre, which was the primary learning centre in the North of England,” he said.
“His son was born about 657/58 and they shared some time together at Ripon. It appears he then, in about 670, was told to go and take up a solitary life.
“In those days East Yorkshire was part of Northumbria – North of the Humber – and after thinking about where he could go he came to Spurn, which was then called Cornu Vallis, meaning Horn of the Valley. People then started coming to him.
“The stories are that his wife, before she gave birth, had a vision that her son would go on to great things. We don’t think Wilgils saw his son again but Willibrord went to the Low Countries and became the Saint of the Low Countries.
“He is revered there to this day and cathedrals and festivals are named after him. The son is much more famous than the father.”
Willibrord also founded the Abbey of Echternach. His father is thought to have died between 695 and 698.
“For some, Spurn is holy ground – a saint made his home there,” said Mr West.
He added: “Walking a pilgrimage has become very popular and routes are springing up all over this country. It can calm you, give you space to work out a problem, prepare you for a new challenge or new phase of your life.
“On Saturday, 6th June, we shall walk from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Discovery Centre near Kilnsea to Spurn Point to celebrate Saint Wilgils and his mission. Anyone is welcome to join in. You don’t have to be a church member or believe anything at all. We start at 10am. Please book in with me if you intend to join us.”
The pilgrimage is expected to end at about 4pm. Dogs are not allowed.
To register contact Philip West on 01964 603199 or email philipwest@pwwest.karoo.co.uk.
The image of Saint Wilgils at the top of this story is taken from the book Zwei Predigten am Geburtstag der glückseligen Willibrord und Wilgislus, or Two Sermons on the Birthday of the blessed Willibrord and Wilgislus, by Thiofrid von Echternach. The picture of Spurn Point is by David Nichols.