Why Pilgrimage to England, the Dowry of Mary? 

In 2020, England was re-dedicated by its Catholic Church as the “Dowry of Mary” — as it was called in more ancient times — in an effort to deepen and promote devotion to the Mother of God in England. The title originated in the medieval period, when devotion to Mary was particularly strong. It was believed that England belonged in some special way to Mary, who was seen as the country’s “protectress” and who, through her powers of intercession, acted as the country’s defender or guardian. 

Walsingham is one of the oldest shrines to the Mother of God; and in pre-Reformation times, it ranked with Jerusalem, Rome and Compostela as one of the most visited shrines in Christendom. The message of Our Lady at Walsingham is very simple: she asks us to “share her joy at the Annunciation,” where her Son became our Savior. In preparation for the 2020 commemoration, a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham went “on tour,” visiting all of the Catholic cathedrals of England. Join us on this pilgrimage as we, too, journey through England, both outwardly and inwardly seeking Our Lady, and deepening our own devotion to her. 

With more than 28 years of publishing Inside the Vatican magazine, we have colleagues and friends all over the world — and many of them have become part of our Pilgrimage family. 

Designing an Inside the Vatican pilgrimage begins with a theme or a particular country; then we weave in encounters with real people who live and work there, as well as those with expert knowledge in its historical and spiritual perspectives. Our itineraries include both world-renowned and little-known places, and every detail has been arranged to create a truly unique experience; we do not have cookie-cutter pilgrimages! 

Whether you choose one of our intimate-sized Signature Pilgrimages,  or a Classic Pilgrimage with budget-friendly pricing, we work hard to ensure that every pilgrimage is a moving experience, an authentic spiritual journey for each pilgrim 

This pilgrimage is part of our boutique line of Classic Pilgrimages – carefully budgeted for pilgrims so that they can experience the unique qualities of Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages at our most affordable price, without sacrificing Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages integrity and style.  This Classic Pilgrimage is limited to 25 pilgrims. 

Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages, Inside the Vatican, Inc., its employees, shareholders, officers and directors are collectively referred to herein as “ITVP.” 

Household: ITVP defines household as those participants who dwell under the same roof and have the same address for at least 6 months per year. 

Rates and Payments: Rates are based on applicable rates as of May 2021 and could change due to fluctuation in currency exchange rates or failure to have a minimum number of 15 pilgrims. If they change, we will invoice participants accordingly. Payment of the initial deposit for this trip indicates you have accepted these pricing terms and all terms specified in the Terms and Conditions.

Land Package: $3295.00 per participant. Does not include airfare.

1st Payment: $500.00 non-refundable deposit – Due at time of booking.
2nd Payment: Balance due June 10, 2022, 60 days from departure.
Single Supplement fee: $650.00 for single occupancy room, if applicable. Due with 2nd payment. Please note that we have booked the entire Dowry Retreat House in Walsingham for our pilgrims; however, there are a limited number of ensuite bathrooms and single rooms.
Early Booking Discount: $200.00 discount – register by February 10, 2022.
Fees: Applicable Credit Card fees are to be paid by the participant. These fees will be added to your invoice.

Reservations and Payment Schedule: A $500.00 per participant, non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking. Balance is due 60 days prior to departure. If your reservation is received less than 60 days prior to departure, then full payment is due at the time of booking. Receipt of your non-refundable deposit shall act as your agreement to and understanding of these terms and conditions. Fax, internet, e-mail or phone reservations are welcome. The non-refundable deposit and/or payment in full must be received within 7 days of booking or reservation will cancel. 

Disputes: A contract is made when your reservation and payment are accepted by ITVP and any dispute shall be governed by Virginia law and must be litigated in Warren County, Virginia circuit or Virginia courts. In the event that an attorney is hired to enforce any part of these Terms and Conditions, participants are liable for all attorney fees and costs incurred by ITVP for enforcing or defending these Terms and Conditions. 

Form of Payment: Bank/Certified Checks, Money Orders, ACH or Wire Transfers (please fax a copy of bank confirmation when wiring funds) are accepted forms of payment at any time. Personal checks are acceptable if received more than 30 days prior to departure date. You may also make Direct Credit Card Payments to ITVP (Discover, Visa and Master Card). Every reservation must be accompanied by a signed Registration Form. Returned checks will incur a $50.00 service fee. 

