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Pilgrimage to Catholic England - The Dowry of Mary
9 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Depart USA
Depart on our international flight to London. Dinner and breakfast will be served aboard flight.
Day 2: Cambridge
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your Tour Escort where you will board a deluxe motorcaoch and travel to the historic city of Cambridge. Here, you will enjoy a short city tour (partly walking) before checking into your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (Cambridge) (D)
Day 3: Walsingham
This morning, you will start by visiting Ely Cathedral, regarded as one of England’s finest Cathedrals. Work on the present building commenced in the early 1080s under Abbot Simeon, and the church became a Cathedral in 1109. For more than 400 years it was a church of the Benedictine monastery and a Cathedral. After Henry VIII dissolved the monastery in 1539 it continued to exist as a Cathedral. Later, you will continue on to Walsingham in Norfolk. Walsingham, has been a place of pilgrimage since medieval times, when travel to Rome and Compostella was virtually impossible. The original Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, founded in 1061, was destroyed at the Reformation. Many barren years passed until the Slipper Chapel, a 14th century wayside pilgrim chapel, was restored and pilgrimage to Walsingham began once more. In 1934, the English Bishops named the Slipper Chapel the Roman Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady. Many thousands of people have visited the Shrine - some come out of a spiritual need for the atmosphere of peace that seems to emanate from the Chapels. Return to Cambridge for Dinner and overnight (Cambridge) (B,D)
Day 4: Sudbury / Aylesford
Depart after breakfast for Sudbury, the home of Thomas Gainsborough. Visit the fascinating St Gregory’s Church which was rebuilt in 1365 by Archbishop Simon of Sudbury.
Also visit the Carmelite Friary of Aylesford, one of England’s great religious orders. Later, proceed to Maidstone area. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (Chatham, Kent) (B,D)
Day 5: Canterbury
Today a full day visit to Canterbury. In the Middle Ages this was the most heavily travelled road to England; the pilgrimage route to the shrine of the martyr Thomas Becket. Upon arrival in Canterbury, you will visit Canterbury Cathedral. Augustine created a cathedral in Canterbury. This burned down in 1067, but the Normans soon built a new one on the same site. About a hundred years later, King Henry the Second appointed his friend Thomas Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury. Four of the king's knights traveled to Canterbury, where they murdered Becket inside the cathedral. Soon afterwards, in 1173, the Pope made Becket a saint, and many people started to go to Canterbury as pilgrims to see Becket's tomb. King Henry VIII stopped pilgrimages after he created the Church of England, and Thomas Becket's tomb was destroyed. A candle is now lit at the place where the tomb used to be. You will have plenty of time to explore the cobbled streets of this ancient city before returning to the hotel for Dinner. (Chatham, Kent) (B,D)
Day 6: London
Today, you will travel to London, where after checking into the hotel, you will visit Westminster Cathedral. Visitors find in Westminster Cathedral a very special place of prayer, a refuge from the busy city, a space to find one's own thoughts. Overnight in London. (London) (B)
Day 7: London
This morning, you will visit St Paul’s Cathedral. A Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has overlooked the City of London since 604 A.D. The current Cathedral – the fourth to occupy this site – was designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Following your visit to St Paul’s, you will cross the river Thames to visit Southwark Cathedral. Southwark Cathedral is a parish church which became a cathedral early this century. St. Swithin of weather fame founded a convent on the site which later became a monastery. Henry VIII's closure of the priory led to the main building becoming the parish church. Overnight in London. (London) (B)
Day 8: London
This morning, you will enjoy a cruise on the Thames passing many London landmarks such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, The London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and HMS Belfast before arriving at the Tower of London. The Tower has been an integral part of British history for 1000 years. Here, you will meet the famous ‘Beefeaters’, marvel at the breathtaking Crown Jewels, stand on the execution site of three English queens and hear the myths and legends that make a visit to the Tower ‘a must’ for any visitor to London. Afternoon at leisure for independent sightseeing or shopping. Overnight in London. (London) (B)
Day 10: London / USA
Depart for the Airport and our return flight to the USA. Arrive home the same day. (B)
Included Highlights:
• Airfare: Roundtrip from New York area airport
• Accommodations: 9 days / 7 nights Superior Tourist Class Hotels
• Meals: 7 Breakfasts & 4 Dinners
• Sightseeing: As indicated in the itinerary.
• Also Included: Daily Mass, Airport hotel transfers, hotel tips & taxes, baggage handling, Touring by Private Air Conditioned Motorcoach, Services of a Professional Tour Escort
Prices for Catholic England ~ The Dowry of Mary
2008 Departure Dates
Per person in twin *
Land Only Price *
Single room supplement
September 2 to 10
$ 2,249
$ 1,879
$ 500
November 11 to 19
$ 2,049
$ 1,749
$ 500
Depart New York area airport
* Price is per person, based on double occupancy.
There are a limited number of single rooms available.
Add $154 departure tax, $190 fuel surcharge and $139 for optional travel insurance.
Passenger Reservation Form Travel Insurance Terms and Conditions
The Catholic Tour Company 21625 Chagrin Blvd. # 210 Beachwood, Ohio 44122
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