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The UK/Ireland and the Faith Tourism industry?
By Paull Tickner

With the Faith Tourism industry comprising 300 million travellers and worth $18 billion, it’s important the UK and Ireland as a major destination for Baptists, Catholics, Episcopalians, Methodists and Presbyterians.   Because of renowned attention to detail with both the creation and the delivery of customised tours, once armed with your Minister’s ‘shopping list’, we can design and execute a memorable tour that meets the required timeframe, interests and budget.  We can also ensure that your groups are in cathedral cities when great choral festivals take place like the Three Choirs Festival and the Southern Cathedrals Festival

EPISCOPAL 

Our ABC (Another Beautiful Cathedral) tours tend to be a cut above the rest because of our belief in travelling less so that your clients can see and sing more.  For example, we offer itineraries that will combine cathedrals in:

·        London (Southwark), with Rochester and Canterbury.
·        Chichester, Winchester and Salisbury.
·        (via Bristol) Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester.
·        St Albans, Peterborough, Ely, the pilgrimage shrine at Walsingham, Norwich, Bury St Edmunds and Chelmsford
·        (via Manchester) York, Durham, Carlisle, Liverpool and Chester

Included in these itineraries are some of our major attractions like Leeds Castle, Stonehenge, Shakespeare Country, Cambridge, Hadrian’s Wall and the Lake District

BAPTIST 

Every now and again, a Baptist Church shows interest in their English roots and we can design a tour which among other visits includes The Metropolitan Temple in London where Charles Spurgeon was Minister, the Hellwys Plaque at the Old Bailey and Bunhill Fields.  Out of London there are strong links in Bristol and in Northamptonshire.  Entitled The Pilgrim’s Progress it also takes a close look at the places in and around Bedford that are associated with John Bunyan.  With other must sees blended in, this could be worth suggesting next time you see your Baptist Minister.

METHODIST 

In the 18^th century, John Wesley travelled thousands of miles preaching and bringing new hope to many of the poor of the emerging industrial nation.  He travelled to all the corners of the UK, mostly on horseback , and we have put together a couple of programmes (which serve as conversation starts with your Methodist Minister) that visit the great houses of the landed gentry of the period, and the villages, towns and chapels where John Wesley preached and where they sing the great hymns written by his brother Charles.  Visits to places associated with Bishop Francis Asbury and George Whitefield are also included.

PRESBYTERIAN

Back in 1997, I was involved with the creation of three different Presbyterian tours that marked the 1400^th anniversary of St Columba (Iona) and of St Ninian (Whithorn).  We now invite you to come and discover the story of these two great Saints and the evolution of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland.  Throw in for good measure fairytale castles, magnificent gardens, spectacular scenery, a dash of Braveheart and other much-loved Scottish ingredients.  The end result?  With our help, we can give you imaginative and irresistible confection that you can confidently set before your nearest Presbyterian Minister.

CATHOLIC

Ireland’s landscape still holds the memories of an ancient and beautiful civilisation.  From the 6^th century, Ireland’s art, culture and learning shone like a beacon as the Dark Ages extinguished the bright lights of Celtic sophistication throughout Europe.  Irish monasteries were centres of spirituality and knowledge.   Irish Celtic art flourished producing wonderful illustrated manuscripts, ornate chalices, jewellery and stone carved high crosses.  Irish missionaries such as Saints Columba, Comgall, Kilian and others spread The Word of God from France to Italy and from Britain to Germany.  We can offer you rich heritage trails of our Celtic Christian past that discover the living traditions of Celtic pilgrimage and which set your spirit free.

PILGRIMAGE

If your Minister/Pastor is looking for something for a smaller group that wanders on and off the beaten path, taking in ancient religious sites on the way, we can deliver an itinerary that’s based in Scotland with visits holy isles of Iona, Incholm and Holy Island which gradually turns into a journey through the powerlands of the Celtic Church.  Another programme becomes an adventure through the hills, valleys, hidden shrines and mystical islands of Wales while others follow in the footsteps of Chaucer, The Grail and the ancient pre Christian peoples of Britain.

...and finally 

If you’re actively involved with one of the denominations I’ve mentioned, please give careful thought as to how your skills and our knowledge could combine to create a memorable tour for your own congregation or the choir.  Don’t forget two more church organisations that could be persuaded to travel.  If you have one, the Handbell Ringing Choir could be interested in something designed specifically for them.  The other group is one you’re sure to have and these are the people that every Friday/Saturday create the floral displays that greet you when you go to Sunday Worship.  Have they ever been offered a UK tour where one of the highlights might be joining their opposite numbers at my local church, St James Chipping Campden here in the Cotswolds as they prepare my church for our Sunday services?  This could be a Girls Getaway with a very pleasant twist.

Given the size of many churches and their travelling groups, this could be a very valauble source of new business for you, now you know who to talk to in Britain!