This will be the third in our series exploring the rich legacy of the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Church in the British Isles. Our journey will bring us to sites connected to holy figures like St. David of Wales, St. Illtud, St. Piran, St. Petroc, St. Brynach, St. Chad, St. Govan, and St. Cybi—names that sound like something from a medieval legend, yet these were real people whose lives of faith and prayer sanctified and continue to bless these beautiful regions. This pilgrimage offers a moving rediscovery of the shared spiritual heritage of the Universal Church—often forgotten, yet deeply precious.

Please note: since we’ll be traveling during the high season and visiting some destinations where accommodations are quite limited, many of the hotels have provided only a short grace period to hold our reservations. With that in mind, I hope to secure a group of at least 25 participants by the end of October. If you’re considering joining us, I kindly ask for your help in confirming as soon as you're able—your early commitment will go a long way in helping us move forward with the arrangements. While this October deadline is a bit earlier than usual, it is not without precedent and will ensure we can secure the locations we need for a smooth and beautiful journey.

Arrival to London, UK. Welcome dinner and orientation at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Heathrow.

Today we will leave London heading southwest, with our first stop in Winchester.

Winchester Cathedral's origins trace back to around 648 AD when King Cenwalh of Wessex founded the first Christian church on the site. Over the years it was expanded and embellished, particularly under the guidance of Saint Swithun, who served as Bishop of Winchester and later became one of England’s most venerated saints. In the 10th century Bishop Æthelwold transformed the church into a grand monastic cathedral by introducing stricter religious practices, and helped turn Winchester into a hub of learning, art, and manuscript production. Because of Winchester’s status as the capital of Wessex and later a key city in united England, it became a royal burial place.

Not far from Winchester, we will visit Romsey Abbey. It began as a Benedictine nunnery, one of several religious houses established for women of noble birth in early medieval England. One of the most prominent early abbesses, Saint Æthelflaed, was a relative of King Alfred the Great and a key figure in the abbey’s spiritual leadership. Her tomb became a local site of devotion. Saint Merwenna is also associated with Romsey's early years and the tradition of early Christian leadership by women in Anglo-Saxon religious life. For an overnight we will transfer to Bodmin, Cornwall, UK.

Today, we journey through Cornwall, beginning at St. Piran’s Oratory. As its patron saint, St Piran is credited with bringing Christianity to the region from Ireland in the 5th or 6th century and is also famously linked with the discovery of tin, forming part of Cornwall’s identity. Adjacent to the Oratory stands a remarkable early-medieval weathered granite cross, a testament to centuries of devotion.

Next, we continue to St. Petroc’s Church in Bodmin, once the center of Cornwall’s most influential monastic settlements. Founded by St. Petroc, a 6th century Welsh missionary and scholar, the site offers a blend of early medieval foundations and later Norman and Gothic architecture.

We then visit St. Mawgan Church, nestled in a serene valley. This site traces its origins to a Celtic monastery founded in honor of St. Mawgan (Meugan), a Welsh or possibly Breton saint of the early medieval period. Then we go deeper into the Cornish countryside to Mawgan-in-Meneage, where a beautifully preserved church stands on a site long associated with Celtic Christian roots. Inscriptions, early grave markers, and the layout of the churchyard all contribute to our understanding of how Christianity took root in isolated rural communities.

We conclude at the stunning St. Just-in-Roseland Church, on a site believed to have hosted Christian worship since the early centuries of the faith. It is dedicated to St. Just (St. Yestyn), a little-known Celtic saint who may have done missionary activity in the region.

Today we travel to Somerset to see Glastonbury Abbey, again with origins reaching back to the 5th or 6th century, founded by British Christians after the Roman withdrawal from Britain. One of the key moments in its early history came during the reign of King Ine of Wessex (early 8th century), who built a stone church on the site and provided it with land and privileges, helping Glastonbury rise in both wealth and spiritual influence. In the 10th century, St. Dunstan, a native of Glastonbury and later Archbishop of Canterbury played a pivotal role in monastic reform across England. As Abbot of Glastonbury, he revitalized the abbey, introduced Benedictine rule and made it a model of religious discipline and learning. Later the abbey became associated with the legend that Joseph of Arimathea, who buried Christ, brought Christianity to Britain and planted the Glastonbury Thorn, may have built the oldest church in England known as the “Old Church” or “Vetusta Ecclesia”. The abbey housed the relics of the Christian saints including St. Dunstan, who played a crucial role in restoring monastic life in England and reforming the English Church, particularly after the Danish (Viking) incursions.

The Avalon Archaeology, located near the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, features full-size reconstructions of important historical buildings from the Iron Age through the Tudor Period. These reconstructions help visitors see, touch, and experience what life and religious worship may have been like in different historical periods.

