Special places Bardsey Island

Special Christian places are also known as places of pilgrimage. Christianity teaches that pilgrimage can help people develop spiritually and bring them closer to God.

Part ofReligious StudiesBeliefs, teachings & practices - Unit 2

Bardsey Island

Bardsey Island is a small and remote island situated off the Llŷn peninsula in north Wales. It is only accessible by sea, and only when the weather is clear.

St Cadfan founded a Christian monastery on the island around 1,500 years ago, which was believed to be the first monastery in Britain.

In medieval times, the island was a popular place of pilgrimage, until Henry VIII had the monastery destroyed in 1537. However, although the monastery no longer exists, the island still holds spiritual significance for many Christians today and has recently become popular for pilgrims to visit again.

An island with a hill on one side which slopes down to sea level on the other.
Image caption,
Legend has it that 20,000 saints are buried on Bardsey Island

Question

What do Christians mean by ‘pilgrimage’?

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