Buddhist monks and supporters took part in a three-day pilgrimage on 26–28 June across parts of northern England, aiming to promote peace, compassion, and community harmony. The “Walk for Peace UK – Temple to Temple” began at 9 a.m. on 26 June from Wat Sri Ratanaaram in the town of Bolton, north of Manchester. Pilgrims walked 49 kilometers to Wat Phra Singh in the port town of Runcorn, near Liverpool. The conclusion coincided with 13th anniversary celebrations at Wat Phra Singh’s newly completed Ubosot Hall.
The annual walk brings together Buddhist monastics, lay supporters, and members of the wider public for the pilgrimage. Organizers said the walk was open to people of all faiths and backgrounds, with participants invited to join for any distance, from a short one-kilometer section to the full 49-kilometer route.
The route was divided into three stages: on the first day, walkers traveled 17 kilometers from Bolton to Wigan. The second stage took participants another 17 kilometers from Wigan to Warrington. The final stage covered 15 kilometers from Warrington to Runcorn, ending at Wat Phra Singh.
Along the route, local residents had the opportunity to offer alms to the monks. In Theravada Buddhist communities, alms-giving is a central lay practice through which supporters provide monastics with food and other necessities. The practice is traditionally understood as a way of cultivating generosity, merit, and mutual support between the monastic and lay communities.
Organizers said the pilgrimage was intended to bring people together during a time when many communities face social division and uncertainty. In a message accompanying the event, they said, “Together we can cultivate merit, promote peace, loving-kindness, compassion and harmony within our communities.” (The Bolton News)
The guiding message of the event was, “Walking for Peace, Guided by Loving-Kindness, Bringing Peace to the World.” (The Bolton News)
The walk reflects a broader pattern of Buddhist peace pilgrimages, in which walking is used as an expression of nonviolence, mindfulness, and inter-communal solidarity. Such events often combine devotional practice with public witness, inviting local communities to encounter Buddhist monastics outside temple settings and to take part in acts of generosity and goodwill.
Buddhism remains a small but established spiritual tradition in the United Kingdom. According to 2021 census data for England and Wales, about 0.5 per cent of the population identified as Buddhist. Buddhist communities in Britain include long-established convert groups as well as Asian diaspora communities connected with traditions from China, Japan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam, and other Buddhist cultures.
Wat Sri Ratanaaram and Wat Phra Singh are part of the UK’s network of Buddhist temples that serve both religious and cultural functions, offering spacs for meditation, chanting, festivals, alms-giving, and community gatherings. For many diaspora Buddhist communities, temples also help to sustain language, ritual practice, and cultural identity across generations.
Speaking before the ceremony, a founding trustee of Wat Phra Singh UK, Tony Collacott, said, “The completion of the Ubosot Hall is a hugely important moment for the temple and for the wider community. We have worked hard to respectfully balance Buddhist tradition with community engagement, creating a space that honors its spiritual purpose while welcoming people from all backgrounds.”
“To welcome senior Buddhist leaders from Thailand to Runcorn for our 13th anniversary is a tremendous honor and a reflection of how far the temple has come,” Collacott added. “We are looking forward to sharing this special occasion with residents, visitors, and supporters from across the region.” (Runcorn & Widnes World)
See more
Buddhist monks embark on 49km peace pilgrimage from Bolton (The Bolton News)
New Ubosot hall to open at Wat Phra Singh UK in Runcorn (Runcorn & Widnes World)
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