Canterbury booklet july 2017

Canterbury Tales with Saint Paul’s A modern version of an ancient pilgrimage!

July 22 through July 31, 2017 In England, folks to Canterbury wend: To seek the blissful martyr is their will, The one who gave such help when they were ill. (from the Prologue to Canterbury Tales) A Parish Pilgrimage to accompany our choir during their residency at Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London, one of England’s great cathedrals.

Like Chaucer’s pilgrims, we’ll tell two tales at each of our stops.

Each one of you, to pass the time of day, Shall tell two tales while you are on the way To Canterbury; The “Tales” may change as participants offer their own suggestions.

Saturday, July 22, depart Philadelphia for London, arriving Sunday, July 23:

I. Windsor Castle The oldest (1348) and largest inhabited castle in the world, one of the finest examples of gothic architecture in England, particularly noted for its magnificent stone fan vaulting.

First Tale: letters from Henry VIII (1538) and Jane Seymour (1537) Second Tale: King Charles’ I speech made upon the scaffold, 1648.

The three, Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, and Charles I are all interred in St. George’s Chapel. We will join in either Sung Eucharist or Evensong for Sunday worship to begin our Canterbury pilgrimage. Dinner in London included. page 2

Monday, July 24:

II. Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Guided Tour.

For more than 1,400 years, a Cathedral dedicated to Saint Paul has stood at the highest point in the City. The present Cathedral is the masterpiece of Britain's most famous architect, Sir Christopher Wren.

First Tale: Words from John Donne, Dean of Saint Paul’s from 1621 until his death in 1631.

Second Tale: Words from Mark Oakley, Current Canon Treasurer of Saint Paul’s. His book is entitled The Collage of God (Canterbury Press, 2001).

While the Saint Paul’s Choir rehearses in the afternoon, pilgrims travel to: page 3

III. Kew Gardens

The mission of Kew Gardens is to build an understanding of the world’s plants upon which all our lives depend. With seasonal colorful plants, peaceful landscapes, tropical glasshouses and historic buildings, come and explore the world’s most famous botanic garden situated on the edge of west London, on the banks of the River Thames.

First Tale: Laudato Si by Pope Francis.

Second Tale: The Altar; or Meditations in Verse on the Great Christian Sacrifice; “The Garden;” by Isaac Williams, 1849

5 p.m. Evensong in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, sung by the Choir of Saint Paul’s Church, Chestnut Hill. Dinner on your own. page 4

Tuesday, July 25:

IV. ThamesRiver Cruise.

The Thames is the longest river in London stretching 215 miles.

From the relaxing perspective of the river we will pass the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, and more!

First Tale: The Thames Church Mission Society, 1875

Second Tale: TBA. While the Saint Paul’s Choir rehearses in the afternoon, pilgrims travel to:

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V. The Tower of London,

and All Hallows by the Tower.

A coach will take us to Westminster Pier where we take a boat to the Tower.

The Tower protects the Crown Jewels so important to the British Monarchy. At least six ravens are kept at the tower, apparently to protect the Tower itself from disaster.

The birds can live to be over 40 years old. All Hallows Church by the Tower was first established in 675, the oldest church in the City of London.

First Tale: “The Passionate Man’s Pilgrimage”

by Sir Walter Raleigh who was imprisoned in the Tower.

Second Tale: Words from Hugh Latimer imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1539.

All Hallows by the Tower is just up the hill. The church, first established in 675, was built on the site of a former Roman building. Admiral William Penn (the father of our William Penn) saved the church from the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The George, or George Inn, is a public house established in the medieval period located near London Bridge. In 1677, the George was rebuilt after a serious fire destroyed most of medieval Southwark.

Nearby was The Tabard where, in 1388, Chaucer began The Canterbury Tales. The Tabard was also rebuilt after the same fire, but was demolished in the late 19th century.

In Southwark at the Tabard where I lay, As I was all prepared for setting out To Canterbury with a heart devout, That there had come into that hostelry At night some twenty-nine, a company Of sundry folk whom chance had brought to fall In fellowship, for pilgrims were they all And onward to Canterbury would ride.

5 p.m. Evensong in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, sung by the Choir of Saint Paul’s Church, Chestnut Hill.

Dinner included. page 6

Wednesday, July 26:

Free time for sightseeing of your choice.

Attend a performance of a West End Show.

