A Pilgrimage to our Spiritual Past

A Pilgrimage to England and Scotland

Led by:

The Rev. Greg Foraker
St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church
Tucson, AZ

July 16 – 25, 2013

DAY 1: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 - Depart the Phoenix Airport on United Airlines to Washington Dulles.  There, we will transfer to our trans-Atlantic flight into Manchester. M

DAY 2: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - We arrive at the Manchester airport where we meet our guide and driver and transfer to our waiting motor coach.  We depart Manchester traveling north to Durham, once the capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria, now a thriving university town.  We visit Durham Cathedral, begun in the 10th century and now admired by historians and architects from all over the world.  We see the Bishop's Throne, the Sanctuary Knocker, the Tomb of Bishop Hatfield and the Galilee Chapel which contains the tombstone of the Venerable Bede, the Northumbrian monk credited with being England's first historian.  We continue on to Lindisfane, also known as Holy Island.  The island has been inhabited since the Iron Age and Christianity was brought to the island by St. Aidan when he established a monastery here in AD 635.  St. Aidan came from Iona where he was a monk in the monastery founded there by St. Columba.  St. Aidan was not the first person on Lindisfarne, but he is the first known name mentioned in relation to the island.  Under its greatest Abbot, Cuthbert, Lindisfarne became one of the greatest centers of learning in Christendom.  Dinner and overnight Lindisfarne. D

Note that access to and from the island is via a causeway and therefore governed by low tides.

DAY 3: Thursday, July 18, 2013 - Today we visit Lindisfarne Priory, Lindisfarne Castle and have time for reflection and prayer in this quiet, holy place.  Dinner and overnight Lindisfarne. BD

DAY 4: Friday, July 19, 2013 - This morning we meet with a member of the Community of Aidan and Hilda who will discuss various aspects of the history of the island and the northern saints and then will lead the group across the sands and mud flats, walking the ancient route via the pilgrim posts.  Overnight Lindisfarne. B

DAY 5: Saturday, July 20, 2013 - After breakfast we depart for Scotland to the Isle of Iona where we step back into the Celtic spiritual history of Scotland.  A monastery was established by St. Columba on Iona in the 6th century and Columba died here on Iona in 597.  Iona is a true “thin space” where, through the ages, pilgrims have sensed the nearness of the Holy throughout the ages.  We visit the Iona Heritage Centre to see how the islanders’ have lived over the past 200 years.  Dinner and overnight Iona. BD

DAY 6: Sunday, July 21, 2013 - After breakfast we attend the 10:30 AM service at Iona Abbey.  Following services, we will walk to the Chapter House where we will participate in the introductory session “What is the Iona Community?”.  The rest of the day we will be free to spend time on the island reflecting.  Overnight Iona. B

DAY 7: Monday, July 22, 2013 - Today we will be free to explore the island on our own.  This evening we attend the Village Hall for a Ceilidh (pronounced Kay-lee), a Scottish get-together held at 10 PM.  Overnight Iona. B

DAY 8: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - After breakfast we visit St. Oran’s Chapel, built in the 11th century.  Surrounding the chapel is the Reilig Odhrain, the sacred burial ground which is said to contain the graves of 48 Scottish kings, including that of Macbeth’s victim, Duncan.  We continue to Nunnery Church and Church of St. Ronan for morning prayers and singing.  The rest of the day will be free to continue our exploration of the island or join one of the two pilgrimage walks.  Every Tuesday the Iona Community hosts a pilgrimage walk across the island. This is an all day event that will be somewhat challenging visiting places of both historic and religious significance.  The pilgrimage begins from the Abbey grounds at 10:15 AM and you must dress for all weather and bring sturdy boots.  There is also an “On Road” pilgrimage that begins at 12 Noon and returns around 3:30 PM.  The remainder of the day, there will be time to explore the several shops unique to Iona or spend time in quiet prayer and reflection.  We attend evening services at the Abbey.  Dinner and overnight Iona. BD

DAY 9: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - We travel to Glasgow by way of Fort William where we see Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain.  We continue on through the spectacular Trossachs to Loch Lomond, the largest of Scotland’s lakes and, according to Sir Walter Scott, “The Queen of Scottish Lakes.”  Our journey ends at the second largest city in Scotland, Glasgow, where we will enjoy a panoramic tour, visit the St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life, and Glasgow Cathedral for evensong.  The Cathedral is a rare example of an almost complete original 13th century church.  It was here that St. Mungo, a 6th century Bishop of Strathclyde and Glasgow’s patron saint, told the oxen pulling a cart with the remains of Fergus (a holy man) to take the cart to where God wanted him to build his church.  The oxen took Fergus’ remains to the spot where the cathedral was built and now stands.  This evening we will enjoy a “farewell to Scotland” dinner.  Overnight Glasgow. BD

DAY 10: Thursday, July 25, 2013 - After breakfast in our hotel, we depart for the Glasgow Airport and board United Airlines for our departure to Newark.  There we will transfer to our flight into the Phoenix Airport arriving early evening. BM

Price: $3,019.00  Pricing based on double occupancy and excludes airline taxes and fuel surcharges, which are estimated as of December 20, 2012 to be $657.40 per person and will be added to your final payment invoice.  Roundtrip air from Phoenix Airport.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement is $249.00.

** The price is not guaranteed and may change due to the fluctuation of the British Pound and the US dollar.  We make every effort to avoid any increase and will only do so if the value of the dollar falls against the British Pound.  Your pricing was based on the exchange rate of $1.63 to the British Pound. **

Final Payment due April 16, 2013

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until April 16, 2013: $400.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ April 17 - May 31, 2013: $600.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After June 1, 2013: NO REFUND

$500.00 per person deposit due with registration and copy of passport by October 1, 2011.

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner, M Meals on Aircraft

The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.