Pictures from England

Exploring Our Anglican Spirituality
A Pilgrimage to Scotland & England

Led by:

The Rev’d Dr. J. Derek Harbin & Clifford King Harbin
St. John’s Church
Portsmouth, VA

September 12 - 25, 2015

Trip map

DAY 1, Saturday, September 12, 2015 - Depart from the Norfolk Airport on our trans-Atlantic flight into Edinburgh, Scotland. M

DAY 2: Sunday, September 13, 2015 - We arrive at the Edinburgh Airport where we will be met by our driver and guide.  Upon arrival we worship at Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, one of the original Episcopal churches in the city of Edinburgh, formed when the Bishop and his congregation were forced to leave St. Giles Cathedral at the time of the Presbyterian establishment of the Church of Scotland in 1689.  This afternoon we visit Edinburgh Castle.  This instantly recognizable fortress is a powerful national symbol and part of the Old and New towns of the Edinburgh World Heritage site.  We visit the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary, built in the 19th century in the west end of Edinburgh’s New Town.  Dinner and overnight Edinburgh. D

DAY 3: Monday, September 14, 2015 - After breakfast we depart Edinburgh and visit the exquisite 15th century medieval Midlothian Roslyn Chapel.  Our journey continues as we begin our trek to Iona, driving through the beautiful borders to the Highlands of Scotland and along the shores of one of Scotland’s most scenic and famous lakes, Loch Lomond.  We will be taking the “high road” this day and learning why we don’t want the “low road” to Loch Lomond and Oban.  It is in this area of the Trossachs that Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734) lived and gained his reputation.  Upon arrival in Oban we visit the Oban Distillery, famous for its single malt Scotch whisky.  We take the 6 pm ferry to Iona, the “entry way of Christianity into Scotland”.  St. Columba landed here from Ireland in 563 AD and founded the monastery that was to become the most important in Europe.  Dinner and overnight Iona. BD

DAY 4: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - 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 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 5: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 - After breakfast we visit St. Oran’s Chapel, built in the 12th century.  Surrounding the chapel is the Reilig Odhrain, the sacred burial ground which is said to contain the graves of 48 Scottish kings, including Macbeth’s victim, Duncan.  We continue to Nunnery Church and Church of St. Ronan for morning prayers and singing.  We take the ferry back to Oban to continue our journey south into England to Berwick- Upon-Tweed for dinner and overnight. BD

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

DAY 6: Thursday, September 17, 2015 - Our journey continues to Berwick-Upon-Tweed where we will walk across the tidal causeway, the ancient route of pilgrims across the sand and mud flat from the mainland to Holy Island, Lindisfarne, with its Priory and Castle.  In 635 AD St. Aidan came from Iona and chose to found his monastery on Lindisfarne, one of the most important early centers of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England.  The Christian message flourished here and spread throughout the world.  On arrival we will have a talk from a member of the Community of Aidan and Hilda on various aspects of the history of the island and the northern Saints.  We return to Berwick-Upon-Tweed for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 7: Friday, September 18, 2015 - Today we travel to Durham, once the capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria, and now a thriving university town.  The city has been preserved and protected and offers a great deal of insight into the England of old.  We visit Durham Castle and the 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, and the tomb of Bishop Hatfield.  We make the ancient pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Cuthbert and St. Oswald and see the tomb of the Venerable Bede.  We climb to the top of the Cathedral Tower where on a clear day you can see for miles.  We continue to York for Evensong at York Minster.  Dinner and overnight York. BD

DAY 8: Saturday, September 19, 2015 - This morning we enjoy a walking tour of the many layers of York’s history which includes Roman, Viking, Norman, and Plantagenet.  We visit York Minster, the largest Gothic church in England and seat of the Archbishop of York, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury in the hierarchy of the Church of England.  The tour will include The Shambles, a perfectly preserved medieval street with half-timbered stores and houses.  We continue on to Whitby for a visit to Whitby Abbey, founded by St. Hilda in AD 657.  Caedmon, the first identifiable poet of the English language, was a monk here.  The Abbey was the site of the Synod of Whitby where the Roman and Celtic churches met for the first time to discuss their respective Christian religions.  We visit Rievaulx Abbey before returning to York for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 9: Sunday, September 20, 2015 - An early morning departure today as we continue traveling south to Coventry where we worship and tour both aspects of Coventry Cathedral, a medieval cathedral which was bombed and virtually destroyed by the German Luftwaffe in World War II and then the modern cathedral which was built inside the medieval shell as a monument to peace.  This afternoon we visit the ancient circle of stones at Stonehenge which were placed here around 2800 BC and the purpose of which still mystifies historians.  We continue our journey to Salisbury for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 10: Monday, September 21 , 2015 - This morning we enjoy a tour of Salisbury Cathedral, built between 1220-1258.  We will see the remarkable lancet windows and sculpted tombs of crusaders and other medieval heroes.  The clock in the north aisle is probably the oldest working mechanism in Europe if not the entire world.  We will also see one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta.  We will tour the Cathedral Close (the grounds of the cathedral) and see High Street Gate.  Our journey continues to Canterbury where we attend Evensong at the Cathedral.  Dinner and overnight Canterbury. BD

