The Green Chapel: A Mythic Walk to Lud’s Church

A small Ghostlights journey into Back Forest and the moss-covered chasm of Lud’s Church, following Sir Gawain and the Green Knight through questions of promise, fear and return.

Some places feel as though they have been waiting for a story.

Hidden near Gradbach, Lud’s Church is not a church building but a deep, moss-covered chasm reached through Back Forest. Legends have gathered around it for centuries, and it has often been associated with the mysterious Green Chapel in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

In the poem, Gawain travels into a wild winter landscape to keep a promise he would rather escape.

Our version is not a reenactment, costume event or formal ritual. It is a small day walk using the story as a lens through which to explore landscape, fear, honour, promise and return.

THE JOURNEY

We will meet at Manchester Piccadilly and travel together by train to Macclesfield.

From Macclesfield station, a pre-booked group taxi or minibus will take us to Gradbach, where the walk begins. The return vehicle will also be arranged in advance.

From Gradbach, we will follow a roughly three-mile circular route through Back Forest to Lud’s Church, with pauses for the landscape, a little context and informal conversation.

At the chasm, there will be a short reading from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, followed by time to explore quietly.

We will then stop outside the chasm for a packed lunch and a simple creative exercise.

THE FIELD LEAF

Each person will receive a small folded field leaf containing a story fragment, a simple illustration of the route and a few optional prompts exploring promise, fear and return.

The route sketch is illustrative rather than a navigation map. We will remain together as a group throughout the walk.

You might write, draw, photograph, talk or simply walk.

Nothing has to be completed or shared. The field leaf is there to help you notice the landscape, reflect on the story and carry one small fragment of the journey home.

No knowledge of medieval poetry is needed, and you do not need to hold any particular spiritual beliefs. The aim is to let an old story alter the way we see a real place, and perhaps let the place alter the story in return.

PRACTICAL DETAILS

Manchester meeting point: Manchester Piccadilly

Train: 10:46 to Macclesfield
Scheduled arrival: 11:17

The exact meeting time and expected return time will be added once the train and group transport have been confirmed.

We will remain together throughout the woodland walk. Attendees will not be expected to navigate independently.

This is a hilly woodland walk of approximately three miles on steep, muddy and uneven paths, with gates, steps, wet rock and exposed roots.

It is not step-free. You should be comfortable walking outdoors for several hours and wearing footwear with good grip.

Please message me before booking if you are uncertain whether the route will be suitable for you.

Bring:

• waterproof walking shoes or boots;
• weatherproof layers;
• water and a packed lunch;
• any medication you may need;
• a charged phone.

There are no facilities at Lud’s Church itself.

The event itself is free, although attendees must cover their own train fare and an equal share of the pre-booked group transport.

The estimated transport cost and payment arrangements will be confirmed before RSVPs are finalised. Please RSVP only if you are reasonably sure you can attend, as the vehicle will be booked according to the final group size.

SUPPORTING GHOSTLIGHTS

Optional donations towards Meetup fees, printed field materials and future Ghostlights events are warmly appreciated, but are never required to attend:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VELPUMRYRU4LW

18+. Maximum ten people, including the organiser.

Ghostlights Collective explores practical esotericism, folklore, myth, depth psychology and the imaginative arts through participatory events in and around Manchester.