British church leaders of various denominations laced up their hiking boots, hoisted rucksacks and gathered laptops this week in order to publicise a unique virtual 'Journey to Jerusalem' for Lent 2009.

Modern-day pilgrims are being invited to celebrate the founder of Methodism by walking John Wesley's Way from Welshpool to Llanidloes, participating in street theatre and raising money for good causes.

Archbishop Emeritus and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu comes to St Alban's on Saturday, to lead the city's Annual Pilgrimage in remembrance of the killing of its patron saint. He will focus on the challenges of following Christ today.

A television documentary following British church leaders on a recent pre-Christmas 'pilgrimage of peace' to the Israel Palestine ‚Ä' and particularly Bethlehem, traditionally held to be the birthplace of Jesus ‚Ä' is due to be screened this weekend.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has told the people of Bethlehem that neither they, nor the pressures that they live under are forgotten in the West. During a pilgrimage to Bethlehem where he has joined three other senior English church leaders, Dr Williams addressed the city's civic representatives, stressing that problems had to be solved by people working together.