Lives ~ Legends ~ Landscapes A Pilgrimage to South Wales May 19 – 27, 2017 Lives, Legends and Landscapes: A Pilgrimage to South Wales The roots of the church in Wales were planted in the sacred soil of a Celtic community formed by inspiring landscapes, ancient legends, and dedicated people of faith. Tap into this rich tradition with a pilgrimage to southern Wales. Travel the enduring pilgrimage path to St. David’s Cathedral. Explore the coming together of cultures that shaped early Britain at the ancient Roman site of Caerwent. Worship in the rolling green mountains at Brecon Cathedral. Visit abbey ruins and holy wells where praise and petition have been offered through the ages. Join us as we travel to southern Wales, seeking to deepen our spiritual roots in the sacred sites and contemplative practices that are our legacy from this branch of Celtic spirituality. Pilgrimage Leader Dr. Terri Lynn Simpson is the founder of Anam Cara Retreats. Celtic spirituality is her path and inviting people into thin places where they may share their stories and experience the presence of the Holy is her work. Terri is a spiritual director and certified teacher of Centering Prayer, gifted in building community through spiritual practices. Grounded in the three-fold practices of prayer, pilgrimage, and poetry, she weaves strands of these Celtic influences into the retreats and workshops she leads at home and abroad for churches, healing ministries, women’s groups, and faith based non-profit organizations. In addition to having a graduate degree in theology and a doctorate in spirituality and story, Terri is a long-time student of Celtic spirituality. Pilgrimage Itinerary Friday, May 19 – London, Heathrow Our pilgrimage begins Friday afternoon as travelers from far and near make their way to our hotel, conveniently located near Heathrow Airport. Meet and greet your fellow pilgrims at a welcome dinner and learn more about the week ahead. After dinner and conversation, a brief service of compline concludes the evening. Saturday, May 20 – Avebury, Wiltshire and St. Michael’s Centre, Cardiff This morning we board the bus to head west to Wales. Along the way, we stop at Avebury, the largest Neolithic stone circle in Europe. Among the ancient stones where people gathered for rituals and ceremonies over four thousand years ago, set your intention for this pilgrimage with a service of blessing for the journey we take together this week. After a break for lunch, the journey continues as we cross the Severn River into Wales. A reception with tea and traditional Welsh cakes greets us upon our arrival at St. Michael’s Centre in Cardiff, our home base during our time in Wales. Enjoy some time to settle in and explore the Centre and grounds before gathering for dinner, conversation, and compline. Sunday, May 21 – St. David’s Cathedral, Pembrokeshire After an early breakfast, board the bus to head for St. David’s Cathedral. The spiritual community founded by Dewi (David), the patron saint of Wales, has been a place of pilgrimage since the sixth century when David established his monastic community on the Pembrokeshire coast. After attending choral matins, a brief walk takes us to St. David’s Education and Pilgrimage Centre where lunch and a time of fellowship awaits. Following lunch, staff from the Centre lead us in a meditation on the life and legacy of David as we walk the ancient pilgrim trail to his birthplace and St. Non’s well. St. Non's Well Monday, May 22 – Tintern Abbey, Caerwent and St. Woolos Cathedral, Newport This morning we make our way to Tintern Abbey. Best known for its ruins that have inspired poets and artists, for centuries it housed an active Cistercian community that worked the land and offered hospitality to commoners as well as kings. After lunch in Chepstow, a thriving market town on the bank of the Wye River, travel back in time with a visit to the Roman market town of Caerwent. Local historian, John Barnard, takes us on a walking tour of the area, bringing to life the first century lives of both the Roman invaders who settled in the area and the native Celtic tribe who called this area home long before the Romans moved in. Evening prayer at the St. Woolos Cathedral in Newport is our final stop before returning to St. Michael’s Centre. Tuesday, May 23 – Free Day Today is set aside for rest and rejuvenation. Wander the path along the River Taff, a short walk from the St. Michael’s Centre. Visit one of Cardiff’s many museums or art galleries. Board a local bus or train and head to the seaside for the day. The day is yours to relax and explore. For anyone interested, in the morning there is a service of Eucharist in Welsh at Llandaff Cathedral, a five-minute walk from St. Michael’s