THE Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has started a six-month pilgrimage through the Diocese of York, beginning in Whitby on Tuesday.

Dr Sentamu will be walking a sizeable distance each day from the coast, over moor and dale, along highways and byways, through both rural and urban communities and across an area which spans the Humber to the Tees and the A1 to the coast.

The Archbishop, who did a similar 280 mile long trek in 2005 when he was Bishop for Birmingham, said: "My prayers have led me to this pilgrimage. St Paulinus, St Aidan, St Cuthbert and St Hilda of Whitby in their time shared the good news of Jesus Christ with the people of the North.

"During this pilgrimage, I would like to encourage everyone I meet to commit themselves afresh to try praying, be open to encountering Jesus Christ, pray for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and receive the gift of the joy provided by Jesus Christ – and be thankful.”

The pilgrimage started with Morning Prayer at St Mary’s, Whitby and will see Archbishop Sentamu is to spend six days, from Tuesday to Sunday, in each of the Deaneries of the Diocese of York, finishing in York Minster on Trinity Sunday, May 22.