Arthur Blessitt was a Christian preacher who went on a record-breaking pilgrimage that saw him carrying a large cross through nearly every nation on Earth.
- Died: January 14, 2025 (Who else died on January 14?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 84.
- We invite you to share condolences for Arthur Blessitt in our Guest Book.
Arthur Blessitt’s legacy
On December 25, 1969, Hollywood minister Blessitt set out to take a walk while carrying a large cross. That walk took him from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., and then to New York City, where he preached the gospel. But the road kept calling him, and so in 1971, he set out again – this time to walk the world. By the time Blessitt was done in 2008, he had carried the cross across all seven continents and in almost every country on Earth.
Born in Greenville, Mississippi, Blessitt was preaching the gospel by his 20s, initially in Baptist churches and later on the streets of Hollywood. There, he established a Christian coffee house called His Place in the late 1960s. Catering to those on the fringes of society, it became a haven for outreach and connection. It was during this time that he took on his mission to carry a cross and preach Christianity across the world.
Carrying a handmade wooden cross that he initially built to display at His Place, Blessitt set out to walk while ministering to people along the way. After crossing the United States, he expanded his mission internationally. Over the decades, he carried his cross over 43,000 miles, claiming to have visited 324 countries, island groups and territories in all. His travels are officially recognized in the Guinness World Records as the longest around-the-world ongoing pilgrimage.
Blessitt has documented his journeys in books such as “The Cross: 38,102 Miles, 38 Years, One Mission,” “A Walk with the Cross,” and “Give Me a ‘J’! (Sharing Christ with People).” His life story was the subject of multiple documentaries, including “The Cross Museum of Arthur and Denise Blessitt,” “Arthur: A Pilgrim,” and “The Cross: The Arthur Blessitt Story.” Over the years, he met several world leaders, including Pope John Paul II and President George W. Bush.
Tributes to Arthur Blessitt
Full obituary: The Christian Broadcasting Network