Hidden among the charming streets of Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, St Laurence’s Church is one of the finest and best-preserved Anglo-Saxon churches in England. Thought to have been built in the 10th or early 11th century, the church has survived remarkably intact. Its tall, narrow proportions, characteristic long-and-short stonework, and small round-headed windows are classic features of Anglo-Saxon architecture. Inside, visitors can admire the simple beauty of the stone interior, which retains a powerful sense of sacred space. Carved angel sculptures and arcading on the exterior walls add to the church’s unique historical charm. Today, it stands as a monument to early English Christianity and is still occasionally used for services. For an overnight we will arrive to the city of Bath.

Our day will start with the Roman Baths, where in the first century AD, Romans were drawn by the mysterious hot springs, believing them to be the work of the goddess Sulis Minerva, a blend of Celtic and Roman religions. The magnificent Bath Abbey, where Christianity took root and flourished in Anglo-Saxon England, is just a few steps away.

Our next stop will be at Malmesbury Abbey, located in Wiltshire. It was founded in the 7th century by Máel Dub, an Irish monk and missionary, and grew under his disciple Aldhelm. It was also believed to be the burial place of King Æthelstan (d. 939), the first king to rule a united England. During the Anglo-Saxon period, Malmesbury became a renowned center of education, theology, and book production. The abbey housed an impressive library, one of the best in England before the Norman Conquest. It continued to function until the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry the VIII.

Our last stop will be at St. Matthew’s Church in Langford, Oxfordshire, a historic parish church with origins dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. By the late 900s, Langford was part of a relatively stable Christian kingdom under King Edgar (r. 959–975) and then King Æthelred the Unready (r. 978–1016). This was a time of monastic revival and church building, driven by ecclesiastical reforms and a growing Christian population.

Our first visit today will be to Odda’s Chapel, a rare and beautifully preserved private chapel founded around 1056 by Earl Odda in memory of his brother. This exquisitely crafted stone chapel offers a peaceful glimpse into early medieval piety and the close-knit communities of Anglo-Saxon England. Just a short walk from Odda’s Chapel, St Mary’s Church stands as a remarkable example of Anglo-Saxon and Norman architectural fusion, and its continuity as a place of worship for over a millennium makes it a living monument to enduring faith.

Our next stop will be at St Oswald’s Priory, Gloucester. St Oswald’s Priory was founded in the late 9th century by Æthelred and his wife Æthelflæd, Lord and Lady of the Mercians, a powerful royal couple who played a pivotal role in consolidating Christian rule during the turbulent era of Viking incursions. St Oswald (c. 604–642) was a revered Christian king of Northumbria whose relics in Gloucester gave the priory immense religious prestige.

Tucked away in the quiet Gloucestershire countryside near the Forest of Dean, St Mary’s Church, Kempley, is a small, unassuming building with one of the most complete sets of Romanesque wall paintings in northern Europe. St Mary’s Church was constructed using local sandstone, a stone-tiled roof, and a simple rectangular nave with a chancel and small tower. The jewel of St Mary’s is its extensive series of 12th century wall paintings, which survived for centuries under layers of limewash and were rediscovered in the early 20th century. Although found and decorated in the age somewhat later than the focus of our pilgrimage, the church still closely resembles similar examples on the continent that evoke the taste and form of the universal undivided Church. For an overnight we will arrive to Cardiff in Wales.

We will start our Sunday with the Divine Liturgy at an Orthodox Church in Cardiff. After the Liturgy and a coffee break we will explore Caerleon Roman Fort, known to the Romans as Isca Augusta. The fort was one of only three permanent legionary fortresses in Roman Britain. Established around AD 75 during the conquest of Wales, it served as the base for the Legio II, a powerful Roman army unit of about 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers. Today, its extensive remains, including an amphitheater, barracks, and bath complex, make it one of the most important and evocative Roman sites in Britain. Saints Julius and Aaron, two early Christian martyrs are believed to have been killed for their faith in Caerleon. For an overnight we will remain in Cardiff.

Wales developed a distinct and influential form of early Christianity. St Illtud’s Church, one of the oldest, stands on the site of an early monastic school, believed to have been founded in the early 6th century by St Illtud, a scholar-saint. It served as possibly the first true ‘college’ in Britain. At its height, it had over a thousand pupils and schooled many of the great saints of the age, such as St David, St Samson, and St Gildas. The church today houses early Christian inscribed stones and Celtic crosses.

Located within the grounds of Margam Abbey, the museum holds one of the most important collections of early Christian inscribed stones and crosses in Wales, many dating from the 5th to 11th centuries. The stones provide invaluable evidence of Christian worship, language (Latin and Old Welsh), and memorial practices during and after the Roman period. The richly decorated Celtic crosses reveal a unique artistic fusion of Christian iconography and Celtic symbolism.

