St Bartholomew’s Church is now the official starting point for the Winchester to Southampton leg of the Camino Inglés.

The Camino Inglés begins at Reading Abbey and continues to God’s House Tower in Southampton, a route believed to have been taken by medieval English pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

For those starting from Winchester, St Bartholomew’s Church is now the official starting point. Winchester has been a significant location for pilgrims since the Middle Ages.

Rector of St Bartholomew’s, the Revd Karen Kousseff said: "This wonderful news came as we were holding our annual commemoration of St Bartholomew’s Day, so it was a double celebration. We are well used to welcoming pilgrims, stamping their passports and sending them on their way with a blessing, so we look forward to seeing many more, now that St Bartholomew’s is such a significant place on their route."

St Bartholomew’s Church, founded in 1110 within Hyde Abbey, also attracted pilgrims visiting the final resting place of King Alfred the Great, or venerating the cult of St Barnabas or the shrine of Saint Josse.

Pilgrimage has seen a resurgence in recent years, offering a chance to escape daily stresses and engage with the natural world.