Group leader: Chris Howard

The CSJ Thames Valley group’s base is Reading, where the St James Way begins at the Church of St James and the preserved ruins of Reading Abbey, which in medieval times attracted thousands of pilgrims to worship the Hand of St James, now kept in nearby St Peter’s church in Marlow, Bucks. Most of our 40 members live in the nearby area but some come from London and the Cotswold Group, both within easy reach of Reading.   

We are open to anyone with an interest in pilgrimage. CSJ members are encouraged to bring friends, family and any non members to our outings. We aim to meet together 4 times per year. Most get togethers include a local walk with some point of interest (church or historic building), a convivial lunch, and sometimes a talk on a subject of general pilgrimage interest. We are members of the Friends of Reading Abbey who have a thriving annual programme of events.

On 29 November the Thames Valley members had our last outing of 2025. We met at the newly installed Camino Ingles mouteira/waymarker on the Kennet and Avon river at Reading Abbey (690 miles to Santiago) and walked along the river to a local pub, the Cunning Man at Burghfield, where we had a very pleasant lunch before catching a bus back into Reading. And so ends 10 years of outings organised by Robin Dorkings.