Footsteps of John Wesley Clergy Familiarization Trip for United Methodist Clergy

The day has arrived, and we depart on our overnight journey to the United Kingdom.

Flights from the New York area are included in the price of the trip. Christian Expedition can arrange your flights from a different city subject to a potential price increase (please contact us for a quote).

Today we arrive in London. We will be met at the airport by our driver, who will bring us to our hotel. This evening we will enjoy a welcome dinner together. Overnight London. The Cumberland Hotel or similar. D.

After enjoying breakfast we will embark on a panoramic tour of London. We will see Big Ben, the House of Parliament, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace, stopping at the Methodist Central Hall for a coffee. After free time for lunch we will visit Westminster Abbey, which has been the setting for many significant events in British history, including coronations, weddings, and funerals. The Abbey is well known for its stunning Gothic architecture and elaborate stained glass windows. Here we will the Wesley Memorial, on the south choir aisle wall. Charles Wesley was educated at Westminster School, adjacent to the Abbey, where his eldest brother, Samuel, was a teacher. Overnight London. The Cumberland Hotel or similar. B, D.

After breakfast we will visit the house of John Wesley, where he lived for over a decade. The house has been preserved as a museum and offers visitors a glimpse into Wesley’s life and work. Next to the house we will visit a chapel known as the Mother Church of Methodism, which was built in 1778 and is still an active place of worship. We will visit the Bunhill Fields Burial Ground, where Sarah Wesley, Susanna Wesley, John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe, and other non-conformists are buried. In the afternoon we will visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of architecture combining neoclassical, gothic, and baroque styles. The chancel of this 17th century Anglican cathedral is where John Wesley worshipped on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of May of Whit Week 1738. A statue of John Wesley stands in the northwest corner of the churchyard. We will visit the site of John Wesley’s conversion, before moving on to visit the Charterhouse School, where John Wesley studied between 1714 and 1720, before he continued his education at Christ Church, Oxford. A plaque and statue commemorating him can be found there. Overnight London. The Cumberland Hotel or similar. B, D.

Today we will make our way to Epworth, the birthplace of John and Charles Wesley. We will visit the Wesley Memorial Church and Memorial Garden, before enjoying a guided tour of the Old Rectory. Overnight Sheffield. Doubletree by Hilton or similar. B, D.

This morning we drive to Oxford, one of the oldest and most prestigious university cities in the world. Among the many landmarks in the city center, we will visit the Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera. In the afternoon we will visit Christ Church. This college is of great historical importance in part because of its connection to John Wesley, Charles Wesley, George Whitefield. It was at Christ Church where John, Charles, and George Whitefield, and others who would go on to be key figures in the First Great Awakening participated it what was called the “Holy Club.” Overnight Oxford. Holiday Inn or similar. B, D.

After breakfast we drive to Gloucester, a city known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultural scene, and as the home of George Whitefield. We visit Gloucester Cathedral, where we will marvel at its stunning architecture, intricate carvings, and beautiful stained-glass windows. Whitefield was ordained as a deacon here. We will visit the Gloucester Docks, a bustling waterfront area lined with warehouses that have been converted into shops, restaurants, and museums. We visit St. Mary de Crypt Church. Whitefield gave his first sermon here in 1736 and attended the adjacent Crypt School. Overnight Bristol. Mercure Bristol Grand or similar. B, D.

Today we tour Bristol. We visit John Wesley’s New Room, the oldest Methodist building in the world, located right in the heart of Bristol’s city center. Founded in 1739 by John Wesley, the New Room became the cradle of the worldwide Methodist movement. It is home to the original 18th century chapel, as well as a museum of John and Charles Wesley’s lives and work in Bristol. We visit the Charles Wesley House, the last Bristol home of Charles and Sarah Wesley and their three children, Charles Jr., Sarah, and Samuel. We begin our drive back to London, stopping at Henham Mount, where the Wesleys and Whitefield famously preached outdoors to miners. Overnight London. The Cumberland Hotel. B, D.

This morning we transfer to the airport in London and board our flight back to the United States. If time allows, breakfast is included today. Later today, we will arrive back in the New York area.

Christian Expedition can arrange your flights back to a different city subject to a potential price increase (please contact us for a quote).