THE 20th anniversary of the annual walk from Ryde to Quarr Abbey enjoyed great success this year, with more than 30 walkers involved. 

Organised by the Island Catholic History Society, 34 walkers embarked on Sunday, August 15 ­— a welcome increase in attendance.

They walked from St Mary's Church to Quarr Abbey ­— two sites with the same dedication, and on the Feast of the Assumption no less.

While it was the 20th anniversary of the event, the origins of the walk go back to Victorian times, when Catholics would walk on Sunday afternoons in the summer to the Medieval Cistercian ruins ­— to pray for the return of monastic life to Quarr.

The prayer appeared to be answered when the Benedictines moved to Quarr in 1907 from Appuldurcombe, on the south of the Isle of Wight.

The annual three-mile pilgrimage emphasises Christian affiliation with their Victorian ancestors who walked the same route.

The group, from all parts of the Island, was accompanied by Fr. Jonathan Redvers Harris, who is a keen supporter of the annual walk.

Sister Philomena also joined them ­— a Dominican nun visiting the Island.

The pilgrims stopped en route at the Holy Cross Church, Binstead ­— once served from Quarr Abbey ­— where Hilary Spurgeon gave a talk on the church and its historical association with Quarr.

At the Cistercian ruins, Ed Matyjaszek read the TS Eliot poem, Little Gidding, which describes the atmosphere surrounding abbey ruins.

Ode to Quarr by Blake Everit was also read, as well as one of Ed's own poems in The Vigil of the Assumption.

Abbot Xavier welcomed the walkers to the abbey.