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Living the Gospel announces four new tours for 2016

23rd January 2016 Print
Visit beautiful Iona island

Celtic pilgrimage specialists Living the Gospel has announced four new tours for 2016; three to the Western Highlands island of Iona and one to Durham in the north east of England to discover The Northern Saints.

Living the Gospel group tours take place throughout the UK, to explore the arrival of Christianity to the UK, and following in the footsteps of the early Saints and visiting the sites associated with them.

Exploring the Northern Saints: 4 nights from £495 pp

Taking place in some of the most important early Christian landmarks in the north east of England, this tour – led by the Revd John McManners – provides a chance to learn about the life and influence of the Saints Aidan, Cuthbert and Bede, and to see how they struggled to bring the message of the Gospel into the pagan world of Northumbria.

The itinerary commences with a visit to Durham Cathedral for a guided tour, followed by Choral Evensong. The following morning the group will head to Whitby Abbey to learn about the life and witness of St Hilda before driving to the village of Lastingham to celebrate the Eucharist in the Crypt.

The first stop on the third morning is Bede’s World – an unusual museum in the grounds of St Paul’s Monastery in Jarrow, before continuing to Monkwearmouth to visit St Peter’s Church, a section of which dates back to the time of Bede.

The final day’s highlight is a pilgrimage to the English Heritage site of Lindisfarne Abbey and St Mary’s Church to celebrate the Eucharist and, weather permitting, there may be a chance of a cruise from Seahouses to the Farne Islands. Guests depart on day five.

The holiday departs on 11 July and 8 August and costs from £495 pp (two sharing) which includes four-nights’ B&B at the Mercure George Washington Spa Hotel, all lectures and visits. Dinner supplement £79 pp.

Retreat to Iona: 4 nights from £495 pp

This tour, which takes place in the stunning west highlands of Scotland on the island of Iona, is led by the Revd David Gray, a Methodist minister from Chippenham who makes regular appearances on BBC Radio Wiltshire.

After a first night in Glasgow, the group will head via train and ferry to the Isle of Mull, before continuing by road to take a second ferry to Iona to commence the pilgrimage.

The trip will commence with a talk on the nature of the island places, like Iona (the ‘thin places’ of the world), followed by a few days during which members of the group can enjoy peace and reflection – with scope for informal reflection and discussion – and time to read, pray or walk. There will also be regular prayer sessions and communion.

The break costs £495 pp (two sharing) which includes three nights’ stay in a retreat house on Iona, one night in a hotel in Glasgow, breakfast all transportation and all lectures and visits.

To see all of The Living Gospel 2016 pilgrimages, visit thelivinggospel.co.uk.

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Visit beautiful Iona island