There was a group of monastics frequently condemned as dissolute by early church leaders: the Gyrovagues. These wanderers were judged as taking more than they gave in their peripatetic life style going from monastery to monastery. St Benedict wasn’t keen on them.
But then why would he be? He was trying to establish a rule for settled communities. If being a Gyrovague looked too good, who would bother with his Rule. Everyone would be off like a shot leaving behind the dour brethren and repetitive roles of these communities for the more attractive life of the Gyrovagues.
Just imagine, you turn up and you get welcomed. People listen to your stories and feed you. You see new places and experience worship in different settings. For an early monastic this must have seemed a winsome option.
I’m about to become a Gyrovague. On and off for the last few summers I’ve done a bit of wandering, physical and spiritual. This has often involved walking a way somewhere: St Cuthbert’s in the Borders, the Cleveland Way in North Yorkshire and the Hadrian’s Wall Path have all been completed.
Next year I will attempt my end to end. I’m in training for it with my 1000 mile challenge. If I complete it, I shall be the third member of our family to do so. It all began in 2003, when Bob, then 50, walked LEJOG as it is affectionately known, ‘via the margins’ for his sabbatical. This walk has fed us ever since. Hannah was 9 years old and determined to do it herself one day. On this day in 2012, aged 18 and having just completed her A levels she began at Land’s End, finishing in September at John O’Groats before going to university.
I shall retire at Christmas and intend initially at least to become a Gyrovague and do my End to End, from Spring 2019.
This weekend in Hereford has been an interesting introduction in many ways. The newly launched St Thomas way is more than just a walking route. Ideal for Gyrovagues of all ages, it includes on line exploring for those who’s digital footprint is easier to access than their physical one
Here in the Mobile Chapel of St Scholastica, where there are at most two of us to share a host of roles, this weekend has been a blessing of welcome and worship, food and education. Did we give much back? I doubt it. We were enthusiastic and there is this blog, but essentially we were Gyrovagues, dissolutely taking more than we gave, and we are grateful for the opportunity.

In our life and our believing

The love of God