Pilgrimage
Annual Benedictine Pilgrimage to Canterbury
A Week of Prayer, Work, Study, and Rest in Sacred Community
Each year, Friends of St. Benedict invites pilgrims to Canterbury Cathedral in the United Kingdom for a transformative spiritual retreat known as the Benedictine Experience—a weeklong immersion into the monastic rhythm of daily life inspired by the Rule of St. Benedict.
Originally envisioned more than thirty years ago by renowned spiritual writer Esther de Waal while writing her classic Seeking God, the Benedictine Experience began in Canterbury as a way for everyday people to encounter the rich, grounding practices of Benedictine life. De Waal’s vision—to offer a rhythm of prayer, study, work, and rest in community—continues today under the guidance of Friends of St. Benedict.
Canterbury Pilgrimage 2026:
Stairway to Heaven: Climbing or Sliding? Pondering The Rule of St. Benedict, Ch 7: Humility
August 1-8, 2026
Presented by Rev. Stephen Cooper, Retired Deacon and Priest, Church of England
This pilgrimage offers more than rest—it offers renewal. By stepping into the ancient rhythm of Benedictine life in the sacred setting of Canterbury, participants return home with deeper insight, a refreshed prayer life, and lasting connections to a wider spiritual community.
Join us at Canterbury. Come not as a tourist, but as a pilgrim—open to discovery, reflection, and the quiet joy of living the Rule.
What to Expect
During this sacred week, participants form a temporary community shaped by the Benedictine values of hospitality, humility, balance, and attentiveness. Each day is centered on the worship of God, following a rhythm of prayer services—Morning Prayer, Eucharist, Evening Prayer, and Compline—anchored by periods of silence and communal reflection.
In addition to worship, participants join in:
Daily lectures and meditations with a gifted teaching faculty
Times of quiet study and reflection
Practical work, honoring the Benedictine principle of labor and service
Shared meals and meaningful conversation, balanced with the restorative gift of silence
The day closes with Compline and the beginning of the Great Silence, lasting until after breakfast the next morning.