The Coat of Hopes

The Coat of Hopes is a precious patchwork garment on a long-term pilgrimage through the UK, made by, and worn and walked by, hundreds of  people over a distance of over 2000 miles so far. This coat carries their hopes in the face of climate and ecological breakdown.

The Coat of Hopes and the pilgrims that accompany it will sleep in Bruton on Thursday 16 April on their way from Hilfield Friary near Cerne Abbas to Frome, a four day walk as part of the current route from Britain’s most easterly to most westerly point – Lowestoft to Land’s End. The pilgrims have reached this point only through the kind hospitality of many, many communities who have sheltered and very often fed them. Their usual accommodation is the floor of a local community centre or most often church, as the pilgrims carry sleeping bags and mats.

The Coat’s work in this ongoing pilgrimage is to offer everyone the invitation to stop, and in wearing it meet in our bodies both this climate and ecological emergency, and our connection to all those others who face it with us. It also carries in its fabric the stories of people and places encountered throughout this land. Our offering is to hold an open event on each evening of arrival, to share the Coat, its song and stories, and to hear from local people, so as to carry their stories forward.

St Mary’s, Bruton, will accommodate between five and seven pilgrims on 16 April, and host a talk in the church at 7.30pm.