Pilgrim Cello

Pilgrim Cello is a bicycle pilgrimage being made by Kenneth Wilson around the 42 cathedrals of England (1,825 miles in total) in 2025. Kenneth is cycling the route with his cello on a cargo bike, playing Bach Cello Suites and sharing poems reflecting on the last words of Jesus. Gillian Lever has created seven small abstract paintings to travel with him for exhibition at each destination. Westhill Endowment has funded the artworks that dialogue with the music and poetry. The project’s overall aim is to inspire new visitors to discover the devotional practice of ‘pilgrimage’ for themselves. 
 
Pilgrim Cello is a bicycle pilgrimage reflecting on the last words of Jesus. The pilgrimage, by Kenneth Wilson, is taking place in 2025, Kenneth is visiting the 42 cathedrals of England (1,825 miles in total), starting in Newcastle on 19 May and finishing 7 weeks later in Carlisle. He is cycling the route with his cello on a cargo bike, playing Bach Cello Suites, and sharing poems reflecting on the last words of Jesus. For the exhibitions Gillian Lever has created seven small abstract paintings that are travelling with Kenneth Wilson, on his bike, for exhibition at each destination.
 
The project’s overall aim is to inspire new visitors to discover the devotional practice of ‘pilgrimage’ for themselves and to experience the value of taking time out of busy lives for personal reflection.
 
Pilgrim Cello is endorsed by The Association of English Cathedrals https://www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/ and there will be impact across the whole of England with concerts and exhibitions taking place in the cathedral cities. 
 
The Association of English Cathedrals exists to help raise the profile of the cathedrals by networking, storytelling, reflection, advocacy, training and research. In 2021 a unique partnership between Sustrans – The National Cycling Network, Cycling UK, the British Pilgrimage Trust, and the Association of English Cathedrals was created to promote a cycle route which links all 42 Church of England cathedrals was launched. The vision behind Pilgrim Cello fits well with this exciting initiative. The project will help to promote and animate the Cathedral cycle route and open up ‘pilgrimage’ opportunities, offering new perspectives on the world that we inhabit, to new audiences.
 
Westhill Endowment funding has enabled portable artworks to be created that will complement and dialogue with Kenneth Wilson’s music and poetry providing multiple access points. The opportunity for visitors to experience the visual arts as part of this project is integral to the project’s overall aim to inspire new visitors to discover the devotional practice of ‘pilgrimage’ for themselves. It will invite them to take pause for a while, be present to the ‘multi-sensory’ moment and to journey inwardly, in personal ways, from head to heart. 
 
The artworks are being transported carefully in a specially commissioned gilded ‘reliquary’ also funded by Westhill Endowment. The reliquary is a strong yet lightweight casket, protecting the artwork as it is transported around the country on the bicycle. In proportion, scale and use of materials, this object offers a link to the rich and ancient tradition of medieval reliquaries, whilst providing a practical housing for Gillian Lever's paintings. It is hoped that for visitors of all ages it will be something of beauty in itself that is both inspirational and educational.