Quite a large party from our church, lead by the Vicar, recently made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and visited Jordan.

From the Diaries of the Young Taylor Pilgrims
23 October
"We crossed the Jordan River by crossing the Allenby Bridge and then we were in Israel. We went by bus to Jericho where we went to a place with a hill. There was a bus shelter thing. Then we went to an 8th century B.C. tower. We had lunch at a kibbutz and then went to Mount Tabor. After that we went to our new hotel which was at Tiberias, by the Sea of Galilee." Beatrice Taylor (7)

25 October
"We got up at 6.30 and at 8 we got in the coach. Then we headed off to Cana. When we got there we went to the wedding church where Jesus was said to change water into wine. Then we went to the synagogue in Nazareth. After that we took part in an Anglican church service in Christ Church, Nazareth and had pink biscuits at the end. We had lunch at an old Roman town called Caesarea. There was an aqueduct and an amphitheatre there beside the Mediterranean Sea. We all paddled in the sea and Brian gave me a piggy-back to the coach. Before we went to the hotel in Jerusalem, Oliver, our guide, took us up to the top of Mount Scopus to see the view of Jerusalem." Romilly Taylor (9)

Preparation for Communion Lunch at Palestine

26 October
"Our hotel room overlooked Esther’s tomb. Some Jews were praying over the tomb because they believed that she had saved the Jews. Others thought it was wrong to honour her because she had used unorthodox methods to do it. The Jews who believed it was wrong were trying to attack those who believed it was right. The praying Jews had police protection." Alice Taylor (12)

27 October
"Today we did a lot of walking in the old city of Jerusalem. First of all we visited the Wailing Wall or ‘Western Wall’ as it is sometimes called. The wall is divided into two parts, the left part for men and the right pan for women. The Jewish people think the wall is very important. There were lots of Jews at the wall so it was impossible to see it close up, but it was still very interesting." Alice Taylor (12)

Onward Hampton Pilgrims Tony and Margaret Lawrance

(sing to the tune of ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’)
1. Eager band of pilgrims, Reach the Jordan bank. Promised land awaits them, With soldier, gun and tank. Crossing safely over, On to Jericho. Tiberias for two nights stay O’er desert hills they go. Onward Hampton pilgrims, Brian to the fore. Jerusalem and Petra, Galilean shore.	2. Early rising pilgrims, Ready for the fray. Oliver instructs us For hours every day. Debra, Joel, Elijah, Matthew, Luke and John. Hearts and minds are happy now With Christian duty done. Onward Hampton pilgrims, Brian to the fore. Jerusalem and Petra, Galilean shore.
3. Hungry pilgrims sighing, Lunch is far away. Will the Lord provide us With sustenance we pray. Three more sites to visit, Is our faith deceived? Then Peter’s fish is offered And gratefully received. Onward Hampton pilgrims, Brian to the fore. Jerusalem and Petra, Galilean shore.	4. Hopeful pilgrims singing Jerusalem for all. Holy sites abounding Within the City wall. Temple Mount surprising, Open and so clean. Mosques so strange and awesome With beauty so serene. Onward Hampton pilgrims, Brian to the fore. Jerusalem and Petra, Galilean shore.
5. Driving through the canyons, Pilgrims petrified. Eila’s screams are answered, Abdullah’s on our side. Onward, ever upward, From the wadi bed, Cross the plains of Moab To reach our goal ahead. Onward Hampton pilgrims, Brian to the fore. Jerusalem and Petra, Galilean shore.	6. Grateful pilgrims leaving, From this ancient land. Open and forgiving, For now we understand. Muslims, Jews and Christians, Living side by side. Peaceful co-existence, Love not genocide. Onward Hampton pilgrims, Brian to the fore. Jerusalem and Petra, Galilean shore."

Source: The Spire Magazine - 1992 December