Time permitting: St. Govan’s chapel is tucked into the cliffs of the Pembrokeshire coast overlooking the wild expanse of the sea. St. Govan (Welsh: Gofan) is believed to have been a Celtic Christian hermit, possibly of Irish origin, who settled in this remote part of southwest Wales in the 6th century. Built directly into the limestone cliff face, the chapel is extremely small with just one room with a stone altar and a tiny lancet window. It is accessed by descending a long flight of 52 steps cut into the cliff (though some local lore claims the number changes each time you count!). Beside the chapel is St. Govan’s Well, believed to have healing properties.

St David’s Cathedral is the most important ecclesiastical site in Wales. St David (Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales who was a key figure in organizing the Welsh church, founded a monastery here that became a major center of pilgrimage and learning, emphasizing asceticism and local independence, especially during the Middle Ages. Just outside the city lies the ruined chapel of St Non, traditionally identified as the birthplace of St David, and one of the holiest sites in Welsh Christianity. Beside it is St Non’s Well, a healing spring long revered by pilgrims. St Non, the mother of St David, is venerated as a Christian matron and figure of sanctity. For an overnight we will stay in the vicinity of St. David's.

Our first stop will be at St Brynach's Church. St Brynach is one of the great Celtic saints of early Christian Wales, who lived in the 6th century. It is said that at Nevern in South Wales, he experienced visions of angels and felt so close to God that he chose this valley as his final home. He built a cell, a church, and gathered a community, but always returned to the hilltop above, Carn Ingli, the “Mountain of Angels,” to pray in silence. The present St Brynach’s Church dates from the 12th century. Pilgrims still feel the resonance of his presence in its sacred features, the Nevern Cross, an intricately carved Celtic cross standing over 13 feet tall, covered in spirals, knotwork, and sacred geometry, and the Bleeding Yew Tree, said to weep red sap as a sign of suffering and witness. The Pilgrim Path runs nearby; a time-worn footpath once walked in penance and prayer, linking Nevern with St David’s.

St Tysilio was the son of Brochfael Ysgithrog, a 6th century king of Powys, who became a monk and ultimately founded a small monastic cell in Ynys Tysilio or Church Island. Here he prayed, fasted, and possibly served a small local Christian community. His name became revered across north Wales and Brittany, making Church Island a local place of devotion. The present St Tysilio & St Mary’s Church dates largely from the 15th century, but it stands on the site of older Christian worship here.

St Beuno's Chapel, located in Clynnog Fawr, is a historical and religious site dedicated to the 7th century Welsh abbot, confessor, and saint, Beuno, who became an active missionary with the support of Cadfan, king of Gwynedd. He established a monastery at Clynnog Fawr on the Llŷn peninsula. St. Beuno established his own monastery at the site and died there peacefully "on the seventh day of Easter", 21 April 640.

Today we will spend on the Island of Anglesey, the largest island in Wales.

St Cadwaladr’s Church is dedicated to Cadwaladr ad Cadwallon, the last great king of Gwynedd and often considered the last high king of Wales, who lived in the 7th century. The church itself is medieval in origin, with some parts dating from the 13th century, though it is built on an earlier Christian site likely associated with early Welsh royalty and the Christianization of Anglesey.

Bryn Celli Ddu is one of the most remarkable Neolithic burial chambers in Wales, dating back over 5,000 years (around 3000 BCE). Located on the island of Anglesey, this prehistoric site is a passage tomb aligned with the summer solstice sunrise, highlighting its ancient builders' sophisticated understanding of astronomy and spirituality.

St Cybi’s Church is a remarkable and unique religious site, founded in the 6th century by St Cybi, a Welsh holy man and warrior turned monk. The church sits within the remains of a historic Roman fort called Caer Cybi, making it a rare example of a fortress church blending Christian worship with defensive architecture, reflecting turbulent times. The site includes a holy well with healing properties nearby. As a place of worship for over 1,400 years, it has continuously served both the local community and pilgrims.

Eglwys Llanbadrig, dedicated to St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of the oldest Christian sites in Wales, dating back to the 5th or early 6th century. According to legend, St Patrick was shipwrecked on the nearby cliffs, and after surviving the ordeal, he established a place of worship here. The current stone church, with parts dating from the 12th century, stands near the site of that earliest sanctuary.

St Eilian’s Church is dedicated to St Eilian, a 6th century Welsh saint who came from Cornwall and traveled to Anglesey to establish Christian communities during the early spread of Celtic Christianity in Wales. The church stands on an older sacred site, reflecting centuries of continuous Christian worship.

