Experience England & Scotland on a GTI Signature Study Tour and you'll see Scripture in a new light.
Watch the informational Zoom call that took place on January 6 at 8:30 PM Eastern.
Many questions were answered about our trips!
Journey with us through our British Christian heritage from ancient Christianity to Mere Christianity and give your modern faith ancient roots. Christians reached Roman Britannia by the second century, and their legacy of faith continues to shape our lives. In 1675, scientist and Christian Sir Isaac Newton wrote "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” You've heard of Wycliffe & Tyndale, Whitefield & Wesley, John Newton & William Wilberforce, Bunyan & Dickens, Lewis, & Tolkien. Now come and meet the giants.
In London, we’ll see original Biblical artifacts at the British Museum—tangible evidence from the ancient world that affirms the names and stories of Scripture. We’ll walk in the footsteps of great Reformers who championed religious freedom, including John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, John Wesley, George Whitefield, Lord Shaftesbury, John Newton, and William Wilberforce. In Cambridge, we’ll dive into the development of the Bible and hear from world-renowned experts on the reliability of Biblical manuscripts. In Oxford we’ll immerse ourselves in CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien and see the places that shaped Narnia and Middle Earth. From Oxford we’ll go north to the ancient city of York - stepping into the awe-inspiring York Minster Cathedral, attending the choral evensong worship service, a tradition going back over 1400 years. In Durham, we’ll start at the ancient castle and Cathedral, and hear the stories of the monks who fled here from coastal Viking raids to continue spreading Christian faith throughout the north of Britain. We’ll walk on the Roman ruins of Hadrian’s Wall (122 AD), and visit Lindisfarne Priory & Castle, founded in 635 by the extraordinary Irish monks invited by the first Christian Anglo-Saxon king. Finally, in Edinburgh, we’ll walk the Royal Mile, where the Scottish Reformation was ignited.
Walk in the steps of the kings and queens, monks and poets, scholars and statesmen who gave us free society, freedom of worship, the Scriptures in English, and a vision for world mission - all preserved in a beautiful and ancient land of gothic cathedrals, medieval monasteries and ancient universities. Trace the path from Bible times to our times, and give your modern faith ancient roots.
Dan van Voorhis is an author, historian, professor, and speaker at 1517. After receiving his Ph.D. in History from the University of St. Andrews, Dr. van Voorhis spent 11 years teaching history and political thought at Concordia University, Irvine. He is a Scholar-in-Residence at 1517 and the host of the daily podcast The Christian History Almanac. Dan is married to Beth Anne, and they have two sons, Coert and Raymond. While in graduate school Dan focused on Reformation era Germany and spent time living in Wittenberg and travelled throughout the country doing archival research while also taking in the historical sites related to the Reformation, the World Wars, and the Cold War. As a professor, German history was amongst his favorite classes to teach. He has led study abroad trips before and looks forward to experiencing these sites again with the group.
You will book your own flights and meet the rest of the group in London.
There are no official GTI events until the evening, so depending on your arrival time, suggested tours in the London area include Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the National Gallery, the "Hop-on Hop-off” bus tour, and the London Eye. The group will gather at 6:00 pm for an introductory meeting, and afterward, we will enjoy dinner together.
In Cambridge, we begin with the world-class Tyndale House Biblical Library. Tyndale House staff will guide us through the nature and reliability of Biblical manuscripts and share modern discoveries related to the Old Testament that strengthen our confidence in Scripture. After lunch, we will tour Cambridge University (founded in 1209) and hear stories of Cambridge scholars who have shaped our faith today such as Reformer Martyrs Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmner, Bible translator William Tyndale, and other notables such as John Harvard, Isaac Newton, Erasmus, and Martin Bucer. And a stop at G David’s Antiquarian books & maps is a must!
In the morning, we see Biblical history come to life at the British Museum, viewing original ancient artifacts related to Abraham, Ashurbanipal, Isaiah, Esther, Sennacherib, Nehemiah, Jehu, Hezekiah, and Paul. In the afternoon, we stroll through London’s streets and squares, walking in the steps and reflecting on the lives of the giants on whose shoulders we stand: Wycliffe, Tyndale, Wesley, Whitefield, Lord Shaftesbury, John Newton, and William Wilberforce.
