Where Holy Socks walk.

Journeying socks, photographed on the feet of Rev Christopher Garland near
Middleton in Teesdale on the Pennine Way in August.





Rev Christopher Garland of All Saints, Messing in Essex, also wore Holy Socks -
"The Crown" design when he ran the London Marathon in 2007 and brave, fit man
that he is, intends wearing them in 2009 when he again runs that marathon!
We'll look forward to some photos of that event too, please. (He did it! Click below for photo.)



Thanks also for the following poem, written by Chris with his thoughts on Holy Socks and pilgrimage.

Pilgrims all treading on a pilgrim’s way
What of the mind of pilgrim can we say?
Plait strand of self, of world, and strand of Christ
Three strands together as one chord are spliced.


When we on Pennine Way in Summer trod
No pilgrim route, and yet we walk with God.
Day after day, it shaped our thoughts and cares:
Cradled by valleys, Climbing rocky stairs


From Edale signpost, boldly we set out
Climbed Jacob’s ladder onto Kinder Scout
Past Kinder Downfall on to Bleaklow Head
Spongy peat moor here called a featherbed.


Over the Dark Peak hour by hour we tramped,
Till at a hostel for the night we camped.
Prayer at the nightfall and at dawn we made;
At scenes of beauty silently we prayed.


Out, out moor stretches ’neath vast sky above
Sign to desiring of God’s o’erarching love
Risks come of straying, barren pangs of loss
Speaks then the Saviour, risen from the Cross


Through Bronte country, moor of “Wuthering Heights”,
Over our heads the hawks all make their flights.
Stopped then at Ponden, on to Malham Cove,
Skirting its curved bluffs, to the Tarn we rove.


Over the fell where Fountain’s monks kept sheep
Scaled Pen-y-ghent as cloud cross ridge did creep.
Winding our way, enjoying Wensleydale
Over Great Shunner to valley of the Swale


Rich heather hillside, soft green here the dale,
Cascading water: what heart to sing could fail?
Trudging, with back glance, to welcome at Tan Hill;
On, on, o’er God’s Bridge, walking with a will.


By river Tees, past Low and High Force falls,
And “Cauldron Snout” a bursting torrent calls.
Scooped sheerly, smoothly, valley of High Cup;
Up-turned Cathedral.lifts each spirit up.


Cross Eden Valley rise each Lakeland fell
Viewed next from Cross Fell - where fiends said to dwell.
Now where the Romans walked we walk also
Following rolling Hadrians Wall we go.


Through border forests over Cheviot
So at Kirk Yetholm comes to end the plot.
And as we farewell every blessed scene
So we thank God for everywhere we’ve been

Chris Garland