Dinner on your own.

Thursday, July 27:

VI. Guided Tour of Westminster Abbey.

A shrine may have been first established here in 616.

The Abbey itself was built between 1045 and 1050. Since 1066 and the coronation of William the Conqueror, all monarchs who had coronations were crowned in this Abbey.

First Tale: from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

Chaucer is buried in the Abbey.

Second Tale: the story of Abbey musician Henry Purcell buried here.

While the Saint Paul’s Choir rehearses in the afternoon, pilgrims travel to: page 7

VII. The Lambeth Palace.

Home of the Archbishop of Canterbury who has called the renewal of prayer throughout the church his first priority. Parts of the Palace date from the 13th century. Meet with members of the Community of St. Anselm, young people (aged 20 – 35) who live at Lambeth and follow a Rule of Life.

First Tale: The story of St. Augustine of Canterbury.

Second Tale: The story of St. Anselm.

5 p.m. Evensong in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, sung by the Choir of Saint Paul’s Church, Chestnut Hill.

Dinner on your own.

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Friday, July 28:

VIII. The British Museum.

The British Museum, founded in 1753, is the first national public museum in the world. The museum includes the Rosetta Stone that provided the key to the modern understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs as well as the Parthenon sculptures.

The First Tale: Sir Hans Sloane and the Chinese manuscript, the missionary journey of Robert Morrison.

The Second Tale: TBA

While the Saint Paul’s Choir rehearses in the afternoon, pilgrims travel to: page 9

IX. The Elms, Smithfield.

During Medieval times, Smithfield was one of the most important places in London, full of jousting, livestock, and summer fairs.

The place of execution in Smithfield was known as The Elms and these gallows were thought to have stood very near to the Church of St. Bartholomew the Great.

First Tale: The story of William Wallace (Mel Gibson’s “Brave Heart”) executed here is 1305.

“I tell you the truth, son, freedom is the best condition, never live like a slave.”

Second Tale: Words of John Bradford, tried for his Protestant beliefs and burnt at Smithfield on July 1, 1555.

Today, the area of Smithfield is a charming place to visit as many of the buildings escaped the Great Fire of London. St. Bartholomew’s Church is the best example of Norman/Romanesque church architecture in London.

5 p.m. Evensong in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, sung by the Choir of Saint Paul’s Church, Chestnut Hill. Dinner included. page 10

Saturday, July 29:

X. Canterbury, our pilgrimage’s goal.

Guided tour of Canterbury Cathedral. Founded in 597, the cathedral was completely rebuilt from 1070 to 1077. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the twelfth century, and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174, with significant eastward extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170. Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, forms part of a World Heritage Site.

The First Tale: The story of Thomas Becket.

The Second Tale: The story of Jonathan Daniels, a saint and martyr of the Episcopal Church, who with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are the only two Americans listed in the Memorial Book of Heroes and Martyrs at the Canterbury Cathedral in England.

5 p.m. Evensong in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, sung by the Choir of Saint Paul’s Church, Chestnut Hill.

Dinner on your own.

Sunday, July 30: Closing Eucharist at 11:30 a.m. and Evensong at 3:15 p.m. in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Farewell dinner included.

Monday, July 31: Departure from London, and return to Philadelphia.

The Pilgrimage includes the following: •Accommodation in the Crowne Plaza, New Bridge St., London (subject to availability). All rooms are en suite and the hotel is within comfortable walking distance of Saint Paul’s Cathedral. A single supplement is available at

$840 •Breakfast is included on each day •Dinner on 4 evenings •Transportation by private coach for airport transfers and all excursions on the itinerary. Please note that any group members not arriving or departing with the group will need to make their own arrangements for airport transfers.

•All admissions as specified in italics on the outline itinerary

(including West End tickets) •Tour director who will accompany the group throughout the tour. This will provisionally be Ann Gray or Clive Richardson •All taxes The Pilgrimage cost does not include the following: •Flights •Lunches •Dinner on 4 evenings •Drinks with evening meals •Optional gratuities/tips •Travel insurance. We recommend that, as well as coverage for loss of/theft/damage to belongings and health insurance, group members arrange insurance against unavoidable cancellation.

TOTAL COSTS – LAND ONLY 20-24 paying - $2531 ($2459 without West End Show) 25-29 paying - $2407 (($2335 without West End Show) page 12