December 4-12, 2020
hosted by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church | from $2,900 per person
Discover the south of England as a pilgrim along a recently-rediscovered ancient pilgrimage route. The “Old Way” to Canterbury was marked on Britain’s oldest road map, circa 1360. The map traces a route to the holy center of Canterbury that differs from more modern pilgrim routes. Experience the Old Way with Rev. Nathan Finnin of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro, NC. Your exploration of this pilgrim route includes opportunities for long walks (3-4 hours) as well as less strenuous experience for those unable to walk. In addition, you will spend a day exploring London, a morning at Stonehenge, and a full day in Canterbury – the seat of the Church of England. As pilgrims you can expect to worship and celebrate the Eucharist together daily. This itinerary provides an accurate look at what you may expect in your 9-day pilgrimage, but may be adjusted for efficiency and guide availability.
December 4-12 Daily Itinerary
Group members will make their own arrangement for arrival in London and transfer to Hampton by Hilton in London’s Waterloo district. The program begins at 2:00pm with a guided tour of St. Paul’s Cathedral or Westminster Abbey concluding with Evensong worship. Private celebratory welcome dinner (included) in a local restaurant. Overnight in London.
Begin the day with morning prayer at either Westminster Abbey or St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Continue in a spirit of worship at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Following lunch (included) in their cafe, we will meet with a rector to learn more about the contemporary congregation. In the afternoon, visit the Southwark area of London. This area was home to the Tabard Inn, where Geoffrey Chaucer’s pilgrims laid their plans for a journey to Canterbury. It is also home to Southwark Cathedral, the traditional London starting point for Canterbury pilgrims. After a full day of touring, the evening is free to explore London on your own. Dinner is at your discretion. Overnight in London.
Departing London in the morning, we will travel by motorcoach to the prehistoric monument at Stonehenge. After lunch (included), we will travel to the coastal city of Southampton: the start of the Old Way pilgrimage route and also home to the harbor that launched both the Mayflower and the Titanic. Noting that 2020 marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower sailing, we will visit commemorative sites in Southampton. In the evening, the group will be joined by a representative of the British Pilgrimage Trust (pending availability) to learn more about the Old Way, its rediscovery, and plans for pilgrimage-related improvements. Dinner (included) and overnight accommodations in Southampton.
Today the entire group will begin with morning worship at the ruins of Netley Abbey, a 13th century Cistercian monastery in Southampton.
Following worship, those wishing to walk will do so along a section of the South Downs Way, one of 15 National Trails within England. The trail follows the ridgeline of England’s white, chalky cliffs. It includes iconic scenery, crosses Bronze Age barrows, and Iron Age forts. Those not wishing for a long walk may visit the Fishbourne Roman Palace – the remains of the largest Roman home in Britain dating from 75 CE – and/or the ruins of Boxgrove Priory. The two groups will meet for lunch (included).
In the afternoon, walkers may opt to hike another section of The Old Way. Those not walking will visit the Battle Abbey, site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, marking the Norman conquest of England.
The group will meet again in the evening for dinner and overnight accommodations in a location near the route of The Old Way.
The group will begin the day with a visit to St. Dunstan’s Church in Cranbrook, a congregation which has ancestral connections with members of Holy Trinity in Greensboro. Next, visit Saltwood Castle, in Kent – the place where a group of knights hatched the plan to murder Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.
After lunch (included) the group will walk together into Canterbury. Those unable to walk may ride the bus and meet the group at Canterbury Cathedral. We will celebrate Evensong worship together in the cathedral. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, whose rooms overlook the cathedral itself.
Begin the day with a tour of the Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Church of England. The origins of the cathedral go back to the arrival of St. Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury who came as a missionary to England in the sixth century. In 1170, Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered during a vespers service in Canterbury Cathedral by knights loyal to King Henry II. He was soon canonized a saint and the king made penance for Becket’s death. Canterbury became one of Europe’s most important pilgrimage centers. During the Reformation in England, the monastery was dissolved and the cathedral became the seat for the head of the Church of England. In addition to visiting the Cathedral, your group will visit St. Augustine’s Abbey, part of the Canterbury World Heritage Site.
After lunch (included) enjoy a free afternoon to explore Canterbury on your own. Dinner is at your own discretion. Overnight at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge.
Those wishing to walk may do so this morning along the route from Canterbury to Dover along a section of the North Downs Way. Those opting not to walk may enjoy a leisurely morning in Canterbury followed by a visit to the Dover Museum, housing a Bronze Age boat. The group will reunite for lunch (included) and an afternoon visit to Dover Castle. Conclude the day with worship and Eucharist at Kearsney Abbey before a celebratory parting dinner. Overnight accommodations near London’s Heathrow Airport.
Group members will make their own arrangements for air travel and may utilize the hotel shuttle for a transfer to London’s Heathrow Airport. Those departing from other airports may need to arrange their own airport transfer.
What’s Included
The cost for the nine-day pilgrimage is $2,900 per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy is available for a supplement of $610. Group size is limited to 30 participants. Registration deadline is September 5, 2020.
 Three-star or better hotels |
 Ground Transportation |
 Expert Local Guides |
 Breakfast daily, 6 lunches, 5 dinners |
 Entrance Fees |
 Pre-trip Educational Resources |
 Spiritual and Logistical Guide |
 Gratuity for Drivers and Guides |
A deposit of $500/person due at time of registration payable online. Full payment is due by October 1, 2020. Participants will be invoiced for the balance due which may be paid by check, ACH, or credit card. Credit card payments of the remaining balance will incur a 3% fee.
Terms and Conditions
The pilgrimage officially begins at the London hotel at 2:00pm on December 5. Travelers should arrange their travel accordingly. Progressive Pilgrimage is not responsible for any expenses incurred for travel to or from the destination and will not reimburse travelers for missed programming or other expenses if flights are delayed.
Due to COVID-19, Progressive Pilgrimage is offering a relaxed cancellation policy for this pilgrimage. Deposits will remain fully refundable until May 15, 2020. After that, the deposit becomes 50% refundable and follows the prorated cancellation policy as stated in the full Terms and Conditions.
Please read the complete Terms and Conditions online. ENROLLMENT IN AND PAYMENT FOR THE TOUR CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE CONDITIONS AND STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY.
Round Trip Airfare from Washington, Dulles
Round-trip Airfare
First Class Hotels
Hotel Baggage Transfers
