New Pilgrimage Route – St Olav

Norwich Cathedral will today (Tuesday 10 September) host a special conference to celebrate Norfolk as it becomes the first UK member of an ancient international pilgrimage route celebrating St Olav, the first Christian King and Patron Saint of Norway.

New Pilgrimage Route Launched – St Olav

St Olav Ways connects Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Estonia – and now the UK will be joining the network thanks to an initiative involving Norwich Cathedral, Norfolk County Council and the National Pilgrimage Centre in Norway.

Today’s event will be attended by experts from Norway and a representative of the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

The Revd Dr Peter Doll, Canon Librarian of Norwich Cathedral said:

“The story of the Scandinavian encounter with Britain represented by St Olav, both before and after his death, is one of enmity turned to friendship through a shared faith. Those shared values continue to bind the United Kingdom and Norway and will be strengthened by our pilgrimage links.”

St Olav Ways is an accredited Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, one of 49 routes that cross over 46 countries and which attract millions of tourists every year.

The network has attracted churches and heritage sites dedicated to the 11^th century Norwegian warrior King, and later Saint Olav, from the Orkney Islands, the Isle of Man, London, Cumbria, Chester and York.

The final destination is the tomb of St Olav in Nidaros Cathedral, in the city of Trondheim in Norway, which has attracted pilgrims from across northern Europe since the 11^th century.

Now, as an established part of the Cultural Routes’ Programme of the Council of Europe, this pilgrimage route links heritage sites and crosses diverse landscapes and attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.

Hans Morten Lovrod, Director, National Pilgrimage Centre, Trondheim and Manager of St Olav Ways said:

“It is important that we highlight the connections between Olav Haraldsson and Britain and that we acknowledge his influence through his conversion to Christianity. 

“We are very pleased to discover a variety of churches and heritage sites connected with St Olav and delighted to have the UK as a member of our Cultural Route.

Norfolk already boasts the Walsingham Way and has its own St Olaves village with a priory dedicated to the Saint. The county is keen to develop further pilgrim routes and is aware how highlighting Norfolk’s rich heritage through pilgrimage can add to the local economy and connect the rich Christian traditions of Norfolk and its 650 medieval churches with contemporary society in the UK and now with other parts of Northern Europe.

Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said:

“Norfolk County Council recognises the importance of our heritage in terms of developing our local economy, and this important partnership further enhances our strong cultural tourism offer, supporting our rural communities and sharing our museums and countryside with visitors to our beautiful County.”

Professor Mike Robinson, an expert on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, said:

“With Norfolk joining St Olav Ways, there are now 17 Cultural Routes represented in the UK. The Routes are an excellent way of exploring our rich heritage and stimulating local economic development and cultural exchange, through sustainable tourism.”