A Reflective Walk In the Garden, we find the Cross of Christ and next to it are fragments of the Manor House belonging to the along the River Coquet Priory at Tynemouth which date from 15th century. at Amble Once in our cosy little Church, please take time to examine our stained glass windows dedicated to St Cuthbert, St Oswald and St Aidan together with Our Lady Star of the Sea overlooking the river and the sea. We pray that we who live in a fast and changing world will continue to witness as faithful believers in prayer and worship Amble is a quiet coastal village in Northumberland. The walk takes you along and so hand on the living memory of the love of God the banks of the River Coquet to take in views of Warkworth Castle and the and Jesus Christ whom he sent to our Children. tranquility of the river estuary. The starting point is Sacred Heart and St. AMEN Cuthbert’s Church in Amble village. There is parking at the back of the church. You can find the location using Google Maps, click here or use this Sat Nav. NE65 0LE. Thanks go to Michael McPeake who submitted the walk. Walk down the lane where to the left is Hallbank Well which supplied water to We have now reached the midway point in our walk where we can rest on the the Monks of Tynemouth Manor House where the Church now stands. The well seats and reflect further or carry on another hundred yards to view the is a listed building and is medieval in origin. waterfall. Turn right on to High Street and follow the A1068 road down the hill and on to If we look across the estuary from here, you will see a mile out to sea, the the River Coquet flood plain. To the left we see sheep gently grazing and in the Lighthouse at Coquet Island. This was the abode of St Henry a 12th Century background the Cheviot Hills. Danish hermit who lived simply on the Island in prayer and contemplation. Perhaps we can say a prayer asking him to intercede to bring simplicity On our right is the River Coquet gently calmness and peace into our busy lives. His feast day is 16 January. flowing from its source in the hills to empty itself into the sea at Amble. Coquet Island, it is said by St Bede to have been famous for the meeting place of Monks during the conversion of Northumberland and the Abbess of Whitby In front of us stands Warkworth Castle, prevailed upon St Cuthbert to meet her there in AD 684 for consultation which in the past was a fortified residence; a great castle and a centre of authority. Today that power is gone but the majestic ruins still rule the countryside. Admire the wonder of God’s creative splendour and reflect on the river representing the flow of the Spirit of God through his church. “And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding, out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” Rev: 22:1 As we continue our stroll you may see Swans, herons and other seabirds foraging for food and if you are lucky an occasional leaping salmon which Walking back along the river towards the estuary we see the remains of old reminds us of the story of creation. piers which remind us of the birth of the Amble Parish, when in 1839 a considerable number of Irish labourers were attracted to Amble when the “And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly harbour works commenced. above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems Let us ponder for a while and acknowledge the old workings, as bringing to an and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged end our former identity and looking at the developments to the right – such as bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed the Harbour Village – as our new mission in Partnership with other Parishes them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in As we head further along the road we turn at the bottom of the hill into Victoria the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, Place and up the winding path to our Parish Garden of Calvary reminding us of and there was morning—the fifth day” Genesis 1:20 the route Our Lord took on the way to his crucifixion. .