Penmon Priory was founded in the early 6th century by St Seiriol, one of the most revered early Celtic saints of Wales. He is considered a gentle hermit who dedicated himself to the spiritual welfare of the local community. Nearby at St Seiriol’s Well is an ancient spring believed to have healing properties. The priory grounds also include an impressive ancient stone cross, which is both early medieval Christian art and a tangible symbol of the site's long-standing sacred heritage. Penmon grew into a significant religious center during the medieval period when it was established as an Augustinian priory.

St Winefride was a 7th century Welsh princess renowned for her holiness, purity, and miracles. She was the daughter of Prince Tewdrig of the kingdom of Mercia or Powys, and devoted her life to God from a young age. Following her beheading by a nobleman, she was miraculously restored to life. After founding a religious community, her life became an enduring symbol of faith, purity, and divine healing. Her shrine is near St. Winefride’s Well in Holywell and remains a vibrant place of worship and pilgrimage.

St Bertram, a hermit or missionary who settled in the Staffordshire countryside, lived a life of piety and devotion. The present Church of the Holy Cross with the shrine of St Betram is a charming medieval building with origins dating back to the 12th century. Near the church there are a number of ancient stone crosses or their remnants, which are important relics of early Christian worship and territorial marking in the region. These crosses, dating from the early medieval period (roughly 7th to 10th centuries), are typical of the Christianization of rural England and reflect the fusion of local artistic styles with Christian symbolism.

St Wystan’s Church in Repton was founded in the 8th century. It became a religious center in the Kingdom of Mercia and is closely linked with St Wystan, a Mercian prince and martyr buried here. One of the most notable features of St Wystan’s is its Anglo-Saxon crypt, one of the finest surviving examples in England. The crypt’s vaulted design and carved stonework reflect early medieval craftsmanship and devotion, making it a key site for understanding Anglo-Saxon religious art and architecture. Repton is famously associated with the Viking “Great Heathen Army” that invaded England around 873 to 874 AD.

Lichfield Cathedral is one of the most magnificent medieval cathedrals in England and is unique as the only one with three spires, often referred to as the "Ladies of the Vale." St Chad, one of the most revered early English saints and the first Bishop of Lichfield, played a pivotal role in spreading Christianity throughout Mercia during the 7th century. Born into a noble Northumbrian family, Chad was educated under St Aidan at Lindisfarne. Known for his humility, gentle character, and pastoral care, Chad was consecrated bishop in 669 AD. He established his episcopal seat at Lichfield and worked tirelessly to convert the Mercian people from paganism to Christianity. St. Chad’s remains were enshrined at Lichfield Cathedral, making the site a major pilgrimage destination. For an overnight we will remain in the vicinity of Lichfield.

St Peter’s Collegiate Church traces its origins back to the late 10th or early 11th century, and was significantly endowed by Lady Wulfrun, a noblewoman who founded the town of Wolverhampton around 985 AD. She dedicated the church to St Peter, establishing it as a religious center for the surrounding community. After the Norman Conquest, the church evolved into a collegiate church, governed by a college of canons rather than a monastic community, making it a significant ecclesiastical institution in the Midlands. Near the south door of St Peter’s Parish stands a 4m high blackened column called ‘The Wolverhampton Cross’. This column may, in fact, have come from the Roman town of Wroxeter, but in the mid-9th century AD Saxon stonemasons added carvings to it, and from that time on it became a preaching cross that may have been associated with a Saxon monastery on the site.

The Metropolitan Cathedral Church and Basilica of Saint Chad is a Catholic cathedral in Birmingham, England. As the mother church of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, it is dedicated to Saint Chad of Mercia. St Chad's was one of the first Catholic cathedrals erected in England after the English Reformation initiated in 1534 by King Henry VIII. St Chad was a 7th century bishop of Mercia and pupil of St Aidan of Lindisfarne. The relics of St Chad were subjected to radiocarbon dating analysis by the archaeological laboratory of Oxford University in 1985, on the order of Archbishop Couve de Murville, which showed all but one of the bones to date from the 7th century, which concurs with his death on 2 March 672 AD

All Saints Church in Earls Burton is particularly renowned for its exceptional tower, a masterpiece of early medieval craftsmanship. The church has been in continuous use for over a thousand years, evolving through Norman and later medieval modifications but retaining much of its original character.

All Saints' Church in Brixworth is yet another remarkable and best-preserved example of Anglo-Saxon architecture in England. Constructed around AD 740–800, it stands as the largest surviving Anglo-Saxon church in the country and has been in continuous use for over 1,200 years.

For a farewell dinner and an overnight we will arrive to the Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow, Terminal 2 and 3.

After breakfast, take a shuttle to your Terminal in Heathrow Airport in London. Departure home.