Wesley Heritage Tour

Your Wesley Heritage travel study program begins as you depart the United States on your international flight to England.

Arrive in London this morning. If time permits, pass through the English countryside to the city of Coventry. On the evening of November 14, 1940, a holocaust of bombs and fire destroyed much of Coventry. Experience the pain and the triumph of the townspeople when you visit the beautiful cathedral. The charred ruins of the old cathedral sit next to the exciting architecture of the modern cathedral. They stand together as a tribute to the indomitable spirit of the British people. Check into your Midlands area hotel for a two-night stay.

The quiet English countryside and green, rolling hills will delight you as you travel to remote Epworth in the Fen Country. Here, Samuel and Susanna Wesley raised their brood of children in the Old Rectory while he served the parish church for 39 years. You’ll become familiar with the upbringing and early life of John and Charles Wesley when you visit their childhood home. You’ll see Memorial Church, built with contributions from around the world. Enjoy a worship service with the local people of Epworth. Then, visit St. Andrews Church at Epworth. Return to your hotel for your overnight stay.

Enjoy a scenic drive through the charming villages of the Cotswolds, where honey-colored cottages cluster together in secluded valleys. You’ll glimpse life as it was in the day of William Shakespeare when you visit his birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. Not far away, he courted his wife, Anne Hathaway, in the garden of her delightful thatch-roofed cottage. You’ll also drive past Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried. Check into your Swindon area hotel for a two night stay.

Learn about the educational background of the Wesley brothers, John, Charles and Samuel, Jr., when you visit Christ Church College at Oxford University. See Lincoln College and St. Mary’s Church on your walking tour and enjoy time on your own. Return to your hotel for dinner and your overnight stay.

In the ancient port city of Bristol, you’ll have a lecture in one of Wesley’s early centers of ministry, the “New Room.” This oldest Methodist building in the world is unusually attractive in its basic simplicity. Then, visit the home of Charles Wesley, the famous hymn writer. Bath, a spa town of Roman origin, deserves its name. Since the first century, the warm waters have refreshed and healed. You’ll see the unique Roman baths and enjoy this beautiful city of 18th-century streets and quaint shops. Continue to London for your overnight stay. Dinner is on your own in London.

Experience the lifestyle of our British cousins as you explore the vibrant town of London on your own. Go and see the regal adornment of Buckingham Palace. Take a ride on the London Eye. Visit the British Museum and wonder at ancient treasures and works of art. Experience a show in London’s famous West End theater district. Enjoy any of these options or more as you enjoy the sights and sounds of London on your own today. Dinner is on your own in London.

John Wesley left his mark on the town of London. You’ll have a lecture at City Road Chapel, the site of Wesley’s home and grave. Across the street in Bunhill Fields Cemetery, Susanna Wesley is buried along with other famous personages such as John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe. You’ll walk on Aldersgate Street, where on May 24, 1738, John Wesley had his “Warming of the Heart” experience. You’ll walk past the entrance of “Little Britain,” where Charles Wesley had his conversion experience just three days earlier. Drive by the major city sites such as Marble Arch, Speakers Corner of Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, and much more. Your first view will be of Westminster Abbey, where royalty is christened, married, and buried. You will visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, where John Wesley often worshiped. On the day of his conversion, Wesley came here for an afternoon service and was deeply moved by the choir’s anthem, “Out of the Deep Have I Called Unto Thee, O Lord.” Dinner is on your own in London.

Say farewell as you return to the USA or enjoy an exciting extension in Ireland.