Sacred Harp Tour - Itinerary
Your hymnal comes to life on this tour featuring hymns and their authors & composers throughout England and Wales. Attend Evensong services and participate in singings at many sites on the trip. Gaze in awe at the imposing York Minster Cathedral, largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. Visit Epworth, the village where John and Charles Wesley grew up. Explore Cambridge and its Kings College Chapel; and visit the towns of Hodnet, Malpas, and Chester, all important places in the life of Bishop Reginald Heber, who moved to India and is buried as Lord Bishop of Calcutta.
See William Shakespeare’s birthplace at Stratford, and walk among the hallowed university buildings of Oxford. Among its 28 colleges is Regents Park College, a Baptist institution possessing a museum devoted to William Carey mementos. See The Kilns, former home of C.S. Lewis, and the Eagle & Child Pub, the most famous meeting point for Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and their friends – collectively known as The Inklings. Ponder the mystery of Stonehenge, and travel to the historic port of Bristol from which many historic voyages began. Conclude your journey in London where Isaac Watts, Susannah Wesley, and John Bunyan are buried at Bunhill Fields Cemetery; and see Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Parliament, and Hyde Park.
The sequence of touring and days may be altered to adjust to religious holidays, special closings of sites, air schedule changes, etc. Hotels listed subject to availability. Meal inclusions may vary by departure.
DAY 1 - USA/MANCHESTER
We depart the U.S. on our transatlantic jet bound for Manchester to begin our journey back through the pages of our hymnals. We enjoy a hearty dinner on board. (meals aloft)
DAY 2 - MANCHESTER/YORK
“John Fawcett’s Hebden Bridge”
After arrival Manchester, we board our motorcoach and travel to Hebden Bridge. This is where John Fawcett, who wrote a number of hymns including “Blest Be The Tie,” served. From here, we proceed to York for overnight at our hotel. (B aloft)
DAY 3 - YORK
“Historic York”
This morning we enjoy a walking tour of York. A highlight of our touring is the historical York Minster Cathedral. Hosting two million visitors per year, it is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. Time permitting, we will participate in their Evensong service at 5:15 pm. We return to our hotel for overnight. (B)
DAY 4 - YORK/EPWORTH/CAMBRIDGE
“Epworth: Birthplace of the Wesleys”
In Epworth, the village where John and Charles Wesley grew up, we visit the Old Rectory. Then we travel on to Cambridge, for an afternoon walking tour including a visit to Kings College Chapel. (B)
DAY 5 - NORTHAMPTON/OLNEY/CAMBRIDGE
“Philip Doddridge, John Newton, & William Cowper”
We travel first to Northampton, where Philip Doddridge served as pastor and community leader, to visit Doddridge Memorial Congregational Church. We then proceed to Olney where John Newton - the converted slave trader who wrote “Amazing Grace,” and William Cowper - perhaps best known for writing “There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood,” wrote many hymns. We visit Newton’s burial site and have a guided tour of the Cowper & Newton Museum. Return to Cambridge for overnight. (B)
DAY 6 - CAMBRIDGE/DERBY
“Robert Robinson of Cambridge”
We depart Cambridge, where Robert Robinson, author of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” spent a number of years preaching and writing. We travel on to Derby, where we will participate in a Sacred Harp singing with UK singers. (B)
DAY 7 - HODNET/MALPAS/CHESTER/DERBY
“Reginald Heber”
Our touring today features the life of Bishop Reginald Heber, composer of “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” Born in nearby Malpas, Heber composed a number of hymns while living in Hodnet, before moving to India where he died and is buried as Lord Bishop of Calcutta. This afternoon we have a walking tour of Chester, where Heber spent his early years. Time and schedule permitting, we will participate in the 3:30 pm Evensong service at Chester Cathedral. We return to Derby for overnight. (B)
DAY 8 - DERBY/STRATFORD/OXFORD
“Shakespeare’s Stratford plus Oxford”
We leave Derby this morning and travel to Stratford, where we visit William Shakespeare's birthplace and see the 16th century Harvard House, and the Guildhall. We travel on to Oxford, the intellectual center of western civilization where countless great men of the world, including John and Charles Wesley, began their educations and careers in her hallowed university halls. As early as the 12th century, Oxford was already a renowned center of scholarship. Today it is composed of 28 colleges, including Regents Park College, a Baptist institution which has a museum of William Carey mementos. This area was often visited by C. S. Lewis and he taught here for a time. Oxford is home to The Kilns, former home of C.S. Lewis, and the Eagle & Child pub, the most famous meeting point for C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and friends, the Inklings. They met here regularly and read passages from their current works. The day is highlighted by our visit to Lincoln College Chapel and our tour of Christchurch College Cathedral. If available, we may participate in an Evensong service here this afternoon. Overnight is at our hotel in Oxford. (B)
DAY 9 - STONEHENGE/SALISBURY/SOUTHAMPTON/OXFORD
“Salisbury Cathedral plus Isaac Watts’ Southampton”
We travel to Amesbury to visit the mysterious Stonehenge where we see a fascinating collection of ancient monoliths placed there nearly 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. They were once used to calculate the eclipses and equinoxes. We proceed to the market town of Salisbury to visit its Cathedral, which has the tallest spire in England, and then we travel on to Broughton to see the Baptist Church, Chapel, and Old Manse. Our final stop of the day is Southampton to view the Isaac Watts Memorial and the Mayflower Memorial. Watts is the author of the largest number of hymn texts in The Sacred Harp. We return to Oxford for overnight. (B)
DAY 10 - OXFORD/BRISTOL
“Bristol and the Wesleys”
We travel to Bristol, hailed as the port where many historic voyages began. In 1497 John Cabot sailed from Bristol on a journey that led to the discovery of the northern half of the New World. Here in this one-time home of Charles Wesley, we visit the New Room and Wesley’s House. Those who wish to may participate in the 5:15 pm Evensong service at Bristol Cathedral. (B)
DAY 11 - SOUTH WALES/CARDIFF/BRISTOL
“South Wales and William Williams”
Today we travel to South Wales, where we have the privilege of being escorted by the Rev. Alan Luff, an authority on Welsh hymns and their tunes. We begin at Llandovery where we visit the Parish Church and Memorial Chapel. We continue to Cardiff for a brief visit and return to Bristol for overnight. (B)
DAY 12 - BRISTOL/LONDON
“Wesley’s Chapel and Bunhill Fields”
This morning we depart Bristol and head to London. Down through the years, from a small Roman settlement housed within stout fortifications, London has steadily grown to become one of the world's greatest capital cities. This afternoon we will visit Bunhill Fields Cemetery, where John Rippon (publisher of “How Firm A Foundation”), Isaac Watts, Susannah Wesley, Daniel Defoe (author of Robinson Crusoe), John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim’s Progress), and many other notables are buried. We also stop at City Road Chapel. Tonight we are treated to a special dinner at our traditional English hotel, the St. Giles Hotel, located just off Oxford Street. (B,D)
DAY 13 - LONDON
“The Sights of London”
We will see many famous places on our panoramic tour this morning - Marble Arch, Mayfair, Piccadilly, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park - and enjoy visits to Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. The balance of the day is at leisure for exploring on your own, shopping or just relaxing. You may wish to take in a theatre show this evening. Our last night in England is again spent in the heart of London’s West End at the traditional St. Giles Hotel. (B)
DAY 14 - LONDON/USA
We depart this morning for the airport and board our jet for the transatlantic flight to the States. (B)
