“What does Pilgrimage mean to me”

Date:          Sunday 17^th May 2026

Venue:       Assemble at Holocaust Memorial Garden, Valentines Park, Ilford (Cranbrook Rd entrance, IG1 4TG)

Redbridge Faith Forum’s annual Multi-faith Walk of Peace is a gentle stroll through central Ilford and some of the many places of worship to be found there. Our Walk of Peace brings together people from the many diverse faith communities in Redbridge in a spirit of fellowship and harmony. Our focus this year is “What does PILGRIMAGE mean to me?” Whether it be a special Holy place to visit, a spiritual journey, a commitment we undertake, or simply a time of spiritual renewal, as we walk together, visiting various faith venues, we will learn about PILGRIMAGE from different faith perspectives. We will appreciate the common precepts we share and we will further develop our understanding and respect for each other.

Multi Faith Walk of Peace – Theme – ‘What does Pilgrimage mean to me’.

Around 100 people joined the 16th Annual Walk of Peace organised by Redbridge Faith Forum. Assembling at the Holocaust Memorial in Valentine Park, all were welcomed by Mohamed Omar – Chair of trustees. Following this, Peter Musgrave read a short prayer dedicated to the Rivers of Redbridge and spoke of the project to ensure that the many rivers flowing through the Borough are and remain clean.   We were pleased to be joined by Rabbi Wollenberg, Woodford Forest Shul who gave a short address focussing on what Pilgrimage meant from a Jewish perspective.

After pausing briefly at the tree planted in commemoration of the genocide at Srebrenica, the group progressed along Cranbrook Roat to our next stop at the Buddhist Vihara (Balfour Road). A warm welcome awaited the group who we both enthralled by a short address from Dr Gunna and after representatives of each faith lit a candle for Peace, were fed both spiritually and also by the wide-ranging buffet supplied by our hosts. Leaving the Vihara, the group then moved towards our next stop at the Hindu Temple.

Again, we were welcomed by the chair Mr Santosh Rathi and Dr Pratibha Datta and heard from Mr Ketan Jani the importance of Pilgrimage from the Hindu perspective, focussing on the sacred sites for Hindu Pilgrims, the origins of the word and also the importance of water within each Faith – a theme which would continue through the various talks.

Our next stop was at the Islamic Centre in Albert Road where we heard from Mohamed Omar regarding the importance of Pilgrimage in Islam and that this forms one of the five Pillars of Faith. We also heard from Olcay Aniker regarding our theme from a Humanist perspective.

Moving onwards, the group, which had slightly grown in numbers, travelled the ‘green path’ alongside Winston Way and paused for a moment at the Peace Pole dedicated to Kashif Mahmood, a young man who died in 2005 after an attack in the underpass nearby.

We then moved toward St Peter and St Pauls Catholic Church and gather in the Prayer Garden, an oasis of calm alongside the church which is open daily for prayer and meditation. One of our Trustees, Phil Butcher, spoke of again what Pilgrimage means to Christians and of the importance of religious sites such as Lourdes. Again, speaking of the importance of water and how this had brough healing to millions of Pilgrims. Again, a theme echoed in so many other faiths.

Our final stop was at the Karamsar Gurdwara where after short talk from our Sikh Trustee Harpreet Shergil, all were invited to a meal in the Langar.

We would like to thank all our hosts at each venue for both their hospitality and their explanations of what Pilgrimage means to them as individuals and as Faith Groups.

We would also like to thank Superintendent Claire Mcarthy for the support of her team who accompanied us throughout the walk. She spoke warmly of the importance of this event and that it was one of the highlights of the year for her. To see those of all faiths and none walking in harmony and cooperation is wonderful and she wished she could ‘bottle this’ and replicate in so many other places.

Our next event is our AGM on the 22^nd July at Belgrave Community Centre, 285-291 Belgrave Road, Ilford IG1 3TR followed by a Public Meeting which will focus on the Rivers of Redbridge and the Project to both clean and maintain the fresh and clean water which flows through the Borough.