Youlgrave: Woman, 87, walking a mile a day for village church

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Barbara ScrivenerImage source, Supplied
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Barbara Scrivener is walking a mile a day as part of the Pommie Pilgrimage

An 87-year-old woman from Derbyshire is walking a mile a day to raise money to modernise her village church.

Barbara Scrivener is taking part in the Pommie Pilgrimage, which aims to raise £42,000 for the Grade I listed All Saints Church in Youlgrave.

The Pommie Pilgrims are aiming to reach all 42 Anglican cathedrals in England by All Saints' Day on 1 November.

Mrs Scrivener has challenged herself to walk the distance from Oxford to Guildford - about 42 miles (67km).

She is walking around the village to complete her challenge.

Image source, Supplied
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Ms Scrivener hopes to walk the last mile in Guildford

The church, which dates back to 1155, lacks key amenities, including toilets and a warm space.

Mrs Scrivener, who has lived in the village for more than 30 years, said: "I'm really delighted to be able take part in this pilgrimage in my own little way.

"I've currently completed 14 miles out of the 42 as an octogenarian and am really looking forward to completing this and supporting the Pommie Pilgrimage."

The push started with 27 people walking from Youlgrave to Derby Cathedral, arriving on 26 March, having set out two days before on Palm Sunday.

Image source, Supplied
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Kate Heath walked along byways and canals to reach Chester Cathedral from Youlgrave

The Pommie Pilgrims have so far raised more than £20,000.

Kate Heath, founder of the Pommie Pilgrims, arrived at Chester Cathedral on 17 April having walked 70 miles from her home village.

Ms Heath has a number of routes planned, the next one being to continue on from Derby to Leicester in the next few weeks.

She said she was hoping to walk it with members of Youlgrave WI, stopping at Barrow-on-Trent to view the church there, which has undergone a reordering.

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Rev Richard Tucker has family or work connections to all four destinations

Rev Richard Tucker is set to walk from Birmingham to Worcester, Worcester to Gloucester and Gloucester to Hereford, starting on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in the village, a turf labyrinth will be opened on Saturday, which has been designed to allow locals and visitors to be able to walk the pilgrimage without leaving the village.

Image source, Kirsty Prince Photography
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The turf labyrinth will be opened on World Labyrinth Day by designer Rev Peter Clark

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