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Catholic England
Catholic England
Catholicism in England really brings faith to life from a historical and current perspective. This sample tour takes you through the time of St Thomas More, priest hides/holes and Thomas Becket to the present day with visits to Tyburn Convent, the main Marian Shrine in England at Walsingham and masses in places associated with The Blessed John Henry Newman and present day orders.
SAMPLE DAILY ITINERARY BELOW
SOME OF THE TOUR’S SIGHTS.
Day 1 – London Arrival
On arrival meet with your professional tour guide for the short transfer to central London for an introductory tour of some famous landmarks such as Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and more to include a Mass and The Brompton (London) Oratory. The Oratory is a large neo-classical Roman Catholic church in the Knightsbridge area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The church is closely connected with The London Oratory School, a boys' school founded by the priests from the London Oratory. Its priests celebrate Mass daily in the two main forms, frequently conduct ceremonies for well-known people and is closely associated with Saint John Henry Newman. Overnight stay in London.
Day 2 – London
Begin your discovery of London with admission to Westminster Abbey, this great gothic building is one of the world’s greatest churches and the final resting place of many monarchs.Learn about “The Brothers” at Charterhouse which has been active and still is, since its foundation in 1611 and additionally included is a locally guided tour of Westminster Cathedral, the mother church of Catholics in England and Wales to be followed by Mass. Overnight stay in London.
Day 3 – London
Another fascinating fully guided day in London. Included morning visits to Tyburn Convent . A real local expert now joins us so we can find out more about St Thomas More. See sites associated with St Thomas such as Milk Street and St Lawrence Jewery. Continue with a cruise on the River Thames to Tower Pier and with a short stroll to see the execution site of St Thomas More and on request we can obtain special permission to visit the cell where he was held within The Tower of London. Overnight stay in London.
Day 4 – London to Kent
Enjoy a relaxing morning in London before travelling to Kent to spend 2 days in The Garden of England. Our accommodation will be in an the guest house of a mediaeval monastery providing excellent 3 star standard rooms and your participation in the life of the Carmelite Monastery is encouraged. Time for Mass/reflection –Overnight stay in Kent.
Day 5 – Kent
Visit the Shrine of St. Augustine in Ramsgate – Pugin’s personal church and burial place recalling England’s first missionary in a place that became a shrine in 2012. Spend the remainder of the day in the small city of Canterbury. Our guided tour of the cathedral is extremely informative and will show you places associated with Thomas Becket and more in this place which has been a place of pilgrimage since The Middle Ages. Overnight stay in Kent.
Day 6 – Norfolk and Julian(a) of Norwich
Morning to relax in the monastery and take Mass. Cross the wide estuary of The River Thames and enter the arable farmlands of East Anglia to learn more of Julian(a) of Norwich (1342-1416) who is internationally famous for her "Revelations of Divine Love". She remains one of the most creative theologians, spiritual writers and mystics in the Christian tradition. As well as writing the earliest surviving book in the English language to be written by a woman. Enjoy the church and the associated Julian Centre – Overnight stay in Norfolk.
Day 7 – Our Lady of Walsingham
Welcome to The Catholic National Shrine Of Our Lady, the Basilica of Our Lady, Walsingham known as England’s Nazareth. The shrine is associated with the Marian apparitions to Richeldis de Faverches, a pious English noblewoman, in 1061 in the village. See The Holy House, the wooden image. Celebrate Mass. Overnight stay in Norwich.
Day 8 – Birmingham Oratory and Harvington Hall
This morning journey to The Midlands. Visiting The Birmingham Oratory, the grave of Saint John Henry Newman and a museum dedicated to the saint. Newman’s possessions, manuscripts and liturgical objects are available for general viewing. Visitors to the Museum may see precious historical items, including pages from the manuscripts of the Apologia and The Dream of Gerontius, the chalice with which Newman celebrated Mass and personal articles such as his spectacles and Rosary beads. In addition to the numerous items on display, the Museum contains a video tour of Newman’s room, preserved as he left it when he died in 1890. In the afternoon a journey to the Midlands brings us to Harvington Hall tucked away in a peaceful corner of Worcestershire. The hall was originally built in the 1300’s and is a beautiful moated manor house with the largest surviving set of priest hides in the country, many of which were designed by Saint Nicholas Owen. Overnight stay in Littlemore. Saint John Henry Newman lived at The College at Littlemore from 1842 – 1846, making it a place of quiet prayer and study for himself and some friends and now you.
Day 9 – Littlemore and Oxford
Hear more of the beautiful story in the place where it actually happened with a private mass. Continue in to Oxford to explore this ancient university by foot. Saint John Henry Newman was admitted to Trinity College, Oxford, as an undergraduate and in 1822 he was elected to a fellowship by examination at Oriel. Visit Oriel College Chapel and the Newman Oratory in Oriel and The principal areas of Trinity including the Dining Hall, Chapel and extensive gardens. Mass can be celebrated at The Oxford Oratory that was established as an independent Oratory in 1993. Overnight stay in Littlemore.
Day 10 – Departure day
An executive motor coach is provided for the transfer to London's Heathrow Airport.