St James' Day

St James’ Day Saturday, July 25th 2026

We intend to celebrate St James’ Day again this year as we did last year. As St James’ Day falls on a Saturday (July25th) we felt that this would be a convenient day for many people who might wish to join us on the event that we have planned.
• The beginning of the event can be whenever is best for you to visit to one of the many attractions at The Auckland Project. (aucklandproject.org)
• At approximately 1:00 p.m., we are going to meet in Bishop Auckland market place, outside the Spanish Gallery, to start the event with a short symbolic pilgrimage to Auckland Castle, Home of the Prince Bishops. This is one of the places apart from Durham Cathedral where pilgrims could go to see the Bishop of Durham to ask for a blessing for their pilgrimage. We will be walking through the marketplace and down to the river, entering the Bishop’s Park and slowly proceeding, as pilgrims, to the Bishop’s Palace.
• At 2:00 p.m. we will attend a service in St Peter’s Chapel, where there is a stained-glass window of St James as a pilgrim. This will be led by the Bishop’s Chaplain, Chris Knights.
• After the service, which should finish around 3:00 p.m., for those who would like to, we can go to El Castillo, the Tapas restaurant, for you to enjoy a well-deserved bite to eat. I would need to know how many people would like to join us there so that I can book tables.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact Kevin at [email protected]
as soon as possible.
Please also let us know if you would like us to book you a place at El Castillo.
For everyone, please complete the booking form and return it to Kevin ([email protected]) as soon as possible but before 11th July, which is the deadline for booking.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Thank you
Keith N. Taylor
Chair of the Friends of Finchale Camino.
07889183165

(You can find out more about the venue at: aucklandproject.org.)



The Eve of St James’ Day Booking Form

Name(s)


I/We intend to join in the St James Day Celebration
Number of places required:



I/we would like to join the group at El Castillo at around 3:00 p.m.
Number of places required: