Wesley Pilgrimage FAQ

NOTE: All persons interested in participating in the Wesley Pilgrimage are asked to read this before registering.

1. Is the Wesley Pilgrimage in England a Wesley heritage tour?

No, the Wesley Pilgrimage in England IS NOT a heritage tour. We will be traveling to, and around, England as pilgrims, not tourists. The places we visit have a direct connection to John and Charles Wesley and the development of the Methodist movement. The Pilgrimage is organized by Discipleship Ministries and has been an event successful at deepening both understandings and relationships among Pilgrims, the Methodist Movement, and with experienced leaders and theologians.

As Pilgrims, we are persons who journey to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion. Pilgrims seek communion with God and deeper knowledge of themselves through travel and experiencing places made sacred by past events and faithful people. Pilgrims immerse themselves in the local culture. They honor the people and traditions of the places they visit. Pilgrims are expectant people; they expect to see and experience God in people, places, and events along the way.

This pilgrimage and our life together will be shaped by the Wesleyan Way of Life expressed in the General Rules. “A rule of life is a pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for growth in holiness. It fosters gifts of the Spirit in personal life and human community, helping to form us into the persons God intends us to be” (Marjorie Thompson, Soul Feast): We begin each day with Morning Prayer & Eucharist. Each day will end with Evening Prayer or Compline (Night Prayer). Your participation is an important part of the pilgrimage experience. Our daily worship is shaped by the liturgy of the Church, adapted from the Book of Common Prayer.

Pilgrims will not sleep in 4–5-star hotels. We stay at humbler, yet very comfortable, Christian institutions. The “home” for our pilgrimage will mainly be at Sarum College in Salisbury, an Anglican school of theology and pastoral training in the close of Salisbury Cathedral. Sarum College is also a first-rate B&B. We usually spend one night at the Hayes Conference Center in Swanwick on our way to Epworth.

2. How much should I budget for airfare to London and other expenses during the pilgrimage?

Airline tickets to London will cost $1,200 – $2,000. We strongly recommend you purchase your ticket through a travel agent. He or she will be able to find you the best fare and itinerary to meet your needs. A travel agency will also provide services like travel insurance and help if flights are delayed. Direct Travel, the travel agency that serves Discipleship Ministries, will be happy to help you. Click here for more information. That additional travel insurance would be at your own cost.

Early arrival: We strongly recommend pilgrims plan to arrive in the UK at least 24 hours before the pilgrimage begins. This will allow you time to get a good night’s sleep and recover from the inevitable jetlag that accompanies a trans-Atlantic flight.

Arriving early means incurring extra expenses for lodging, and pilgrims are solely responsible for booking nights or arranging travel beyond what is provided by the pilgrimage. A limited number of rooms may be available for early arrivals at Sarum College. Bed and breakfast usually cost £90 for an en-suite single room per night if arriving early. If you choose to stay in London before going to Salisbury a hotel room will cost £75-£300 per night. We will provide recommendations for overnight lodging in London upon request. More information will be provided in follow-up communication.

Transport from London to Salisbury: The train is faster and, therefore, more expensive. The bus (coach) will take longer and is the more economical choice. It is your responsibility to get yourself to Salisbury for the start of the pilgrimage. Once there, nearly all meals and all ground transportation is provided by us.

Meals: The pilgrimage registration fee includes breakfast every day, lunch, and dinner most days. Pilgrims will be responsible for purchasing 1 lunch and 4 suppers. Meal costs may vary from £10.00 to £30.00, depending upon where and what you choose to eat. Pubs tend to provide good quality food at good value.

Currency exchange rate: To convert £ to $ I recommend you visit xe.com/currencyconverter. XE Currency Converter also provides an excellent free app for use with Android and iOS mobile devices.

3. How important is the pre-pilgrimage reading assigned by the leaders?

The pilgrimage experience is enhanced when pilgrims do their homework. If you have graduated from seminary, you have probably read some of the books we assign. Re-reading them will refresh your memory of the material. Visiting Epworth, Oxford, Bristol, and London will make the story of the Wesley brothers, and the early Methodist people come to life. Several pilgrims commented the experience transformed the one-dimensional written word into a three-dimensional experience. There are also details that those who read the books will notice that are lost to those who do not.

4. What’s English summer weather like?

Typical Summer weather in southern England is warm and dry. High temperatures during the day will range from 70s to 80s (F). Keep in mind that few buildings in Great Britain are air-conditioned. There is no air conditioning at Sarum College. Staff can provide a fan for your room upon request onsite, first come, first served. Of course, be prepared for rain. Bring an umbrella and a light rain jacket. You can monitor the UK weather forecast at uk.weather.com.

5. Are there any COVID or other illness policies and procedures?

Yes, there are! Sarum College allows for social distancing and sleeping isolation when you are sleeping in a single bedroom. In the event of positive COVID tests by trip participants, we will follow the guidance of local policies and authorities related to isolation times, masking, and more. If you are on the trip and have any contagious disease, you will be encouraged to take reasonable safety steps to prevent the spread of the disease. Using technology, there are capabilities to video conference in to teaching times and various other experiences. Participants may be asked to remain behind at Sarum College in the event of a contagious disease, due to the close quarters of driving to different sites by bus (coach). If already on the trip, no refunds are available, and your own personal itinerary may be impacted due to the need to isolate. If there are questions or concerns, please contact us. More detailed information will also be provided as part of preparation for the trip.

A partial trip refund may be available if diagnosed prior to travel for the pilgrimage. This partial refund would not include the non-refundable deposit.

6. What are the registration and deposit deadlines?

Registration is open to the public and available on a first-come basis until the trip reaches capacity (36) or registration closes on May 15, 2025.

Upon registration, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is due. The deposit is subtracted from the total owed for registration.

Early Bird Rate: Register and fully pay by January 31, 2025; registration is $2,499 USD.

Regular Price: Register and fully pay by March 31, 2025; registration is $2,799 USD.

Late Price: Register and fully pay by May 15, 2025; registration is $3,100 USD.

7. If I select “room with a spouse or friend” on registration, am I guaranteed to share a room with them?

Our staff will work diligently to guarantee that you room with a spouse or friend if that option is selected during registration. There are a limited number of beds that accommodate two people at Sarum College, and some shared rooms have two individual beds.

If you select this option, you will be asked to provide a name. The spouse or traveling partner should also register for the event and select the same rooming options as you did.

8. What is the capacity of the trip?

Thirty-six people, plus leadership. This size fits comfortably in the full-sized coach (bus) for travel days and allows for reasonable small group time and friendships to form over the pilgrimage.

9. Are scholarships available?

Yes. If interested in a scholarship, register, and put down deposit first. Then complete an application at https://forms.gle/X67LYEGwjR54RVLY7.

If selected for a scholarship, you will qualify for $700 less than the early bird rate, $1799 USD (to be paid by May 15, 2025). Decisions will be made and communicated by January 22, 2025.

Scholarship applications should be submitted by midnight central (US) time, January 15, 2025. Applicants can expect to be contacted with information regarding their scholarship application in January 2025.

Anyone who applies but is not granted a scholarship and wishes to cancel their Pilgrimage registration may receive a full refund of their deposit by contacting Registrar Sara Byrd ([email protected]) prior to Feb. 12, 2025.