1-19 August 2024
Last updated 28 May 2024
Itinerary subject to change
In England, all breakfasts, one lunch, and five dinners are included in the base package, with exceptions noted below.
- Thursday, 1 Aug. 2024
- 10 AM – Arrive at SEA BA Departures
- 1:30 PM – Depart SEA via BA 52
- Friday, 2 Aug.
- 6:40 AM – Arrive LHR and clear customs.
- 8:15 AM – Load coach and depart to Windsor & St George’s Chapel.
- 9:30-10 AM – Queue for entry at Windsor.
- Lunch on your own in Windsor.
- 3PM – Return to coach and continue to St Alban’s for a three night stay at Samuel Ryder Hotel, Tapestry by Hilton.
- Dinner on your own. Note: Most places in St Alban’s stop serving food at 8 PM; plan ahead.
- Saturday, 3 Aug.
- 7 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- 8:45 AM – Walk to Cathedral and go to Song Room for rehearsal, 9:05-10:25 AM.
- 10:30 AM – Walk to Art Gallery & Museum for guided tour of the City of St Alban’s, 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM.
- Lunch on your own in St Alban’s, followed by free time.
- 3:15 PM – Return to Song Room for rehearsal, 3:30-4:45 PM.
- 5 PM – Evensong 1 in Quire
- 6:30 PM – BBQ Dinner with Dean Jo & her husband Paul at the Deanery.
- Tomorrow is an extremely full day. Please plan accordingly.
- Sunday, 4 Aug. – 10th Sunday after Trinity
- 7 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- 9:20 AM – Walk to Cathedral and go to Song Room for rehearsal, 9:35-10:45 AM, then to Quire for short rehearsal.
- 11:15 AM – Choral Eucharist 1
- Lunch on your own in St Alban’s, followed by free time.
- 3:45 PM – Return to Song Room for rehearsal, 4-5:30 PM.
- 6 PM – Evensong 2 in Quire
- 7:10 PM – Buffet dinner in Abbot’s Kitchen
- 8 PM – Prepare for Compline service
- 8:30 PM – Choral Compline in Quire
- As you pack, note that you will carry uniform, vestments, and music with you onto the bus tomorrow morning. Do not put them in your luggage.
- Monday, 5 Aug. – EVE OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
- You will carry uniform, vestments, and music with you onto the bus today.
- 6:30 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- 7:20 AM – Load coach and travel to London, departing at 7:45 AM for a seven night stay at ibis London Blackfriars, a 12-minute walk from St Paul’s
- 9:50 AM – Depart for St Paul’s with uniform, vestments, and music. The coach can get us near to St Paul’s, but a short walk with items will be required.
- 10 AM – Go to NW crypt door, past the shop, to the Churchill Gates; meet with Vergers; store vestments and music in Choir Practice Room (CPR).
- 10:45 AM – Guided tour of St Paul’s (excludes Triforium)
- Lunch on your own nearby.
- 2 PM – Return to CPR for rehearsal, 2-3:15 PM, then move to main cathedral floor for rehearsal, 3:30-4 PM. Rehearse responses with clergy, 4:15-4:20 PM, then practice processional with Vergers, 4:20-4:30 PM. Return to CPR for a short break, then line up in the Dean’s Aisle, facing west, at 4:55 PM.
- 5 PM – Evensong 3 in Quire
- 6:10 PM – Depart cathedral to ibis Blackfriars for 6:30 PM check-in.
- 8 PM – Three-course dinner very near hotel.
- Tuesday, 6 Aug – THE TRANSFIGURATION
- 7 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- 7:50 AM – Load coach for morning excursion to and tour of Oxford.
- 9:40 AM – Arrive at Oxford, then meet guides at Christ Church Memorial Gates, for tour that will last until 11:15 AM.
- Quick lunch on your own in Oxford.
- 12 PM – Meet at Christ Church Memorial Gates and return to coach.
- 2:15 PM – Return to CPR for rehearsal, 2:15-3:15 PM, then move to main cathedral floor for rehearsal, 3:30-4:30 PM, pausing for prayer at 4 PM. Return to CPR for a short break, then line up in the Dean’s Aisle, facing west, at 4:55 PM.
- 5 PM – Evensong 4 in Quire
- 6:30 PM – Depart cathedral, then dinner on your own before returning to the hotel.
- Wednesday, 7 Aug.
- 7 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- 7:50 AM – Load coach for morning excursion to and tour of Cambridge.
- 9:30 AM – Arrive at Cambridge, then meet in front of Guild Hall for tour which includes Kings College Chapel and will last until Noon.
- Quick lunch on your own in Cambridge.
- 12:45 PM PM – Return to drop off point at Queens Road “The Backs” and load the coach.
