WORSHIPPERS from as far afield as Kenya and Sweden joined parishes from numerous denominations across Essex for the annual pilgrimage to Bradwell's St Peter-on-the-Wall Chapel.
More than 800 pilgrims attended the famous building at Bradwell-on-Sea on Saturday, doubling the population of the village for the day.
The chapel is one of the oldest in Britain, dating back to 654AD, when it was built by St Cedd on the remains of an ancient Roman fort.
Rev Lee Batson, chairman of the Bradwell Pilgrimage Committee and Ecumenical Officer for Churches Together in Essex and East London, said: "The whole pilgrimage is about being courageous and confident when spreading the word of God.
"The site was on the place where St Cedd first spread the word of the Christian gospel to the Saxons and it's important that we continue to spread the message."
The pilgrimage has been going for over 30 years and the church tries to encompass a range of different denominations across Essex and the South East.
Mr Batson, priest of St Andrew's Church in Boreham, said: "The theme of 'sent' was chosen because it's about bringing God's word to Earth and eventually making heaven on Earth which, eventually, is our goal."
Pilgrims left St Thomas' Church in the morning at Bradwell and walked the two miles to the chapel, where they enjoyed an indoor worship and then an open-air service.
At the event Graham Lowing, 66, said: "It was a very good day for Christianity and a huge turnout again. The chapel field was packed as usual and everyone had a great time."
The pilgrimage had a truly international flavour this year with visiting delegations from Kenya and Sweden. The Kenyan worshippers sang hymns from their native village at the base of Mount Kenya.
The 19-strong Kenyan delegation was led by Bishop Masamba of Mbeere, who was also visiting Chelmsford Cathedral during his trip to the UK.
One of the UK's most influential Christian women leaders, the Rev Dr Kate Coleman, was the keynote speaker and among the guests was the newly-installed Bishop of Brentwood Alan Williams, along with the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell.