Oxford is the Inklings - Tolkien and Lewis. We’ll walk the grounds of the Kilns, Lewis home and surroundings (“CSL Nature Reserve”) including the pond where he swam. Then we’ll visit Holy Trinity Church where Lewis and his brother worshiped over 30 years, and where he is buried. From there, we’ll head into Oxford, first to the site where King Henry VIII’s daughter (Bloody) Mary executed key reformers by burning them at the stake. Then we’ll pass through the heart of Oxford University and Great St Mary’s church (13th c.) where on June 8, 1941 Lewis delivered his epoch-making sermon, The Weight of Glory. From there we head to Magdalen College where Lewis taught, and stroll Addison’s Walk, where late on a September evening in 1931, Lewis first believed in God while talking with his friends (and fellow Inklings), Tolkien and Dyson, about Christianity - “the true myth.”
We will depart from London to visit York, a city with over 2000 years of continuous history from the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans to today. We'll tour the magnificent York Minster Cathedral, originally built in 627, and attend the afternoon “Evensong” choral worship service, which has run continuously on this site for 1400 years.
Today we explore the beautiful medieval town of Durham, founded in 995 by Anglo-Saxon monks fleeing Viking raids on the Northumberland Coast. We’ll begin at the hilltop Castle that has housed Norman prince-bishops from the 11th century. From there we will walk across the green to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Durham Cathedral (built between 1093 and 1133), where both St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede are buried (and yes, the site for filming parts of Avengers: Endgame and several Harry Potter movies). In the afternoon we’ll enjoy some free time perusing the cobbled lanes and quaint shops of the old town, a riverside walk, or artisan foods and handcrafted gifts at the vibrant Durham Market Place.
We start at WHS Hadrian’s Wall, Housesteads Roman fort built by Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD, stretching 73 miles across Britannia from east to west, marking the official northwestern edge of the Roman Empire for over 300 years. From there we head to the Northumbria coast to walk Lindisfarne, or “Holy Island," one of Britain’s most significant early Christian sites. Irish monks from Iona, Scotland, established a Benedictine monastery there in 634. Under St Cuthbert’s leadership, this monastery created the exquisite 8th-century Lindisfarne Gospels, endured Viking raids, and has served as a Christian worship center for 900 years until the dissolution of the Monastaries by King Henry VIII in 1536. Even so, Lindisfarne remains a pilgrimage site with continuing Christian worship to this day.
This morning we join local guide Paul James-Griffiths for a tour exploring the remarkable Christian history along the Royal Mile. We'll start at Magdalen Chapel, the birthplace of the Scottish Reformation led by John Knox, then visit the beautiful Presbytery Hall, the Covenanter memorials, Greyfriars’ Kirk, St Giles’ Cathedral, and historic St Columba’s Free Church. The route then features the statue of philosopher David Hume, followed by St Giles’, John Knox’s grave, and John Knox’s House. The Royal Mile is filled with Christian history: learn where Covenanters were imprisoned and executed for their faith, and where Samuel Rutherford’s Lex Rex was burned. Stand where George Whitefield ignited revival in 1741, and where Billy Graham preached in 1948. This evening, we’ll have a final dinner to reflect on our time in Britain.
Our journey together has come to an end. Catch your flight from Edinburgh home or to your next travel destination.
Check out the tour journal from the previous trip!
More than simply a statement about pricing, “All Inclusive” describes GTI’s holistic approach to facilitating purposeful travel and experiential learning in cooperation with our Ministry Partners.
Your tour leader, study materials, and even itinerary are biblically focused, creating a journey that will draw you more deeply into God’s Word with each step you take.
Each stop on your itinerary is selected because it provides an experience than brings meaning and emotional significance to the information you will be learning.
There’s no need to worry about wasting time and money haggling or being surprised by hidden costs. Except for souvenirs and optional upgrades, every part of your trip is covered.
Our secure online payment and registration system allows for payment plans and reminders, easy passport and document uploads, and confidence that your money and information is safe.
Friends and family can receive daily updates of text, photos, audio, and video from you and other participants to keep up with where you are and what you’re learning via the GTI Online Tour Journal.
We take care of everything so you can stay focused during your Study Tour, including providing you with a hydration backpack, study guide, plug adapter, and even a flashlight (when the trip calls for it).
We have spent years developing relationships with experienced guides and drivers because they are an integral part of a study tour. And if you already have a trusted guide/driver you prefer that’s ok too!
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