ANTHONY KNIGHT, who turned 20 on Monday and is in his second year at the Royal College of Music (RCM), remembers the moment when he dreamed up the idea now called the “Pilgrimage of Hope”, during which he has toured hundreds of churches across the UK and Europe, playing the violin and raising funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine appeal and UNICEF.
It was in 2022, while he was still at school, and Mr Knight was at the dentist in Minehead, Somerset, home to his parents, Paul and Solveiga. “I remember it very well,” he tells the Church Times.
“I was waiting with my dad, and I remember feeling very concerned for the situation of the war in Ukraine, and I was reflecting on it, thinking, God has given me this gift of music, and I wanted to use this gift that God has given me. So, I thought, it makes obvious sense that I should go around churches in my local area, just playing at the end of services, to raise money for Ukraine at the beginning.”
His preferred pieces included Ladies in Lavender by Nigel Hess; Schindler’s List Theme by John Williams; Telemann’s Fantasia No. 7: Dolce; Bach’s Sonata No. 3: Largo; Meditation from Thaïs by Massenet; and Nigun, from Baal Shem by Ernst Bloch.
After touring 63 churches in Somerset, where he was surprised by the generosity and warmth of the congregations, he raised £13,000, at that point, for the DEC and Ukraine. He then embarked, in 2023-24, on a tour of 12 countries around Europe in 12 months, travelling some 13,500 miles.
Then, in May 2025, his faith deepened after something of a religious experience on a pilgrimage to Assisi which, he said, “transformed my life” and was “a true moment of repentance”. He was “glorifying God in this tiny little chapel”, the Portiuncula, in Santa Maria de Angeli. “I remember I was just glorifying God for the life he’s given me. . . And then I felt these words from God . . . and I’ve always held this in my heart. It was, ‘Go, child, your faith has renewed you.’
“And, in these performances I do in these churches, I always finish my recital or my speaking by asking people to give thanks to God. After the two pieces that I play, I speak to them about uniting their sufferings to Christ, and bringing their sufferings to the cross. But then, the final message that I have for all of them, is to . . . to recognise the blessings he’s given you, to glorify him for it.”
THE KNIGHT FAMILY Anthony Knight
Mr Knight is a Roman Catholic by upbringing, but dismisses denominational barriers. “One of my passions in playing at these Anglican churches is [to] try to bring unity in some ways as well, to show that we don’t need the divide of just completely ignoring each other,” he says. “We all believe in Christ.” But, after battling to fit in at school, and developing alcohol and other addiction issues, he credits the Assisi experience as bringing him home to his own Christian faith.
“I was in Year 9, and I remember just kind of wanting to fit in, but I just couldn’t. I remember then, I said, ‘OK, I’m not Christian any more.’ And, although I announced to everyone that I wasn’t Christian, looking back and reflecting on myself, I still say I’ve retained the faith, always. I feel like I’ve always known Christ died and rose.”
Mr Knight was especially inspired by the millennial saint Carlo Acutis, an English-born Italian teenager known for his devotion to the eucharist and his use of digital media to promote the faith. Mr Knight calls St Carlo “my brother”.
Today, that faith is solid. Mr Knight is in the middle of a tour of the capital which began last October, with 62 churches booked and a target of 100 churches, and £7800 raised for UNICEF so far. Since October, he has played in 37 churches, with 25 churches yet to visit.
He invites those listening not to view his recitals as a performance, but as joining in prayer. “As I’m playing, they’re not just watching me, going, ‘Oh, wow, so nice,’ but they’re actually going into prayer — to pray for children, as well, I’ll ask, but also to unite their sufferings as I am playing.”
It can be emotional. Once, when Mr Knight was playing at All Hallows’-by-the-Tower, in the City of London, “I noticed, while I was speaking to the congregation, I could see this couple in tears. They were actually properly crying. And afterwards, I went up to them, and they hugged me, which is incredible. You know, it’s not really a common thing in the church that I get embraced after this recital, but they hugged me, and they were crying.”
His talents have been recognised. In January 2023, he received the High Sheriff’s Award at St John’s, Cutcombe, for his charity work in Somerset. He was nominated for the award by the Revd David Weir, Benefice Priest of the Exmoor Benefice. He later received the Sandy Padgett Pride of Somerset Youth Award. The event, organised by the Rotary Club of Taunton for the past 16 years, recognises young people that have “shown acts of kindness, overcome adversity, or helped their local community”. Then, at the House of Commons, he received a Young Achiever Award; and the Lions Club Young Leaders in Service Gold Award for his charity work.
Mr Knight’s mother says: “We’re incredibly proud of him, and it’s such a joy to see how his faith has really come alive.” His father adds: “He’s a good lad, and we always look forward on a Sunday, to when he gives us a call, to say how each church visit has gone.”
Mr Knight picked UNICEF because of “the special importance of children who are going through sufferings at this early stage, and to help them. And I think what really sticks with me is what Christ always teaches us: to be like a child. The importance of keeping the safety of children is of paramount importance for everyone.”
THE KNIGHT FAMILYSome of the 62 London churches on Anthony Knight’s current itinerary
And, like Acutis, he is inspiring others today. The Vicar of St Clement and St James, Notting Hill, the Revd Gareth Wardell, says: “What an amazingly talented young man he is, but also what a joy it was to meet someone whose faith shines so evidently in his life, and is clearly an integral part of his artistic endeavour. We were blessed indeed to have him with us.”
The Vicar of Holy Innocents’, Hammersmith, the Revd David Matthews, comments: “Anthony’s visit was a complete joy and blessing. People were so moved and appreciative of his kindness and talent in equal measure.”
Mr Knight learnt public speaking by touring preparatory schools in London, during his first year at RCM, for his charity project “Music In Motion”. The aim was to inspire children and help them to become aware of how classical music could benefit their emotional and mental health. His school performances engaged young children by retelling stories such as “Jack and the Beanstalk”, using excerpts from classical pieces. “He was the perfect role model,” the headmistress of Wetherby Preparatory School, Nina Kingsmill-Moore, said.
Mr Knight is still on a mission. “I really feel that, in some ways, God is calling me to help children across the world who are suffering,” he says.
“And then, now that I’m in London, I want to just focus on London churches. . . I’ve called it my ‘Pilgrimage of hope’, because there are so many dark things in the news that we’re hearing lately, one thing [that’s important] is really to spread hope. Without hope, we have nothing. And, of course, Christ is our centre of hope.”
To donate, visit: gofund.me/52af72894