Seamus shows the way

The repair and refurbishment of one of the most important 18^thcentury buildings in London – to say nothing of replacing the organ in Handel’s church – does not come cheaply. Later posts will deal in greater detail with the current fund raising campaign. The present piece is planned to be the first of many to trace the progress of a remarkable initiative undertaken by St George’s much-loved verger Seamus O’Hare to raise funds for the church he has served for the past sixteen years.

On 24^th May, a month after the repair and refurbishment programme started, Seamus departed for south western France to begin a five hundred mile pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where legend has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Great, are buried.

El Camino has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, being considered one of three pilgrimages on which a plenary indulgence could be earned. There are a number of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. However, since the late 10^th Century the most famous and popular route is the Camino Francés which starts in the village of St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, crosses the Pyrenees, before passing through Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos, Sahagun, Leon, Ponferrada, Sarria and eventually into Santiago. This is the route that Seamus is taking, walking 500 miles, stopping where he can for rest and recuperation.

By the time of his departure, more than £12,000 had been donated or pledged to the St George's Hanover Square Foundation in response to Seamus’s appeal to his many friends to sponsor his walk. It is not too late to add to this total. Donations can be made on line by following the link www.justgiving.com/verger .