The Methodist movement had its start in the life and ministry of brothers John and Charles Wesley, priests with the Church of England in the 1700s. While the impact of their ministry would be global and include the founding of what became our United Methodist denomination, each brother spent the bulk of his life ministering within England.
As you might know, Rev. Ron “nerds out” about our Wesleyan and Methodist history. Ron is excited to share with you an opportunity to learn and experience more firsthand about the origins of our church!
You are invited to join Rev. Ron – along with Rev. Lynn Bartlow (St. Mark’s UMC), Rev. Doug Handlong (Green Valley UMC), and Rev. Sharon Ragland (retired) – on a Wesley Heritage Tour of England, May 29 – June 7, 2023. The 10 day trip travels across England to visit significant locations of the Wesley’s life, the Methodist movement, and English history.
For more information, you can read about the tour and even register online at the Educational Opportunities Tours website (click here to visit the site).
Tour Locations
- Manchester and York, including a tour of York Minster Cathedral and a walk along walls built on Roman era foundations. See the York Castle Museum and/or the Viking Centre.
- Epworth, where Samuel and Susanna Wesley raised their children and John’s experience of being saved from a fire – “plucked from the burning” – influenced his life.
- Coventry and Olney, home to “Amazing Grace” author John Newton and the old Coventry Cathedral.
- Cotswolds and Stratford, including the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Oxford, where John and Charles attended school, and whose interiors inspired (and were used in the films for) Hogwarts.
- Bristol, an ancient port city integral to the Methodist movement, including the oldest Methodist building in the world, the “New Room.”
- London, rich with two thousand years of history including its role in the Methodist movement.
Tour Cost
The tour includes airfare from Tucson, guided tour, deluxe motor coaches, first-class hotels (double occupancy rooms), breakfasts, dinners, and additional fees and charges for $4,346. (A ground-only option, allowing you to book your own air travel, is available for $2,698.)
Additional Class in April!
To help us get the most of our experience, any who are interested are invited to join Rev. Ron for a short-term class in April. In “Methodism 201: The Wesley Brothers & Methodism in 18th Century England” Ron will share about the history of the Wesley brothers and the early Methodist movement in England, highlighting the significance of many of the locations to be visited. (The class is tentatively scheduled for Monday evenings, 7pm, in April, but may shift to accommodate participants’ schedules.)