Wesley, Knox and Luther Tours

Wesley Tour

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHOIR AND HERITAGE TOURS: “Celebrating the Lives of John & Charles Wesley”

2003 was the 300th anniversary of the birth of John Wesley – and 2007 will mark the 300th anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley. During the next three years, there will never be a better time to take advantage of the opportunity for your choir or church group to celebrate the lives of two of the most influential personalities in the history of the Methodist Church.

Plan a Methodist Heritage Tour…
with your church choir or group and take part in the celebration. Your group can visit key historic places (and some interesting lesser known sites), take part in local festivals, perform in Wesley Chapel and little parishes across England, be welcomed with lunch and tea at local churches, or trace the Methodist evolution… the choice is yours!

Click here for a Methodist Heritage Tour Itinerary.

Visit:
The Old Rectory in Epworth — where you may tour John and Charles’ birthplace, the parish church where their father Samuel was the rector for 40 years, and the church erected in memory of the Wesley brothers, sons of Epworth and founders of Methodism.

In Oxford, Christ Church College and Cathedral where John and Charles were undergraduates and Lincoln College where Methodism originated in the 18th century, when the “Holy Club” was founded.

In Bristol, The New Room — the oldest Methodist building in the world, where you may “meet Mr.John Wesley”and tour his rooms above the chapel. Nearby is Charles Wesley’s House where he lived with his family and wrote some of his 6,000 hymns.

Wesley’s Chapel and House in London — where your choir may sing during Sunday church services, tour the house where John lived from 1779 until his death in 1791, and visit the Museum of Methodism. His tomb is in the garden behind the chapel.

Lesser known Methodist sites abound across England, including — John Bray’s Houseand Old Marlyebone Church in London, Englesea Brook Museum of Primitive Methodism, Bishop Asbury Cottage, Octagonal Chapels in Yarm and Heptonstall, and many other sites.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR GROUPS IN 2005, 2006, AND 2007!

In cooperation with The Old Rectory in Epworth, Methodist choirs and heritage groups traveling with AMBASSADOR TOURS are invited to the village of Epworth to attend and participate in Sunday morning church services in St. Andrew’s Parish Church or the Wesley Memorial Church followed by a special tour of The Old Rectory and a full Sunday lunch in the Refectory. Choral groups are invited to perform a Saturday evening concert held as a fund-raiser whose proceeds will benefit the upcoming Old Rectory restoration project.

Look for our latest brochure mailing detailing this exciting joint project with The Old Rectory!

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Knox Tour

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CHOIR AND HERITAGE TOURS: “Celebrating the Life of John Knox"

Tour Scotland and England with your church heritage group or choir, visiting or singing in the churches associated with the history of John Knox.

VISIT:
Edinburgh — Visit Edinburgh Castle where Mary, Queen of Scots’ supporters were besieged by those of James VI in 1563. In 1560, Scotland formally ratified the Reformed religion; Knox was appointed minister of the Church of St. Giles. Choirs will sing a concert in St. Giles’ Cathedral, the “High Kirk” of Scotland. You will also see the statue of John Knox near the place where he is buried and have a tour of his house.

St. Andrews and Perth — In St. Andrews, visit the Castle, the Cathedral and St. Mary’s College. St. Andrew’s University is where John Knox became the disciple of reformist George Wishart, who was arrested and burned on the orders of Cardinal David Beaton. In Perth, visit St. John’s Church where Knox preached the sermon “vehement against idolatry” in May 1559. Choirs may participate in Evensong services.

Haddington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Lindisfarne Priory — Visit the town of Haddington where John Knox was born. See Lindisfarne Priory and Castle on Holy Island. In Newcastle-upon-Tyne, attend church services in St. Nicholas’ Church, where Knox preached during his ministry in the Church of England. Choirs may participate in church services at St. Nicholas’ Church.

York — Enjoy a tour of the Roman walls, Stonegate, the Shambles (an area of cobbled streets and hover-hanging shops), and the York Minster with its magnificent collection of medieval stained glass. Choirs will perform an evening concert in a local church, followed by fellowship with the congregation.

Oxford — Tour Oxford, where the reformers Hooper, Ridley, Latimer and Crammer, were bishops under Edward VI; they were burned when Queen Mary (known as Bloody Mary for her persecution of Protestants) restored Roman Catholicism. The Martyr’s Memorial commemorates this event. Choirs will participate in Evensong in Christ Church Cathedral.

London — No tour to England is complete without visiting London. Enjoy a guided tour with professional “Blue Badge” guide, and plenty of free time to attend the theater, shop and visit the historic landmarks. A traditional dinner will be held in an historic London pub.

Celebrate your Presbyterian heritage in England and Scotland. Contact Ambassador Tours for a custom itinerary for your group including these and other sites associated with the history of John Knox.

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Luther Tour

LUTHERAN CHURCH CHOIR AND HERITAGE TOURS: “Walk in the steps of Martin Luther and the Reformation”

Martin Luther, was a pivotal figure in the Reformation, the modern history of Christianity. With his translation of the Bible’s New Testament from it’s original Greek to German, he attained his place in history. Today some 70 million believers on all five continents are members of the Lutheran Church.

Your church group or choir can visit and perform in many of the places that are now a part of Martin Luther’s historic journey. Many have such historic significance that they have been named to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.

Visit:
Eisleben — on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is the town where Martin Luther was born and died. Visit his birthplace, St. Peter’s and Paul’s the church where he was baptized and St. Andreas containing the original pulpit from which Luther preached shortly before his death.

Erfurt — where Martin Luther studied at the university for four years and was ordained in St. Kilian chapel of the Cathedral in 1507. Visit the Augustinian Monastery where Luther studied as well as the preserved old city with timber frame houses and beautiful old churches.

Wittenberg — on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, this is where the great historical events of the Reformation took place. The All Saint’s Castle Church with the famous door on which Luther nailed his theses, houses the graves of Luther and Melanchthon. Visit City Church of St. Mary’s with the three-winged Reformation alter and Luther Hall the former Augustinian cloister that Luther entered as an unknown monk.

Eisenach — and the castle of Wartberg, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, Wartberg was the home to Saint Elisabeth and houses the Luther Room where Luther translated the New Testament into German. Eisenach is also the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Leipzig — visit the Thomaskirche where Luther preached from the pulpit and Johann Sebastian Bach was choirmaster for 27 years.

Worms — the oldest city in Germany, where Luther appeared at the Imperial Diet in 1521 and refused to retract his publication. Visit the Luther Monument and Luther Room in the City museum, the location where Luther faced Kaiser Karl V during the Diet of Worms.

Celebrate your Lutheran heritage by walking and performing in the steps of Martin Luther.

Contact us for a custom itinerary for your group including these and other sites from the Reformation.

Ambassador Tours

We can arrange that!

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