Friends of Bruton Tour of Historic Cathedrals and Churches of England May 16-25, 2014 Join Father John Maxwell Kerr, Episcopal Chaplain to the faculty, staff and students at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia for a very special tour and pilgrimage to many of the most historic cathedrals and churches of England. Sponsored by Friends of Bruton: Our Worldwide Congregation Bruton Parish Church Williamsburg, Virginia The May 2014 tour of historic cathedrals of England sponsored by Friends of Bruton is open to everyone, you don't even have to be an Episcopalian! A message from Father Kerr I rather hope you will not think of our journey together as mere ‘religious tourism.’ There would be little point in having a priest and scholar accompanying anything other than a pilgrimage, for that is how I do see Bruton’s visit to Britain next May. Look closely at our itinerary: we plan to attend Divine Offices of the Church of England at cathedrals, churches and other holy places we shall visit (alas, an exception must be made for Stonehenge!) My own knowledge of people and places came not as a tourist but as a priest of thirty-five years’ standing in the Church of England. I loved to worship in these ancestral homes of our Anglican faith. Beauty, ancient and modern, of architecture; beauty, ancient and modern, of the great musical tradition we inherit (and to which we Episcopalians contribute to this day); the beauty of holiness - prayer in words ancient and modern, sung and spoken through so many lifetimes - the long history of the Church of England’s inheritance is ours too. I hope that I may be able to draw on my own experience and understanding to add to your visit to these cathedrals. My hope is that our visit may both delight you and enrich your faith. John Maxwell Kerr, SOSc, Episcopal Chaplain to the Faculty, Staff and Students, The College of William and Mary Friends of Bruton Tour of Historic Churches and Cathedrals of England May 16-25, 2014 Springtime at Salisbury Cathedral ITINERARY DAY 1: Fri., May 16 - Washington, DC/En Route Depart from Washington, DC for your overnight trans-Atlantic flight to London. DAY 2: Sat., May 17 - London D Welcome to London, one of the most exciting cities in the world! Upon your arrival in London, you will be transferred to your hotel. En route to the hotel enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of the city. London is the kind of city that is as thrilling on your tenth visit as it is on your first. The latest in music, fashion, and theater thrives in a city rich in history, pageantry, and tradition. From the gloomy dungeons of the Tower of London to the Poet's corner at Westminster Abbey, there's fascination at every turn. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax, catch up with the time difference, or to start exploring this exciting city. Dinner: Enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. St. Paul’s Cathedral, London DAY 3: Sun., May 18 - London B AM: Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral Start your day with a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is a Church of England Cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site that was founded in 604 AD. St. Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother church of the Diocese of London. The present church dating from the late 17th century was built in an English Baroque design of Sir Christopher Wren, as part of a major rebuilding program that took place in the city after the Great Fire of London, and was completed within his lifetime. After your visit you will attend a Eucharistic service (subject to availability). The Tower of London PM: Visit the Tower of London In the afternoon you will enjoy a visit to the Tower of London. Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. The Tower of London was founded toward the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. It has also served as an armory, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Dinner: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 4: Mon., May 19 - London/Windsor/Oxford B AM: Visit Windsor Castle and St. George’s Chapel After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for Windsor Castle. Founded by William the Conqueror, Windsor Castle has been changed and added to over the last 900 years. It is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen. St. George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England and is particularly noted for its magnificent stone fan vaulting. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour. Queen Elizabeth’s father, George VI is also buried in St. George’s. St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle Lunch: Enjoy lunch on your own at a local restaurant (Arrangement to be made). PM: Excursion to Oxford In the afternoon you will travel to Oxford where you will visit the Bodleian Library, which is the main research library of the University of Oxford. It is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library with over 11 million items. Oxford University and the Bodleian Library Then you will visit Christchurch Cathedral, which is the College Chapel as well as the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford. On this site stood the convent church where Oxford's patron saint, Frideswide, was buried in the 8th century. Around her shrine in the 9th and 10th centuries a group of priests lived a communal life, doing pastoral work, and in the 12th century the monastery became the Augustinian priory of St. Frideswide. By the 13th century it was a major place of pilgrimage. Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford After the visit, you will attend an Evensong service at the church (subject to availability), and then you will be transferred to the hotel. Dinner: You are on your own for dinner this evening. DAY 5: Tues., May 20 - Oxford/Bath/Wells/Salisbury B,D AM: Visit the Roman Baths After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel to Bath. Upon your arrival you will visit the Roman Baths. The house is a well- preserved Roman site for public bathing. The Roman Baths themselves are below the modern street level. There are four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House, and the Museum holding finds from the Roman Baths. The buildings above street level date from the 19th century. Visitors can see the Baths and Museum but cannot enter the water. The Abbey Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Bath Visit Bath Abbey Next, you will visit Bath Cathedral. The Abbey Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Bath, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican parish church and a former Benedictine monastery. Founded in the 7th century, Bath Abbey was reorganized in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries. It is one of the largest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in the West Country. The Abbey is particularly noted for its fan vaulting. It contains war memorials for the local population and monuments to several notable people, in the form of wall and floor plaques and commemorative stained glass. The church has two organs and a peal of ten bells. The west front includes sculptures of angels climbing to heaven on two stone ladders. PM: Visit St. Mary’s Church, Bruton Parish, Somerset In the afternoon you will proceed to St. Mary’s Church in Bruton. The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, which lies on the hill above the hamlet of Bruton, is the oldest and most important building in the village. The oldest parts of the Church date from about 1290 although little remains from that period. The chancel was rebuilt in 1743 for Sir Charles Berkeley. The Berkeley family has had a long association with the town and church. William Berkeley left Bruton for America and became Colonial Governor of Virginia. Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg was named in honor of William Berkeley. St. Mary’s Church, Bruton After your visit you will be transferred to Salisbury for Evensong in the Cathedral and then proceed to your hotel. Dinner: This evening dinner at your hotel is included. DAY 6: Wed., May 21 - Salisbury/Winchester/Canterbury B AM: Visit Salisbury Cathedral This morning you will visit Salisbury Cathedral, which is formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.