13. CHRISTIAN HERITAGE TOUR OF BRITAIN

We begin our day with a visit to the glorious Westminster Abbey where most British Kings and Queens have not only been crowned, but also are buried.  Later we will proceed to enjoy the “Changing of the Guards” ceremony at Buckingham Palace. In the afternoon, we will visit John Wesley’s Chapel, his home, and the Museum of Methodism. We will conclude the day with a visit to Bunhill Cemetery where John Bunyan, Isaac Watts, John Gill, and Susanna Wesley are all buried. The rest of the day is free for shopping and sightseeing on your own.

Overnight stay at London (B D)

Today we will visit the Hampton Court Palace which was built by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and, it was also the principal residence of Henry VIII during the separation of the English church from Rome. We will then drive to London, and enjoy a brief tour to visit the Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Big Ben Parliament House, Trafalgar Square with the Lord Nelson Column, Piccadilly Circus, and many more of London’s famous landmarks. Later in the afternoon we will proceed to a guided boat ride including all the sites along the Thames and will conclude with London Eye; the world’s highest observation wheel which offers amazing panoramic views of the capital city.

Overnight stay at London (B D)

We will depart London for a drive through the East Anglian countryside to Cambridge. Cambridge, the focal point of Reformation thought in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, was also where both Wycliffe and Tyndale engaged in the translation of the Bible into English. On our walking tour through Cambridge University, we will learn about Cambridge’s role in the Protestant church. We will continue to the ancient city of Lincoln for dinner.

Overnight in Lincoln (B D)

Today we will enjoy the stunning and gothic Lincoln Cathedral; the tallest building in the world during the middle ages. It still amazingly retains the pulpit where John Wesley preached. In the afternoon we will journey to Edinburgh, Scotland’s ancient capital, and will pass by the stunning coastal backdrop along the way.

Overnight stay in Edinburgh (B D)

This morning  we will enjoy a walking tour of Edinburgh, including St. Giles Church, Greyfriar’s Church, Magdalene Chapel, John Knox House, and the Royal Mile. We will proceed to the historic fortress known as Edinburgh Castle, in order to visit St. Margaret’s Chapel, which dates back to early 12^th century. Later in the afternoon, we will drive to South Queensferry to visit the oldest Carmelite church in Britain, before a visit to the island of Inchcolm, with its spectacular ruined abbey and abundant wildlife (March-October only).

Overnight stay in Edinburgh (B D)

Today we will journey to St. Andrews which was the spiritual epicenter of Scotland for many centuries.  We will have the opportunity to visit the ruined castle, where George Wishart was captive, and pray at his martyrdom site. We will also see the ruined St. Andrews Cathedral, which was once the largest church in Scotland, before it fell into ruin after John Knox’s speech, who was inspired by Wishart’s martyrdom. Later, we will see the memorial to Robert the Bruce  who played a vital role in uniting the Scottish people.

After lunch, we will visit the glorious Stirling Castle, where James VI was educated by George Buchanan. We will also make a visit to the nearby Holy Rude Church, which was once a royal cathedral where John Knox preached for James VI’s baptism.

Overnight stay in Edinburgh (B D)

We will journey to the strikingly beautiful Holy Island of Lindisfarne, one of the birthplaces of Christianity in England. St Aidan established a monastery in the 7^th century and where John Wesley preached having ‘ridden over the sands to Holy Island’. We will also visit the Lindesfarne Castle prior to an afternoon visit to the historic Bamburgh Castle which boasts of fantastic coastal views.

Overnight stay in Edinburgh (B D)

Today we will depart Edinburgh to visit Rosslyn Chapel, famous both for its decorative art and its mysterious associations with the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail, and the Freemasons. The mysteries of Rosslyn Chapel played a significant role in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. We will then visit the beautiful Fountains Abbey, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and also one of England’s best preserved monastic ruins. We will continue through the scenic countryside to historic York which is England’s most beautifully preserved medieval city.

Overnight stay in York (B D)

In the morning we will enjoy a fascinating walking tour to the most interesting sites of this unique city including York Minster, the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, the world-famous Jorvik Viking Centre and the Yorkshire Museum with its lovely botanical gardens.

Overnight stay in York (B D)

Today we will drive through the heart of Middle England to the City of Dreaming Spires: Oxford, home of the oldest university in the English-speaking world. We will then proceed to a 2- hour walking tour of Oxford, exploring the city and the university buildings. The tour concludes at Christ Church College with its tower designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Overnight in Oxford (B D)

This morning we will  travel to the beautiful city of Salisbury, where we will visit the Salisbury Cathedral to view an original copy of the Magna Carta, as well as  admire the tallest point in Britain. After lunch we travel up the Avon valley to Stonehenge; the most mysterious and puzzling of all monuments . Later, we will journey towards the West Kennet Long Barrow, a burial chamber dating back 5,500 years. We will then proceed to Avebury, Britain’s largest stone circle, before  returning to Oxford.

Overnight in Oxford (B D)

After breakfast, we will check out from the hotel and then transfer to London International Airport for our return flight to Australia. (B)