Past Pilgrimages of the Whitefriars Club

A selection of pilgrimages from over the years

An old tradition of the Whitefriars Club has been a summer outing, or pilgrimage, outside of town. Thanks are given to Friar Judy Douglas-Boyd and Friar Colin Smythe for compiling the list.

Twenty-first century

  • 2021: August pilgrimage to Wimbledon Village for a literary tour and trip to Cannizaro House Gardens
  • 2019: July pilgrimage to Syon House, Park and Gardens
  • 2017: Pilgrimage to Strawberry Hill House and Alexander Pope’s Grotto
  • 2004: Pilgrimage to Reading University
  • 2002: Pilgrimage to Beaulieu Abbey and Motor Museum

Twentieth century

  • 1991: September pilgrimage to Blenheim Palace, followed by celebrations chez Chairman Allan Lennon (Woodstock)
  • 1989: September pilgrimage to Flitwick Manor and Woburn Abbey
  • 1912: Pilgrimage to Penshurst and Knole
  • 1911: July pilgrimage to Hatfield and St Albans
  • 1908: Pilgrimage to Salisbury and Stonehenge, as guests of the Dean of Salisbury and Lord Pembroke of Wilton House
  • 1906: Pilgrimage to Hindhead, Tennyson’s country
  • 1903: June pilgrimage to Cymbeline’s Town and Constable Country
  • 1902: July pilgrimage to Box Hill
  • 1902: June pilgrimage on the Thames to Marlow, Bucks
  • 1901: May pilgrimage to Selborne, Gilbert White’s Country
  • 1900: September pilgrimage to Pais, launching in the 16th arrondissement, reception in the evening
  • 1900: July pilgrimage to Burford Bridge
  • 1900: June pilgrimage to Shakespeare’s Country by 120 Friars and guests in a six-carriage special train for a garden party; Friars wore white roses, guests wore red

Nineteenth century

  • 1896: June pilgrimage to Knole House
  • 1895: June pilgrimage to Tunbridge Wells, Penshurst Place
  • 1894: June pilgrimage to Oxford
  • 1891: July pilgrimage to Windsor, Bray, lunch at the George, Clivedon, Marlow, Bisham, Dinner at the Compleat Angler at Marlow; back in London by midnight