DOUGLAS BOND
AUTHOR | TEACHER | TOUR LEADER
"Bond is a historian with unusual insight." Russ Pulliam, Indianapolis Star
Early Church in the British Isles Tour
A WONDERFUL SUCCESS!
Northern England, Scotland, and Ireland
June 18-28, 2022
Subscribe and contact me about the Bond Tour 2023!
We will follow the Venerable Bede (and sing his Anglo-Saxon poem "A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing") in Durham, Whitby, Lindisfarne, and beyond; we will explore evidence of early Christian soldiers in the Roman army at Vindolanda on Hadrian's Wall; we will sing "Be Thou My Vision" where 6th c. Celtic Christian missionary Columba landed in Scotland; we will cross the Irish Sea and explore where Patrick preached the gospel and began translating Scripture into ancient Irish; we will explore the Augustinian priory at Kells; we will see the ancient Book of Kells at Trinity College Dublin; we will climb (or gaze at) ancient Irish towers built in the 9th c.---Plus we will fast forward to the Reformation and see John Knox sites, Covenanter sites, and all the fascinating places to explore in Edinburgh, St. Andrews, York, plus CS Lewis sites in Belfast; see where Handel first performed The Messiah in Dublin--and so much more!
"I commend Doug's knowledge of Church history. I've heard very few people who have such an extensive knowledge of Church history and who really see it with all of the important distinctions." TIM CHALLIES
Itinerary
June 18-28, 2022
Saturday 18: Meet at Glasgow airport and drive by coach to Dumfries in Covenanter country (1:30) dinner and stay at hotel
Suggested reading: Crown & Covenant Trilogy
Sunday 19: Morning worship in Dumfries, then drive from Dumfries to Steel Rigg on Hadrian’s Wall (:30) and “Onward Christian Soldiers” as we hike the wall (if you’d like to), take in the sweeping moorland views; visit Roman fort Vindolanda; lunch on your own at Once Brewed
Suggested reading: Hostage Lands
Drive to Jarrow (stop at Hexham Abbey, tour abbey if time allows), where Bede ministered and wrote hymns, and his Ecclesiastical History of the Anglo-Saxons. Drive and dinner at our hotel in Durham (:30); see cathedral and castle, stroll this ancient town full of history; evensong at cathedral
Monday 20: (depart no later than 10:30) Drive from Durham (2:00) to 7th century Anglo-Saxon Aidan and Cuthbert’s missionary sending place, Lindisfarne Holy Island, crossing at low tide; visit ruins and museum on your own; lunch at an eatery on the island
Suggested reading: Hand of Vengeance
Drive from Holy Island to Edinburgh (1:30), called Dun Edin in ancient Britain; dinner and hotel stay (near the mile); that evening St Giles, see Knox grave; evening sightseeing and walk the Royal Mile where John Knox lived and ministered
Suggested reading: The Thunder; The Mighty Weakness of John Knox
Tuesday 21: Morning hike Arthur’s Seat, or shopping; depart by 10:30. Drive from Edinburgh to Inverary Castle (2:30), tour castle, walk the lake; drive (30:) to Oban and dinner and hotel in Oban (2 nights at same hotel).
Wednesday 22: Take the ferry from Oban to Craignure on Isle of Mull (be there an hour before sailing--crossing :50); drive by coach to Fionnphort (1:05); catch foot ferry to Iona (every half hour, ten-minute crossing); explore Iona where Columba first brought Christianity to Scotland from Patrick’s Ireland. Back by ferry to Oban (2:00) dinner and hotel in Oban.
Thursday 23: Start early; drive from Oban to Cairnryan (4:00) and ferry (2:00) to Larne Ireland hotel and dinner (Ballygally Castle)
Friday 24: Hike Slemish Mountain, where for six years Patrick tended sheep as slave; drive to Belfast and Lewis Square; St Marks nearby where Lewis was baptized, his childhood home Little Lea nearby; drive to Down Patrick hotel and dinner; evensong at C of E cathedral
Suggested reading: War in the Wasteland; The Resistance; Stand Fast; Hold Fast
Saturday 25: Down Patrick visit burial place of Patrick and nearby Saul’s Church, site of oldest church in Ireland; dinner and hotel south of Down Patrick (:54 to Newry)
Sunday 26: Morning worship; drive to Castle Slane (:30), then drive to Kilkenny (total drive time from Down Patrick to Kilkenny (2:30) and climb St Cacine Tower; tour Anglican cathedral; then to nearby Kells Priory and St Brigid Round Tower; evening drive to Dublin (1:30) hotel and dinner
Monday 27: Visit spectacular Trinity College Dublin library/reading room; see the Book of Kells; afternoon shopping in Dublin; on your own in the Irish music/pub district
Suggested reading: The Accidental Voyage
Tuesday 28: Final breakfast together, reflections on the sites we’ve experienced together; coach drive to airport and flights home
Space is Limited: Register Today! We are getting a number of inquiries--registration for this tour will close soon!
1. Contact Douglas Bond and reserve your place bondbooks.net@gmail.com
2. Print and sign the Registration Tour Contract
3. Mail in a copy of the signed contract with your $250 Deposit
Cost
Per Participant $2,850
Airfare not included.
Cost includes: luxury coach travel, entrance to museums, 20 scrumptious meals, 10 night fine hotel stays,
guided tours on the ground, fun, and warm fellowship everyday!
Payment Schedule:
$250 Deposit at registration
$800 First Payment, February, 2022
$1000 Second Payment April 1, 2022
Final Balance Due May 1, 2022
"Mr. Bond was inspirational and taught us so much! The tour was integrated and fascinating."
17-year-old traveler on the Armistice Centenary Tour 2018
