Our objects are to understand more of the life and legacy of Fursey, and of the Celtic spirituality that formed and developed his faith. We seek to do this by:
- holding a Celebration of the Feast of Fursey in Norwich on the Saturday nearest his day, 16 January Feast celebration 2008
- inviting scholars to give The Fursey Lectures at the January celebration
- holding an annual pilgrimage to Burgh Castle, in honour of St Fursey, on the first Saturday of October
Previous pilgrimages
2008 pilgrimage- researching the life of Fursey whose legacy remains to be more fully appreciated
- visits and pilgrimages to places associated with Fursey
- organizing other events
2000 (the Inaugural lecture): "The Life of St. Fursey: what we know, why it matters", by Dr Michelle Brown (British Library)
2002 (second lecture): "Fursey; pilgrim and visionary", by Dr Jonathan Wooding (University of Wales, Lampeter)
2005 (third lecture): "The Vision of St. Fursey and the development of Purgatory", by Dr Marilyn Dunn (University of Glasgow)
2007 (fourth lecture): "The Vita Fursei and its use by Bede and Aelfric", by Aine Casey (formerly University College Cork)
Preachers at the annual October Pilgrimage
Preachers from different Christian traditions are invited to address the gathering at the October Pilgrimage:
2007: The Rt Revd Graham James, Lord Bishop of Norwich
2006:The Revd David Hardiman, Baptist Minister and former County Ecumenical Officer for Essex and East London
2005: The Revd David Cornick, General Secretary, United Reformed Church
2004: Major Ray Begley, Officer Commanding, Salvation Army Citadel, Norwich
2003: The Rt Revd David Atkinson, Bishop of Thetford
2002: The Very Revd Stephen Platten, Dean of Norwich
2001: The Rt. Revd Peter Smith, Bishop of East Anglia
2000: The Rt. Revd Graham James, Bishop of Norwich
1999: The Ven. Martin Wallace, Archdeacon of Colchester
1998: Canon Eileen French, Chelmsford Ecumenical Officer
1997: The Revd Canon David Abraham, Vicar of St Matthew’s, Norwich
Visits and pilgrimages
A fact-finding visit to France in 2003, was followed by a pilgrimage to northern France in 2004 – In the Footsteps of St. Fursey.
The group was based in Peronne, burial place of Fursey, and visited a number of places in the Picardy region where Fursey is recalled, among them the Frohen villages close to the place of his death. The group also visited Lagny-sur-Marne (east of Paris) where Fursey founded his French monastery. We were also privileged to be given access to the Treasury of Amiens Cathedral to view the 14th century Geuschart chasse given in honour of Fursey, and to see relics that they possess.
Visits have also been made to various churches in Norfolk and Suffolk that have windows and images of Fursey.
This is an ongoing project. More research in both East Anglia and Ireland are planned.
The Geuschart Chasse at Amiens Cathedral
These have included the inspiring Day Workshop led by Canon Brendan O'Malley in September 2007. Under the title "Lord of Creation: Celtic Christianity for today's world", Canon Brendan helped us to see how the rich resources left to us by the early Christians in these islands can be understood and used today.