There’s a saying, isn’t there, that timing is everything. And God’s timing is the sweetest.

Today I walked the lanes from Heligan to about 1.5 miles short of Fowey. I was able to visit 2 churches along the way, see another couple  from outside. And walk by some buildings that looked like they may have been churches or church-related at one time.

When I got to St Austell, the first church gate I saw was locked. But around the building closer to their main entrance, there were people coming out. Preschool-aged humans with their adults. I had gotten there just after their morning activity was over, but before the doors were locked. Sweet timing.

It’s beautifully done inside and looks like it has enough regular worshippers to be alive. Among the dead, however, were military men in the first world war whose names are on the war memorial outside the church, a feature of so many English towns and villages. This one is a lovely Celtic cross. It maybe gives an idea what one of those ancient crosses that survive might have looked like new.

Later I passed a Methodist church building. This area has or had a lot of Methodist congregations. John Wesley and the Methodist movement started within Anglicanism. This church was not open, but surely was simpler inside.

St Blazey, Cornwall, has an “open church” where they leave the door unlocked so people can stop in to pray, rest, or whatever. They trust God to care for God’s house. Except that there’s a notice outside this one saying that “due to anti-social behaviour” the church can’t be left unlocked outside their regular 10-4 open hours. The original part of this building dates to 1445. I saw a notice near the door announcing that they were soon to be combined with 4 other congregations under the same pastor, but with an assistant priest who already has his own 3 congregations. (There’s a priest shortage in English Anglicanism.)

I got there around 2:00 and spent nearly an hour, sitting, praying, and recording photographs. So again I was sweetly timed and could take my time.

Today’s walking was mostly good. A few long uphills, but not steep. Some quite flat, like maybe it was a converted rail line.  Mostly cloudy but no real rain while I was walking (unlike last night when a good storm – it seemed to me – blew through between supper and 10 pm). Maybe it wasn’t a big deal to the people snug in their camper vans. Reminds me of how rough early pilgrims or the Irish monks in their unheated stone cells had things.

Another thing: I had a nice chat today with a Mr L. Baker when I was walking along the St Austell River, and he was out with his dog. As a fellow Christian, he was interested in my pilgrimage. And he’s the first person here in Britain to ask whether I have an online presence. So if you’re reading this, Leslie, hello again!