John Wesley's home in London Stonehenge Stratford-upon-Avon York The Cathedral city of Durham Lindisfarne Priory Edinburgh
You are warmly invited to join Pastor Randy and Jane Hall and Pastor Jill and Vince Alventosa-Brown on a 12 day tour of the UK with a particular focus on Methodist and Presbyterian heritage sites.
Randy and Jane Hall live in Lexington, NC, where he has served as the pastor of Fairmont Presbyterian Church for 24 years. Because Jane grew up in Methodism, they are looking forward to visiting those places significant to both the Methodist and Presbyterian heritages. And do to so as co-leaders with their friends Jill and Vince Alventosa is an added bonus! They are excited about welcoming you to join them in this trip which will be educational, spiritual, and just plain fun.
Jill Alventosa-Brown is a second career United Methodist Pastor who has served for 19 years in 4 churches in Lexington and the greater Greensboro area. She’s excited to be co-hosting a tour that will follow the lives of John and Charles Wesley and John Knox and discover more about the roots of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches. She was born and raised in the Methodist Church and tradition and loves its heritage. She looks forward to sharing it with you.
Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Day 1: Thursday, September 6, 2018: Departure
We will set off today from the USA on our international flights to London (IF)
Day 2: Friday, September 7, 2018: Arrival
On arrival in London, we will meet our tour director who will escort us to our waiting air-conditioned bus. Early arrivals will have a transfer from the pre-tour hotel to Hampton Court. We will begin our tour with a leisurely visit to Hampton Court Palace. In 1604, James I commissioned the King James Version of the Bible during the Hampton Court Conference and we will discuss this in the room where it happened. In the Chapel Royal, we will hear how Henry VIII’s decision to allow production of the Bible was influenced by his last wife, Catherine Parr. We will then board the bus and drive to Westminster Abbey, which has played in integral part in the history of London and the UK. Kings and Queens have been crowned here since 1066 (William the Conqueror) and it’s been the setting for many special occasions such as the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Our guide will also tell us about the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. We will check-in to our centrally-located London hotel and we have leisure time before our welcome dinner at the hotel (IF/D)
Day 3: Saturday, September 8, 2018: London
John Wesley (1703-1791) has been called the most influential Protestant leader of the English-speaking world since the Reformation and his brother Charles wrote hundreds of amazing hymns. We will tour the legendary Bunhill Field’s Cemetery, where we can see the burial place of nonconformist Protestants.We will tour the Wesley Home and the Museum of Methodism and gain insights into John Wesley’s life and ministry. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day 4: Sunday, September 9, 2018: London
We will attend the 11:00 AM service at John Wesley’s Chapel, or the service of our choice. After church we will transfer to the Tower of London, and have free time to purchase lunch. The Tower has a fascinating and also rather grisly history and we will hear about the various inhabitants through the centuries. Following our tour, we will travel up River Thames, giving us excellent views of the Tower and Tower Bridge. We will have a ride on the London Eye, then dine in Gillrays Steakhouse. (B/D)
Day 5, Monday, September 10, 2018: Oxford
We will depart London this morning for Oxford, one of England’s famous University cities with a rich Reformation history. The early English reformer, John Wycliffe, was a professor at the university. Other well- known students included Bible translator William Tyndale and the great revivalist preacher George Whitefield. We will have a Wesley-themed walking tour including their rooms in Lincoln College. We will attend Evensong in Christ Church, then dine in our hotel. (B/D)
Day 6: Tuesday, September 11, 2018: Stonehenge, Bristol, Oxford
Today’s day trip begins at the World Heritage site of Stonehenge, the pre-historic stone circle. We will continue on to Bristol and visit the New Room, the oldest Methodist Chapel in the World. George Whitefield invited John Wesley to come to Bristol in 1729 and he began his ministry with open-air preaching. He purchased the land to build the New Room in 1742. We will also visit the home where John’s younger brother lived with his family. Charles Wesley was a prolific hymn writer and also preached. We will return to our hotel in Oxford for our evening meal (B/D).
Day 7: Wednesday, September 12, 2018: Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon
We will drive through the Cotswolds this morning, ending with a pub lunch in Stratford-upon-Avon. In the afternoon we will tour Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Nash’s House and New Place, and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B/L)
Day 8: Thursday, September 13, 2018: Epworth, York
After breakfast, we will drive to Epworth and have lunch in the Red Lion pub, where Wesley often stayed. In the afternoon we will tour their father’s church, St. Andrews, and tour the Old Rectory where John and Charles Wesley grew up with their many siblings. We will see where their mother Susanna Wesley taught her children. We will also see the Market Cross where Wesley preached. We will continue on to York and dine in our hotel. (B/D)
Day 9: Friday, September 14, 2018: York, Durham
Our guided walking tour of York will include a walk atop the ancient city walls and a tour of York Minster Cathedral, the biggest medieval church in England. Christianity has an early heritage in York. By 306, when Constantine the Great was proclaimed Emperor in York, it is believed there was a small Christian community. In 312 he issued a general edict of toleration for the Christian Church and York became a center of Christianity. We will continue on to Durham, voted “Best city in the UK” by Condé Nast’s Traveller magazine readers. Durham Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site and regarded as the finest Norman building in Europe. We will have lunch in the Undercroft Restaurant inside the Cathedral. In the afternoon we will have a city tour, ending with Evensong at the cathedral. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B/L)
Day 10: Saturday, September 15, 2018: Lindisfarne, Edinburgh
Lindisfarne, known today as Holy Island, is a tidal island off the Northumbrian coast. St. Aidan was sent here as a missionary from Iona and established a monastery in around 630 AD. Vikings destroyed the original monastery and monks fled from the island. The present Lindisfarne Priory is a dramatic ruin, modeled after Durham Cathedral. This is where the famous Lindisfarne Gospels were produced. Even secular historians refer to Lindisfarne as “the most holy place in England.” After time to view the 16th century castle, we will continue our journey to Edinburgh and dine at our hotel. (B/D)
Day 11: Sunday, September 16, 2018: Edinburgh
St Giles’ Cathedral is often called the Mother Church of World Presbyterianism. We will attend the 10:00 AM morning service. John Knox first preached here in 1559. It was reported that “he was so active and vigorous it looked as if he was about to break”. After some free time for lunch, we will view John Knox House , Greyfriar’s Church, Magdalene Chapel and the Royal Mile. Our tour of Edinburgh Castle will include tiny St. Margaret’s Chapel, which dates back to the 1100s. We will dine at a traditional Scottish restaurant this evening. (B/D)
Day 12: Monday, September 17, 2018: Return
We will return to the US after a wonderful time learning about the Christian heritage of the United Kingdom (B)
Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.
Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!
London, England
September 7-10, 2018
Copthorne Tara Hotel
Scarsdale Pl,
Kensington, London W8 5SY
Oxford, England
September 10-12, 2018
Magnolia Park
Arncott Road,
Aylesbury HP18 9XX
Stratford-upon-Avon, England
September 12-13, 2018
Grosvenor Hotel
Warwick Rd
Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YT
York, England
September 13-14, 2018
York Marriott
Tadcaster Rd
Dringhouses, York YO24 1QQ
Durham, England
September 14-15, 2018
Durham Marriott
Old Elvet
Durham DH1 3JN
Edinburgh, Scotland
September 15-17, 2018
King’s Manor Hotel
100 Milton Rd E
Edinburgh EH15 2NP
We can either assist you with flights or you are welcome to book your own. Please ensure we have a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.
Several of the group will be traveling together from Greensboro, NC and the flights are currently $975 round-trip.
[table “16” not found /]Price based on a minimum of 20 participants
• Transportation: via private, deluxe air-conditioned motor coach
• Accommodations (double-occupancy) in centrally located 3-star hotels with good bus access
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Professional tour director
• Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
• Entrance fees included as per itinerary
• Guides will use Whisper Headsets throughout the tour
• All transfers, as a group
• Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
• All taxes and tips except as indicated below
• Air transportation and related taxes and fees (Air from Greensboro is $975 round-trip)
• Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
• Single supplement ($750)
• Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
• Optional Insurance (group insurance available)
• Gratuities for tour director, and driver
• Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
• Final invoices will be sent in early June 2018
• Final payment is due by June 23, 2018
• Reservations will be accepted after June 23, 2018, subject to availability
We offer the Professional Plan offered by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We include $500 coverage in your tour price and you are welcome to upgrade to cover the full tour premium. The cost of the tour insurance is the tour cost (minus $500) x 6.14%. A quote will be automatically be added to your invoice.
BENEFITS | TRAVEL INSURANCE COVERAGE |
---|---|
Trip Cancellation | Up to 100% of Trip Cost |
Trip Interruption | Up to 150% of Trip Cost |
Trip Interruption (Return Air Only) | $750 |
Missed Connection | $500, after a 3+ hour delay |
Trip Delay | $200 a day, after a 6+ hour delay, up to $1,000 total maximum |
Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains | $500,000 |
Emergency Accident and Sickness | $50,000 max/$750 max for dental/ No deductible |
Security Assistance Services | $100,000 |
Baggage / Personal Effects - Lost, Stolen or Damaged | No deductible, $250 per article limit, combined limit of $500 for valuables, $1,000 total limit. |
Baggage Delay | $300, after a 12+ hour delay |
Accidental Death or Dismemberment 24 Hours | $10,000 |
Worldwide Travel Assistance, Business and Concierge Assistance | Included |
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Waiver (Must insure full, non-refundable cost of Trip) | Must be purchased within 21 days after your initial trip deposit. |
Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 plus any non refundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.
We look forward to welcoming you on the tour. Click on the image to download a copy of the brochure.
You can fill out your reservations online by clicking the “Book Now” tab or click here to download the form.
You can either send a check made payable to “Reformation Tours” to P.O. Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222 or click here to pay by credit card.
Randy and Jane Hall live in Lexington, NC, where he has served as the pastor of Fairmont Presbyterian Church for 24 years. Jane is a newly retired school psychologist. They have four children and two grandchildren. While much of their travel has involved mission work in Africa and Haiti, they love the excitement and adventure of visiting places of historical importance and world cultural value. Because Jane grew up in Methodism, they are looking forward to visiting those places significant to both the Methodist and Presbyterian heritages. And too so as co-leaders with their friends Jill and Vince Alventosa is an added bonus! They are excited about welcoming you to join them in this trip which will be educational, spiritual, and just plain fun..
Jill Alventosa-Brown is a second career United Methodist Pastor who has served for 19 years in 4 churches in Lexington and the greater Greensboro area. A native of Illinois, she relocated to North Carolina with CIBA-Geigy Corporation in 1988 where she coordinated overseas shipments of seed. She enjoys traveling, history, music, film and art. She’s excited to be co-hosting a tour that will follow the lives of John and Charles Wesley and John Knox and discover more about the roots of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches. She was born and raised in the Methodist Church and tradition and love its heritage. She looks forward to sharing it with you.
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Head Office: Hall Gate House, 29cCranfield Road, Kilkeel, Co. Down, N. Ireland BT34 4LJ
US Office: 12316 244th St. Chisago City, MN 55013
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Email: info@reformationtours.com