The Road to St James’ Project. The ‘Camino de Santiago’
Foreword by Alan Thompson.
I was asked to provide a greeting to our German ‘Twin Town’ Remscheid.
This is my response:
A close acquaintance of mine walked the ‘Camino de Santiago’ a few years ago. He explained that the impact on his life was exhilarating and life changing.
No doubt the impact of this project will enhance the lives of many others as they make their way through life.
The connection with the peoples of central Europe are not forgotten. A large part of our Saxon and Angle (Anglo Saxon) history is recorded by a man who was born on Tyneside called the Venerable Bede.
Bede was an English Benedictine Monk who became an author, a teacher and a scholar. His activities earned him the title of The Father of English History’.
Bede’s best known written work, completed in 731 was called An Ecclesiastical History of the English People in which he gave a an account of the story of Augustine’s mission to England in 597 which brought Christianity to the Anglos Saxons. It has been here ever since and has played a major part in the development of our Nation.
Bede was based in Jarrow a few miles to the South of Newbiggin by the Sea and was buried in Durham Cathedral. Pilgrims and tourists visit other revered Christian locations in Northumberland especially Lindisfarne also known as Holy Island. This is one of the most important centres of early English Christianity. Irish monks settled on Lindisfarne in AD 635 and the monastery became a catalyst for the celebration of Christianity under the leadership of St Cuthbert. Holy Island lies just off the coast some 30 miles North of Newbiggin by the Sea.
On behalf of the people of Newbiggin by the Sea I would wish to convey good wishes and all success to our German and European friends and to the supporting organisations including the Evangelical and the Free
Evangelical Parish, the Bergisches Geschichtsverein, the association Lennep Offensiv, the Spanish Mission and the Remscheid Caritas Association.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Thompson. Author. November 2020
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