Photo: Canterbury Cathedral taken by Fr. Lawrence Lew
Catholic Pilgrimage to England
Catholic history in England and Scotland dates to Roman times, with the first recorded martyr – St. Alban – dying for his faith in the late 3rd or early 4th century. From then until now, Church history in this region is fraught with martyrdoms, rebellions, and reformations as well as filled with Marian devotion, unwavering faith, and perseverance in the face of persecution. From St. Patrick to Venerable Bede and Simon Stock to Thomas More, English and Scottish saints have impacted the Church throughout the world. On a pilgrimage to England and Scotland, one learns much about this small island with a big impact on Church history and tradition.
"When you seek truth, you seek God whether you know it or not."
- St. Edith Stein
ENGLAND PILGRIMAGE SITES
Visit one of the most famous Christian pilgrimage sites at Canterbury. Learn about the martyrs of the Reformation at the Tower of London. Explore the majesty of the great cathedrals in York and Durham. Be astonished at the piety of the monks at Lindisfarne.
LONDON
The capital city of London houses the Tower of London, where several notable Saints were imprisoned and martyred for refusing to denounce the Catholic Church. It is also home to Westminster Cathedral, seat of the Bishop of England and Wales, along with St. Etheldreda’s, the oldest Catholic Church in England.
Photo: Taken by Fr. Lawrence Lew
CANTERBURY
Highlighted in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, Canterbury is still an important pilgrimage city today. The Canterbury Cathedral houses an altar dedicated to St. Thomas Becket, who was murdered here for his faithfulness to the Church. Near the Cathedral is St. Dunstan’s Church, where the head of St. Thomas More is buried in his daughter’s family crypt. In nearby Ramsgate is the Shrine of St. Augustine of Canterbury, sent by the pope in the 6th century to evangelize the Ango-Saxons.
Photo: Canterbury Cathedral taken by Fr. Lawrence Lew
OXFORD
Home to such famous Catholic saints and laypeople as St. John Henry Newman, GK Chesterton, and JRR Tolkien, this university city bursts with Catholic history and tradition. Visit the numerous colleges and churches, including Christ Church Cathedral and the University Church of St. Mary.
WALSINGHAM
In 1061 the lady of the manor, Richeldis de Faverches, had a series of visions of the Virgin Mary, who showed her the house in Nazareth where the angel Gabriel made his revelation of the forthcoming birth of Jesus. Our Lady asked Richeldis to build a replica of the holy house here in Walsingham. Founded at the time of the Crusades when it was impossible to visit the Holy Land, English Christians were able to visit ‘Nazareth’ in their own country and Walsingham became the premier shrine to Our Lady. Around it grew a large monastery. At its height in medieval times, Walsingham rivalled Canterbury and the great shrines of Europe.
Photo: Walsingham taken by Fr. Lawrence Lew
NORWICH
Home to Dame Julien, the 14th-century mystic, Norwich is a picturesque town with a primarily Norman cathedral and adjoining monastic cloister – the largest in England.
DURHAM
Durham Cathedral is the centerpiece of a visit here. It is in the cathedral one can venerate St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede, as well as learn of the Catholicism of Norman England and how it has been preserved through the centuries.
Photo: Durham Cathedral taken by
K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash
YORK
Dominated by the impressive York Minster, with its majestic towers and priceless stained-glass windows, York itself is a medieval walled city situated near the fabled English moors of Yorkshire.
Photo: York Minster taken by
Cody Martin on Unsplash
LINDISFARNE
This “Holy Island” was once home to St. Cuthbert and companions and is still an important pilgrimage and retreat destination. Reachable only when the tides are right, this peaceful location is the perfect place for prayer and reflection, as well as learning about this history of the priory (not in ruins) and its saintly inhabitants.
Photo: Lindisfarne Castle taken by
Graham Durham on Unsplash
"The experience has changed me in a way that is difficult to explain. I have told my friends and family that taking a pilgrimage is something everyone should do if they want to experience an increase in faith and understanding of what God wants from us. "
- Emma P., Pilgrim from Alabama
SCOTLAND PILGRIMAGE SITES
Explore the history and legacy of Edinburgh Castle and the royalty who ruled there. Journey through the Scottish Highlands to learn about the bravery of William Wallace. Venerate St. Margaret of Scotland and her equally Sainted son, King David the first. Learn about the Scottish connection to St. Andrew the Apostle and visit the National Shrine, housing some of his relics
EDINBURGH
Edinburgh’s cityscape is dominated by its castle, sitting at the end of the Royal Mile. Touring the castle gives great insight to the history of Scotland, both Catholic and Protestant. The largest Catholic site in the city is St. Mary’s Cathedral, which also houses the National Shrine of St. Andrew, where some of his relics can be venerated.
Photo: Edinburgh Castle taken by
Jörg Angeli on Unsplash
GLASGOW
Scotland’s “Second City” houses the Glasgow Cathedral as well as the Carfin Grotto – Scotland’s National Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes.
Photo: Glasgow Cathedral taken by
Joss Broward on Unsplash
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
Traveling through this unique region invokes a sense of the spirit of those who came before. The rugged landscape speaks to their tenacity and grit, and the determination to live as the Lord intended them to. It is here we can learn the true story of William Wallace and his legacy that lives on today.
Photo: Scottish Highlands taken by
Joan on Unsplash
ST. ANDREWS
Once the second-most popular European pilgrimage site (after Santiago de Compostela), the cathedral of St. Andrew is now in ruins, though these are fascinating to visit and imagine the grandeur of times past. There are numerous walking routes to the cathedral as well, much like the Camino to Santiago.
DUNFERMLINE ABBEY
Established as a priory on the site where St. Margaret of Scotland married her husband, Malcolm III. It became the home of the first Benedictine community in Scotland. Her son, also a saint, King David I elevated the priory to the status of abbey. Though it was damaged by Edward I, it was rebuilt by Robert the Bruce in the 14th century. It now houses the tombs of all three of these famous Scots.
Photo: Dunfermline Abbey taken by
Zsolt Bognar on Unsplash
"The Tekton staff are good, organized, experienced, thorough, friendly, caring Christians. "
- Maria E., Pilgrim from Annandale, VA
Why Choose Tekton?
Tekton Ministries has been leading Catholic pilgrimages for more than 20 years. We work and listen closely to our priests and pilgrimage leaders to create thoughtfully planned itineraries. We help make the Catholic faith more tangible to your daily life by taking you where the seeds of Catholicism were first planted to be spread across the world. Daily Mass and time for prayerful reflection are important parts of each day’s experience.
| 25+ Years in Ministry | |
| True pilgrimage – not religious tours | |
| Custom-crafted itineraries | |
| Authentic Catholic experiences | |
| Inclusive, competitive pricing | |
| Properly paced itineraries include daily Mass and time for reflection |
| Only Catholic/Christian guides | |
| Prayerful pre-pilgrimage preparation | |
| Custom guidebooks, name and luggage tags | |
| Local offices and support worldwide | |
| Free pilgrimage promotional materials | |
| Easy online registration means no extra effort for your busy staff |
9/8/2025
11 Days
$TBD
Seattle
Details Coming Soon
9/22/2025
11 Days
$TBD
Land Only
Details Coming Soon
If none of these available dates work for you, please click the blue button below to be notified when the next pilgrimage is open for registration. You will receive an email with all the pilgrimage details at that time.
Alternatively, you can plan a pilgrimage for your parish by clicking the red button below. Someone from our office would be happy to speak with you about this.
Alternatively, you can plan a pilgrimage for your parish by clicking the red button below. Someone from our office would be happy to speak with you about this.