WETHERAL SHRINE

For nearly fifty years travellers along the A69 Carlisle to Newcastle road have passed by the Wayside Crucifix near Wetheral, just outside Carlisle.

In the late 1950s members of the Cell Movements (which evolved from the old Sword of the Spirit organisation) decided to witness their Faith by initiating a scheme whereby every main road into the City of Carlisle would have a visible reminder of Christ's Passion and Death.

In the event, only one such Wayside Crucifix was erected; planning permission, costs and the limited availability of land, prevented the construction of other shrines.

The Wetheral Crucifix has since been maintained by the Carlisle Council of the Knights of St Columba.

Each Good Friday afternoon a pilgrimage on foot to the Shrine has taken place, beginning at Warwick Square in Carlisle and ending with prayers for the City of Carlisle and a short service commemorating Christ's Passion. In recent years this has become a well supported ecumenical event.