Walkers well sustained in body and soul

Dunedin Anglican Bishop Kelvin Wright (right), with bishop's chaplain John Franklin (left) and head of Church Army New Zealand Kelvin Wright,  turn off State Highway 1 at the Mill House on to the Waianakarua to Kakanui coast road yesterday on the last wee
Dunedin Anglican Bishop Kelvin Wright (right), with bishop's chaplain John Franklin (left) and head of Church Army New Zealand Kelvin Wright, turn off State Highway 1 at the Mill House on to the Waianakarua to Kakanui coast road yesterday on the last week of a 33-day pilgrimage. Photo by David Bruce
A 33-day pilgrimage around Otago and Southland by Dunedin Anglican Bishop Kelvin Wright is nearing the end. He reached North Otago yesterday, heading to Kurow and a final celebration in Dunedin's Octagon on Sunday.

Supported by his chaplain, John Franklin, and Church Army New Zealand head Phil Clark, Bishop Wright began the journey with a gathering in Balclutha on March 12. Another gathering was held on Stewart Island, the furthest reach of the Dunedin diocese, on March 15.

Along the way they have stayed in towns and villages throughout Otago and Southland, mainly walking but also using other forms of transport. The journey is to mark the bicentenary of the first Christian sermon preached in New Zealand, in the Bay of Islands by Samuel Marsden in 1814.

Bishop Wright said the pilgrimage was also a way to make contact with rural communities through the diocese.

Rural communities had supported the pilgrimage with gatherings, services and food.

Bishop Wright said the journey had certainly improved their fitness, but he doubted any of the three had lost weight.

''The food has been too good,'' he said.

Last Sunday, about 200 people from East and North Otago gathered at St John's Church in Waikouaiti for an outdoor service followed by a Victorian picnic and barbecue.

Bishop Wright was enjoying the walk and he said his feet were not sore. Yesterday, the men walked along the coast from Hampden to Maheno, where they spent the night after a pot-luck tea.

Today, they enter the Waitaki Valley, reaching Kurow on Saturday.

On Sunday, the journey concludes with an event in the Octagon.david.bruce@odt.co.nz

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