A short history of The Blue Pilgrims

The fellowship dates its beginnings to the Whitsunday walk in 1902. The call to serve has led to many places and activities:

• In 1912 Help went to Staffordshire in response to the Miners Strike.
• Through the First World War the Fellowship set up ‘Home huts’ in or near Army barracks for recreation, refreshment and prayers. It was at this time that the Pilgrims first wore the sky blue veils and pilgrim bags by which they became recognised and so gained their name ‘Blue Pilgrims’.
• In 1928, during the Depression, Staffordshire was revisited and visits were made to Wales, where there was great need. A small permanent centre of prayer and encouragement was established at Llantwit-Major. The link with the Welsh valleys remains to this day and present day Knights live at Llantwit.
• Links then became more international and from 1934 Camelots were held in Austria.
• This led on to a major quest in 1938 to rescue a group of Austrian refugees and bring them to the UK.
• In 1949, under the leadership of Knight Una, visits of reconciliation were made to West Germany and the Netherlands. This led to the formation of a strong Continental Company – now small in number but praying about the future.
• One of the most recent quests for reconciliation is in Northern Ireland where support was given to the first integrated Protestant-Catholic school in Belfast – Lagan College, and is now given to The Corrymeela Community’s work in Belfast.
• Since the beginning of the new millennium a group has grown in Bangladesh – a Knight has lived and worked in the country for over 50 years and her example has inspired others to take up the challenge and ‘By love, serve’