Pictures from England

Grace Episcopal

Youth Pilgrimage to Scotland & England
Exploring Our Anglican Heritage

Led by:

Chaudron Gille
Grace Episcopal Church
Gainesville, GA

May 30 – June 8, 2014

Trip map

DAY 1: Friday, May 30, 2014 - Depart Atlanta Airport on US Airways for flight to Philadelphia.  There, we will transfer to our trans-Atlantic flight into Glasgow. M

DAY 2: Saturday, May 31, 2014 - Our pilgrimage begins:  Upon arrival in Glasgow, we clear immigration, meet our driver and travel into the city stopping along the way for a light breakfast.  We visit Glasgow Cathedral and the St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life.  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.  We continue on to visit the Cathedral of St. Mungo, the most significant historic building in Glasgow.  We visit the necropolis which was, for the most part, the burial place of the rich and influential.  Dinner and overnight Glasgow. D

DAY 3: Sunday, June 1, 2014 - This morning we worship at Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, one of the original Episcopalian 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 enjoy sightseeing in Edinburgh.  We will see the Royal Mile, the shopping district to Princess Street, the medieval town, the elegant squares of the Victorian and Georgian part of the city, St. Giles Cathedral, the Palace of Holyrood House which is the official residence of the Queen of England when she is in Scotland, and the Castle.  Time permitting we will be free to wander the ancient cobbled streets, shop, or visit one or two of the many art galleries and museums in small groups with chaperones.  Dinner and overnight Glasgow. BD

DAY 4: Monday, June 2, 2014 - We depart Glasgow and journey through Sir Walter Scott Country to Berwick – upon – Tweed.  We will stop along the way to visit the abbeys at Jedburgh and MelroseJedburgh Abbey is the most intact of all of the Borders Abbeys.  We will also visit Melrose where the Cistercian Abbey was one of the most famous of all of the Borders Abbeys.  Sir Walter Scott supervised the partial reconstruction of the abbey, considered to be one of the most beautiful ruins in Great Britain.  Overnight Berwick – upon – Tweed. BD

DAY 5: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 - We cross the tidal causeway to Lindisfarne, 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 his 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.  We enjoy the 3 mile Pilgrim’s Walk from the mainland to Lindisfarne when the tide is out.  Upon arrival we visit Lindisfarne Priory, Lindisfarne Castle and have time for reflection and prayer in this quiet, holy place.  We return to the mainland for dinner and overnight Berwick – upon – Tweed. BD

DAY 6: Wednesday, June 4, 2014 - After breakfast we travel back into Scotland to Iona, known as the cradle of Celtic Christianity, now with only about 100 inhabitants.  Upon arrival in Oban, we board the ferry (about a 45 minute ride) to the Isle of Mull.  Our bus will take us from Craignure across the largest of the Inner Hebridean Islands, Mull, through the moorlands to Fionnphort where we will board another ferry for a short ride (5 -10 minutes) to Iona.  We join the Iona Community tonight for Evening Prayer and have dinner and overnight on Iona. BD

DAY 7: Thursday, June 5, 2014 - After breakfast we make our way to the abbey for Morning Prayer and then adjourn to St. Oran’s Chapel for singing.  Iona is a small island off the west coast of Scotland where, in 563, Columba founded a Celtic monastery that was very influential in its own times.  According to one legend Columba was condemned by a Synod in 561, possibly due to his part in a dispute over the ownership of a copy of a Gospel.  Possibly because of the difficulties of separating his family political interests and his religious calling or possibly as a penance, he left his beloved Ireland with a group of twelve for exile on Iona.  In 563 he established a monastic community and became the first Abbot of Iona.  In the middle ages it was the site of a Benedictine abbey and over the centuries has attracted many thousands of people on their own pilgrim journeys. Free time to walk and pray is built into the schedule—a must on the Isle of Iona.  At noon, we will join in front of St. Martin’s Cross and begin a hike around the island with a guide from the Abbey.  We see ruins of the original abbey and the adjacent cemetery where 48 Scottish Kings are said to be buried.  We share in storytelling, debriefing our experiences, and browsing in the quaint shops.  After dinner we again join Evening Prayer in the Abbey.  Dinner and overnight on Iona. BD

DAY 8: Friday, June 6, 2014 - After Morning Prayer in the Abbey, we again pause in the acoustically lively little Chapel of St. Oran for some group singing.  Weather permitting, we will hike to the North End beach where we have some time for meditation, journaling, or just enjoying the beauty of this rugged island.  The area of the North End is seldom visited by pilgrims and offers the perfect place for reflection.  The rest of the day will be free for reflection and to explore on your own in small groups.  We meet up at the Abbey for Evening Prayer.  Dinner and overnight on Iona. BD

DAY 9: Saturday, June 7, 2014 - 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 of the city.  Dinner and overnight Glasgow. BD

DAY 10: Sunday, June 8, 2014 - An early morning departure for the Glasgow Airport to board US Airways for our flight to Philadelphia.  There, we will transfer to our flight to our final destination, the Atlanta Airport. M

Price: $3,529.00* based on 10 - 15 pilgrims.  Price per pilgrim based on varied occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Atlanta, GA.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single Supplement:  $329.00.

* Airline taxes and fuel surcharges as of October 18, 2013 were $659.64 per person and may change.  These will be added to the final invoice.

** 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 $1.62 to the British Pound.**

* Price includes Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

$300.00 per person deposit due with registration and copy of passport.

Final payment due February 28, 2014.

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until February 27, 2014:  $200.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ February 28 - April 14, 2014:  $300.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ April 15, 2014 or later:  NO REFUND

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.