Sleeping under sacred roofs
On the Cornish Celtic Way, the pilgrim is not only a traveller but also a guest within an ancient tradition of Cornish hospitality. Pilgrims who obtain a Cornish Celtic Way passport receive a list of churches, church halls and other sacred sites where they may stay overnight, provided they register in advance.
This is not merely about finding a place to sleep. Sleeping in churches, one becomes aware of an enduring presence, a sacred silence between pillars and stained-glass windows. Time is no longer something you own, but something the place holds. And you are invited to become part of something larger. It is an invitation to slow down, breathe, reflect and enter the quiet that seems to linger within these walls.
A church always invites us to slow down and to marvel, to embrace silence, gratitude, reflection or prayer – or simply to pause for a moment and experience the sense of peace that seems to dwell within these ancient walls.
Many churches are, of course, impressive historical monuments. Yet what makes these places along the way so special goes beyond that. It is the open atmosphere of stillness and connectedness that touched me deeply.
In the stage entitled Churches are open places of silence, I reflect further on what makes these places so special to me. You will find the link below.
