Brighton bishop gets on his bike for ‘pray as you go’ pilgrimage

Bishop Richard Jackson is getting on his bike for a Lent prayer pilgrimage from Rye to Shoreham, taking in almost a dozen churches in Brighton and Hove.

The Bishop of Lewes, whose patch includes Brighton and Hove, is due to set off this morning (Sunday 22 March).

Bishop Richard Jackson on his Harley Davidson

He plans to visit every Church of England parish along that stretch of the Sussex Coast, praying in each church building that he enters.

The bishop, known for riding a Harley Davidson, plans to use various methods of transport along the way including his motorbike. He will also walk part of the way and hopes for the odd lift in a car.

His pilgrimage is scheduled to start in Rye today and by Wednesday (25 March) he is expected to have reached Peacehaven and Saltdean.

On Thursday (26 March) he will start in Rottingdean before heading to St George’s then St Mary’s in Kemp Town, the Chapel Royal, in North Street, Brighton, and nearby St Paul, in West Street.

St John the Baptist, on the edge of Palmeira Square, Hove, is next on his itinerary, followed by All Saints, in The Drive, and St Andrew’s, in Church Road.

On Friday (27 March), the final day of his pilgrimage, he will start at St Philip, in Aldrington, before heading to St Nicolas, Portslade.

After stopping at St Michael, in Southwick, and St Mary, in Shoreham, he will end his journey at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Shoreham Beach.

The bishop said: “We are approaching Holy Week and Easter and the diocese is planning to launch its new strategy in May so I wanted some time to visit people, places and parishes and to pray as I go.”