- 2:20 PM – Return to CPR for rehearsal, 2:30-3:15 PM, then move to main cathedral floor for rehearsal, 3:30-4:30 PM, pausing for prayer at 4 PM. Return to CPR for a short break, then line up in the Dean’s Aisle, facing west, at 4:55 PM.
- 5 PM – Evensong 5 in Quire
- 6:15 PM – Depart cathedral, then dinner on your own before returning to the hotel.
- Thursday, 8 Aug. – Dominic, Priest & Founder of the Order of Preachers
- 7 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- 10 AM – Walk to St Paul’s for Triforium Tour at 10:30 AM; we will be divided into two groups.
- Lunch on your own.
- 1:30 PM – Return to CPR for rehearsal, 1:30-3:15 PM, then move to main cathedral floor for rehearsal, 3:30-4:30 PM, pausing for prayer at 4 PM. Return to CPR for a short break, then line up in the Dean’s Aisle, facing west, at 4:55 PM.
- 5 PM – Evensong 6 in Quire
- 6:15 PM – Depart cathedral, then dinner on your own nearby.
- 7:30 PM – Return to CPR for rehearsal, then Choral Compline at 8:15 PM.
- Friday, 9 Aug.
- 7 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- Free day for sight-seeing in London
- Suggested places to visit (all of which will cost and many of which require transit): Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Parliament, Lambeth Palace, London Eye, Trafalgar Square, 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, New Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, V&A and Royal Albert Hall, and Covent Garden.
- Lunch & dinner on your own
- Saturday, 10 Aug. – Laurence, Deacon at Rome & Martyr
- 7 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- Morning free for sightseeing in London or guided spiritual practice
- Lunch on your own
- 1:30 PM – Return to CPR for rehearsal, 1:30-3:15 PM, then move to main cathedral floor for rehearsal, 3:30-4:30 PM, pausing for prayer at 4 PM. Return to CPR for a short break, then line up in the Dean’s Aisle, facing west, at 4:55 PM.
- 5 PM – Evensong 7 in Quire
- 6:15 PM – Depart cathedral, then dinner on your own nearby.
- Tomorrow is an extremely full day. Please plan accordingly.
- Sunday, 11 Aug. – 11th Sunday after Trinity
- 7 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- 8:10 AM – Depart hotel for St Paul’s with packed lunch in hand.
- 8:30 AM – Go to CPR for quiet rehearsal, 8:30-9:35 AM, then move to dome stalls for rehearsal, 9:45-10:45 AM, followed by processional rehearsal with Vergers, 10:45-10:55 AM. Return to CPR for a short break, then line up in the Dean’s Aisle, facing west, 11:10 AM.
- 11:15 AM – Choral Eucharist 2, ending approx. 12:20 PM.
- You will eat your packed lunch in the crypt.
- 1:30 PM – Return to CPR for rehearsal, 1:30-2 PM, then move to main cathedral floor for rehearsal, 2:10-2:40 PM. Note there is no time to return to the CPR; take everything needed for Evensong with you! Responses and processional rehearsals, 2:40-2:55 PM, then line up in the Dean’s Aisle, facing west at 2:55 PM.
- 3 PM – Evensong 8 in Quire
- 4:15 PM – Remove all items from CPR, clean and tidy, then depart cathedral and walk back to the hotel. If you need assistance carrying anything, please ask a fellow choir member for help.
- 6:30 PM – Three-course dinner very near hotel.
- As you pack, place uniform, vestments, and music on the top of items in your suitcase.
- Monday, 12 Aug. – Jaenberht, 13th Archbishop of Canterbury
- 7 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- 8:30 AM – Load coach and travel to Canterbury, departing at 9 AM.
- 10:30 AM – Arrive at Canterbury; then take a short walk from the coach bay to The Lodge, on the cathedral close, where we will stay for seven nights.
- We have a bit of down time during which we will drop luggage at the hotel, remove vestments & music from luggage, and tend to necessities.
- 11:30 AM – Meet at main visitor reception office, when Vergers will take us (with vestments & music) to the Water Tower and likely practice processional.
- Lunch on your own in Canterbury.
- 1:45 PM – Meet at the Visitor Centre Office for a guided tour of the cathedral ending at 3:15 PM.
- 3:15 PM – Only spouses/traveling companions of choir members should book in at The Lodge now.
- 3:30 PM – Meet at Water Tower, then to Quire for rehearsal, 3:45-5:10 PM.
- 5:30 PM – Evensong 9
- 6:30 PM – Bring all music with you after Evensong, then choir members should book in at The Lodge.
- 7:45 PM – Three-course dinner at The Lodge
- Tuesday, 13 Aug. – Jeremy Taylor, Teach of the Faith
- 7 AM – Breakfast at The Lodge
- 8:15 AM – Walk to St Paul’s Church for morning rehearsal, 8:30-9:45 AM.
