Full Details

Join Dean Aidan on a twelve-day pilgrimage to explore the history, spirituality, and vitality of some of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world!

A pilgrimage is an outward journey that marks an inward one. For generations, people have walked the pilgrim path to give thanks for or to seek healing, to demonstrate penitence, or to mark some major shift in their lives. Pilgrimage is an effort, a demonstration of one’s mettle on the spiritual path, and a way of deepening and confirming devotion to the path. Pilgrimage allows us not only to see but also to touch, taste, and smell places made holy by the devotion of our forebears. More especially, though, it enacts our own inward journey to the heart, where we find Christ and our own truest self.

This pilgrimage will be an opportunity for a small group of St. Markans to explore cathedral identity in an intensified and embodied way. Before we depart, we’ll gather to learn about pilgrimage and to root ourselves in our intention to be open to the contours of cathedral life we encounter on our trip. We’ll begin our trip with three nights on the cathedral close in Canterbury. From there we’ll travel to Cambridge, where we’ll be within easy drive of several important cathedrals, including Norwich, Ely, and Peterborough. We’ll head next to the magnificent Romanesque cathedral in Durham, stopping in York along the way to explore the Minster. Finally, we’ll end with two days on Holy Isle, where St. Aidan founded his mission to the north of England. We’ll then fly back from Edinburgh.

We will not only explore the history of these magnificent buildings. We’ll also engage with their clergy and staff to discover how these places of worship, sanctuary, and pilgrimage are living into a new identity in a hurting and changing world. Upon our return, we’ll meet to plumb the riches of our pilgrimage and to begin to explore the ways God is calling the St. Mark’s community to live into the fullness of its cathedral identity today. From beginning to end, we will ground our time together in a regular rhythm of prayer.

Registration & Payment Details

Along with your registration, you will need to make a deposit of $1,500/person, payable to St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. A second payment totalling half of your remaining balance will be due January 15, 2027. The final balance of your payment will be due June 1, 2027. Should you need to cancel after having made full or partial payment, we will refund your payments subject to our ability to fill your space on the trip.

Airfare

Airfare is not included in the cost of the trip. You are welcome to make your own travel arrangements to and from the UK. Should we have enough people to book a group airline reservation, we will do so. More details to come after registration closes.

Additional UK Travel

You are welcome to arrive before or depart after the group, should you wish more time in the UK on your own.

Waitlist

Once registration has filled, we will hold a waitlist. In the event that a space opens on the trip, we will contact those on the waitlist.

Questions

Please direct all questions concerning the trip to Dean Aidan.