THE Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has spent the penultimate week of his six-month pilgrimage in Ryedale.

Dr Sentamu journeyed through the Southern Ryedale Deanery until Sunday, when he led an open-air Pentecost Service at Castle Howard. He also meet with people on the street in Malton Market Place and attended an open evening at Malton School.

During the week, the Archbishop also met volunteers at Norton Foodbank and the racehorse chaplaincy team at the stables of Brian Ellison racing.

The penultimate part of his pilgrimage involved prayers at 12 churches and visiting 10 schools.

On Thursday he visited Rillington Primary School were he took part in a question and answer session with pupils before going to Sherburn play school.

Manager Boo Wharton said: "We were delighted to meet the Archbishop. He visited our new setting and spoke to the children before heading for his lunch at Sherburn Primary School."

On Friday, Dr Sentamu visited Terrington where he took the morning service at All Saints Church before attending a community breakfast hosted by Terrington Primary School and Terrington Hall School.

Terrington Hall’s headteacher Stephen Mulryne said: "The Archbishop’s visit to Terrington was a hugely happy occasion and drew the whole community together. It was a privilege to meet a man of such faith, warmth, humility and grace. He made a huge impression on everyone he met."

At the weekend, the Archbishop met people in Malton Market Place and led a service of prayers in St Leonard & St Mary’s RC Church.

He later attended a picnic in the grounds of nearby Castle Howard followed by an open air service to mark Pentecost.

The pilgrimage started at St Mary’s, Whitby, on December 1, last year, and finishes at York Minster on May 22.

Dr Sentamu said his pilgrimage had been a fantastic opportunity to go and meet people, see different areas and to encourage people to follow Christ.

Father Tim Bywater, parish priest at St Leonard and St Mary’s Church, said: “The Archbishop spent about an hour with us. After praying privately he led us in a reflection on the Lord’s Prayer and prayed the Pilgrimage Prayers with us.

“The Archbishop’s visit to our parish church was an important and welcome ecumenical gesture, further cementing our ties with the Diocese of York.”