- 9:45 AM – Spouses/travel companions please meet choir members at St Paul’s Church.
- 10:15 AM – We divide into two groups for our morning excursions to either St Augustine’s Abbey ruins or St Martin’s Church. Groups will go to the other sites at about 11:30 AM. Sites are a 10-minute walk from each other. These visits will conclude at 12:45 PM.
- Lunch on your own in Canterbury, followed by a bit of free time.
- 3:40 PM – Meet at Water Tower, then to Quire for rehearsal, 4-5:10 PM.
- 5:30 PM – Evensong 10
- 6:30 PM – Take all music with you back to your room after Evensong
- Dinner on your own
- 7:50 PM – Meet back at Visitor Centre Office
- 8:15 PM – Candlelit pilgrimage with The Rev. Wendy Dalrymple, Precentor, ending at the former shrine of Thomas Becket where will will sing Bring us, O Lord God by Peter Hallock.
- Wednesday, 14 Aug.
- Free day for sight-seeing
- Looking for something to do? Take a train to Dover, Rochester, or Rye, or a bus to Sandwich or Whitstable, or a fast train to Dover then a P&O ferry from Dover to Calais (it can be done in a day).
- Lunch & dinner on your own
- Thursday, 15 Aug – THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
- 7 AM – Breakfast at The Lodge
- 8:15 AM – Walk to St Paul’s Church for chant workshop
- 8:30 AM – Chant workshop focusing on Marian and Advent chants, with expert John Rowlands-Pritchard, concluding at 12:45 PM
- Lunch on your own in Canterbury
- 3:40 PM – Meet at Water Tower, then to Quire for rehearsal, 4-5:10 PM.
- 5:30 PM – Evensong 11
- 6:30 PM – Leave music in Water Tower
- Dinner on your own
- Friday, 16 Aug.
- 7 AM – Breakfast at The Lodge
- 8:50 AM – Walk to coach bay
- 9:15 AM – Depart for morning excursion to Sissinghurst Gardens
- Lunch on your own at Sissinghurst
- 1:30 PM – Meet at coach for return to Canterbury, arriving at 2:45 PM.
- 3:40 PM – Meet at Water Tower, then to Quire for rehearsal, 4-5:10 PM.
- 5:30 PM – Evensong 12
- 6:30 PM – Leave music in Water Tower
- Dinner on your own
- Saturday, 17 Aug.
- 7 AM – Breakfast at The Lodge
- Free morning for sight-seeing in Canterbury
- Lunch on own in Canterbury.
- 3:40 PM – Meet at Water Tower, then to Quire for rehearsal, 4-5:10 PM.
- 5:30 PM – Evensong 13
- 6:30 PM – Leave music in Water Tower
- Dinner on your own
- Tomorrow is an extremely full day. Please plan accordingly.
- Sunday, 18 Aug. –12th Sunday after Trinity
- 7:30 AM – Breakfast at hotel
- 9 AM – Go to Water Tower, then to Quire stalls for rehearsal, 9:30-10:30 AM, followed by processional rehearsal with Vergers, 10:35-10:45 AM. Return to Water Tower for a short break, then line up for the procession at 10:55 AM.
- 11 AM – Choral Eucharist 3, ending approx. 12:15 PM. Leave music in Water Tower afterward.
- Lunch on your own in Canterbury.
- 3:40 PM – Meet at Water Tower, then to Quire for rehearsal, 4-5:10 PM.
- 5:30 PM – Evensong 14
- 6:45 PM – There is a very short time to reset for Compline.
- 7 PM – Compline in the Crypt
- 7:45 PM – Remove all items from Water Tower, clean and tidy, then depart cathedral and walk back to The Lodge. If you need assistance carrying anything, please ask a fellow choir member for help.
- 8:05 PM – Walk to Cafe du Soleil for three-course dinner in the upstairs banqueting hall. Please be patient with restaurant staff as we are a very large group.
- Monday, 19 Aug. – Homecoming Day
- 8 AM – Full breakfast at The Lodge
- 9:30 AM – Bring all vestments in dry cleaning bag to designated place for packing. If you are extending your trip, you should place all music in folder at the bottom of one of the vestment suitcases.
- 10:45 AM – Walk to coach bay
- 11 AM – Load coach and depart Canterbury for Heathrow.
- 1 PM – Arrive Terminal 5 at Heathrow; if you are departing from another terminal, you must make your own arrangements to get there from Terminal 5.
- Check in first, then enjoy a late lunch on your own at Heathrow.
- 4 PM – Depart Heathrow via BA 49, arriving at SeaTac at approx. 5:45 PM.
Questions? Contact Dr. Jason Anderson or call 206-323-0300 ext. 216