DAY 11: Tuesday, September 22 , 2015 - This morning we visit and worship at Canterbury Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Anglican Communion and site of the murder of Thomas á Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury.  In the afternoon we visit St. Martin’s and St. Augustine Abbey which is the burial place of Augustine, England’s first missionary.  The remainder of the afternoon we will have time to explore the many offerings of this great city on our own.  Overnight Canterbury. B

DAY 12: Wednesday, September 23 , 2015 - After breakfast we travel to St. Alban’s; this ancient town was named for Alban, Britain’s first Christian martyr.  The shrine erected where he died became an abbey and later St. Alban’s Cathedral.  The cathedral, founded in the 8th century, is built of bricks taken from a nearby Roman site and, in the 11th century, it was expanded and became the principal Benedictine Abbey in England.  We continue to London where we enjoy a guided panoramic sightseeing tour of Buckingham Palace, home of the Queen; Trafalgar Square; Big Ben; and the Houses of Parliament; the Tower Bridge; and the Tower of London, which is guarded by the Beefeaters and contains the crown jewels, and Westminster Abbey, site of the coronations of Britain’s royalty.  We end our day with a tour of Westminster Abbey.  Dinner and overnight London. BD

DAY 13: Thursday, September 24 , 2015 - Pending confirmation, we visit Lambeth Palace, the residence and working office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the worldwide Anglican Church.  We visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, the great English Baroque building which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the medieval cathedral destroyed in the fire of 1666.  The crypt here contains the tombs of Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.  We continue to the Tower of London for a tour where we will see the Yeoman Warders of the Tower (the Beefeaters) in their Tudor-style uniforms, the White Tower, the Bloody Tower, the crown jewels, the Chapel of St. John, the Tower Bridge, the Traitors Gate, and Tower Green, the site of the executioner’s block.  After the tour, we will cruise along the Thames River to the Embankment.  This evening we enjoy a “farewell to England” dinner.  Overnight London. BD

DAY 14: Friday, September 25 , 2015 - We depart the London Airport for our flight back into the Norfolk Airport. BM

Price: $4,659.00  Price is based on a minimum of 17 - 19 Pilgrims, double occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Norfolk, VA Airport on Aer Lingus.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single Supplement $719.00.

* Pricing does not include airline taxes and fuel surcharges currently at $726.00 per pilgrim and subject to change until the tickets are issued.  The price is not guaranteed and may change upon confirmation of the air space and 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 $1.62 to the British Pound.

Roommate needed. If a roommate cannot be found, I understand that I will be charged for the single supplement.

$600.00 per person deposit due with application and copy of passport.

Final payment due June 9, 2015..

Tips for the driver and guide are NOT included.

Worldwide Pilgrimage Ministries provides the following basic travel insurance for you at no additional cost:
◊ Accident and Sickness Medical Expense    $50,000
◊ Common Carrier A D & D                              $25,000
◊ Trip Delay, Missed Connection                       $1,000
◊ Medical Evacuation/Repatriation                $250,000
◊ Baggage/Baggage Delay                        $1,500/$250
◊ Emergency Assistance

It is recommended that you purchase additional coverage.  Go to our website www.worldwidepilgrimage.com and click on Travelex Insurance to read the coverages and rules regarding existing conditions or call 800-228-9792 Location # 09-1983.  An application for travel insurance will be included with the receipt for your deposit.  We strongly recommend that you seriously consider this coverage.

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until June 8, 2015:  $400.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ June 9 – July 23, 2015:  $600.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ July 24, 2015 or later:  NO REFUND

Terms and Conditions:
◊ 1. PRICES ARE CASH.  AMERICAN EXPRESS ACCEPTED FOR FINAL PAYMENT ONLY ADD'L 3%.
◊ 2. Names as on passport.  If name is incorrect and tickets reissued, $50 fee plus change fees from airline.
◊ 3. $100 deviation fee plus any additional airfare, hotel, tour or admission charges.

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.