The Bishop of Lichfield is part of a band of modern-day pilgrims battling the elements to walk from Shrewsbury to Lichfield this week.
The Right Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave set off with a group of recently-ordained curates from across Lichfield Diocese on Sunday on the Chad 2 Chad pilgrimage which stretches over 50 miles.
They are traveling along parts of established long-distance footpaths including The Severn Way, The Monarchs Way, Staffordshire Way, Heart of England Way, arriving in Lichfield for St Chads Day celebrations on Thursday 1 March.
Working with local parishes; the pilgrims will be involved in a variety of evangelistic events in areas including Shrewsbury, Wrockwardine, Telford, Shifnal, Tong, Brewood, Wheaton Aston, Penkridge, Cannock Wood and Lichfield.
The pilgrimage emerged following a challenge from the Archbishop of Canterbury for bishops to prioritise five days of their time in the year to engage in intentional evangelism alongside new clergy to help them develop their skills. The first leg in the original St Chads Church in Milk Street (pictured above), Shrewsbury, along with the new St Chads in Shrewsbury- where the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Right Revd Mark Rylands preached - and Shrewsbury Roman Catholic Cathedral. It will finish at the cathedral in Lichfield, the seat and resting place of St Chad.
In a video message as the pilgrims set off, Bishop Michael said: Were setting off on five days of pilgrimage walking through the Diocese of Lichfield in the footsteps of St Chad. As were walking well be meeting people and doing exactly what Chad did which is telling people of Mercia the wonderful story of Gods love for them in Jesus Christ.
More information about the pilgrimage is available here. Follow their adventure on twitter using #chadpilgrims