Centre. After the service, those gathered can tour the cathedral to hear the story of how the Norman building survived both Welsh and English invaders, a cyclone, and a German bombing raid during World War II. Wednesday, May 24 – St. Teilo’s Church, Llandeilo and St. Illtyd’s Church, Llantwit Major Today we visit two churches founded by sixth century saints. In the morning, learn more about Teilo, companion of St. David, and a bishop and teacher in his own right. On our visit to Llandeilo Fawr, one of the 22 churches founded by the saint, we celebrate Eucharist with the parish community. Afterwards, take time to visit an exhibit about the Llandeilo gospel, an illuminated manuscript that predates the book of Kells. In the afternoon explore the seaside town of Llantwit Major, home of the first school established in the British Isles. Sixty years after the college founded by Roman Emperor Theodosius I was abandoned, St. Illtyd returned to the area to The Llandeilo Gospel establish the first clas or monastic college in Wales. The community became the center of Celtic Christianity for decades, educating notable names such as St. Patrick, St. David, and the bard Taliesin. The current Norman church has been called one of the most beautiful in Wales and its remarkable collection of Celtic stones, crosses and effigies has earned St. Illtyd’s the nickname “the Welsh Westminster Abbey.” Thursday, May 25 – St. Cadoc’s Church, Llancarfan and Virtuous Well, Trellech In 2008 architects working on a church in the tiny village of Llancarfan were amazed to discover an array of medieval wall paintings, hidden under centuries of limewash. Recent conservation work restored the paintings that include images of St. George fighting a dragon and the Seven Deadly sins. After a morning visit to St. Cadoc’s, enjoy a leisurely lunch by the sea with a stop at Barry Island, once home to Celtic saints and Viking raiders and now a place of pilgrimage for holiday goers in south Wales. The day ends with a visit to another ancient place of pilgrimage, St. Anne’s Well. Reported to be the only surviving of the seven holy wells of Trellech, pilgrims have traveled to this sacred ground for years, leaving clooties, strips of cloth or ribbon, tied by nearby trees as visual reminders of their petitions and prayers. Friday, May 26 – Brecon Cathedral, Brecon Beacons and Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye Enjoy dramatic views of lush green valleys and soaring rugged mountains as we travel to Brecon Cathedral, situated in Brecon Beacons National Park. Built on the site of an earlier Celtic church, the cathedral began its life as a Benedictine priory before becoming the parish church of the Brecons after the dissolution of the monasteries in the sixteenth century. After time for prayer and worship in the cathedral, board the bus for a bibliophile’s dream destination, Hay-on-Wye. Each May, this small village on the banks of the river Wye is home to pilgrims from around the world for the Hay literary festival. The afternoon is yours to explore the festival, attend an author lecture, or visit one of the dozens of used bookstores that have given Hay the nickname “the town of books.” Upon our return to St. Michael’s Centre for our final pilgrimage dinner, gather for a closing service to celebrate our time together and prepare for the journey home. Saturday May 27 – Depart Wales for London/Heathrow and Other Destinations The pilgrimage ends this morning with a final blessing as we board the bus for Heathrow or continue our travels on our own. Fees and Travel Arrangements The fee for the pilgrimage is $2500 per person. A $700 non-refundable deposit upon registration secures your place on the pilgrimage. A $500 tax-deductible donation to Washington National Cathedral is included in the non-refundable deposit. Included in the pilgrimage fee are all hotel accommodations (double occupancy with a private bath; see below for additional costs for single room occupancy), most meals, and ground transportation to and from St. Michael’s and all pilgrimage sites in Wales. Not included in the pilgrimage fee are airfare, medical insurance, travel insurance, expenses for a passport and entry visa; daily lunches (except at St. David’s); additional food not included as part of a set meal for the group; beverage, wines, or liquors; laundry; telephone calls; or any expense of a personal nature. SINGLE ROOMS The supplemental cost for a single room includes your stay at the hotel and at St. Michael’s College. The cost of the single supplement is $285. SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS $700 non-refundable deposit upon registration with the balance due two weeks after registration or May 11, which ever date is earliest.