In case of computer or human billing error, we reserve the right to re-invoice participants with corrected billing. 

Transfers: Two (2) group transfers to and from Heathrow airport (LHR) are included. Only participants whose flights arrive into LHR before 12:00 noon on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 and depart LHR after 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 19, 2022 will be included in the group transfers. It is the responsibility of participant to notify ITVP of any flight delays. If the participant’s flight is delayed and this delay causes the participant to miss the scheduled group transfer, the cost and arrangement of transfer from the airport to the hotel or location of the tour bus becomes the participant’s responsibility. 

Individual transfers to and from the airport are not included in this package. Although ITVP can book an individual transfer to the airport upon request, the participant is financially responsible for that transfer. 

Flight schedule: Land Package participants are responsible for purchasing their own airline tickets only after they receive written notification from our office that this pilgrimage will travel due to meeting the minimum number of participants required to travel. ITVP requires all participants who purchase the Land Package to arrive in LHR on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, one day before the pilgrimage start date. Land Package participants should schedule their departure from LHR for Friday, August 19, 2022 after 10:00 a.m. Should a participant encounter a flight delay/cancellation, it is the participant’s responsibility to notify ITVP. 

Insurance: Travel insurance is not included in the Land Package; however, we strongly recommend that you purchase it. 

Travel Documents: All travel documents are the responsibility of the participant. A valid passport
is required for travel to England and must remain valid for at least 6 months after your departure date from England. For passport holders from countries other than the United States, you are responsible for determining the required travel documents. ITVP will not be responsible for any delays, damages and/or losses, including missed portions of the pilgrimage, due to improper travel documentation. Cancellations due to lack of appropriate documents will incur the usual penalties. 

U.S. State Department & Other Agencies: From time to time the U.S. State Department (www.state.gov) and the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and other government agencies and departments issue travel advisories or warnings for one or more of the destinations that you may be visiting on tour. We encourage you to contact these agencies directly to obtain the most current information. ITVP cannot change the cancellation terms or conditions based on the issuance of any such warning or advisory or the occurrence of any terror, problems or ill health, or other incident in one or more of the places this tour is scheduled to visit. All cancellation penalties must remain in full force and effect as outlined on this form. Travel insurance may or may not cover these possible causes for cancellations. 

Photography: Agents of ITVP may take photographs or videos of its trips and trip participants. Participants grant ITVP permission to do so and allow ITVP to use such photos and videos for promotional or commercial use without payment of any fees or royalties. These photos will be available on our photo website InsideTheVaticanPhotos.com following the pilgrimage. A code is required to download these photos from Inside the Vatican’s photo gallery. The code will be provided after the pilgrimage. 

Private Rooms and Single Supplement: A limited number of single rooms is available at the single supplement rate. If the allotted number of single rooms is booked, any additional single rooms that we may be able to book, if available, incur a fee in addition to the Single Supplement fee. 

Cancellations and Refunds: Cancellations must be received in writing in order for any refunds to be issued, and will be processed according to the date the written notice is received. Although a verbal cancellation is also appreciated, it will not be accepted as official notice. Please mail the cancellation notice to the address below. In the event of cancellation, monies will be refunded minus the cancellation fee. The cancellation fee will be calculated as follows: 

• 60 days or more prior to departure: $500.00 per participant deposit 

• 59 to 30 days prior to departure: $500 per participant deposit and 50% of total remaining cost* 

• 29 days or less prior to departure: 100% of total cost* (no refund)

* Cost includes: Land Package and single supplement, if applicable. 

If you purchase travel insurance, it may cover the amount remaining after refund, depending on the circumstances of the cancellation and the conditions of the policy. Check with your travel insurance provider, if applicable. 

Mail Cancellation Notice to: Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages 14 W Main Street, Front Royal, VA 22630 U.S.A., ATTN: Pilgrimages 

Pilgrimage Cancelation: On rare occasions a pilgrimage may have to be canceled due to lack of participation. 

In such a case, ITVP’s sole responsibility is to provide a full refund. ITVP is not responsible and does not assume responsibility for any additional costs or any fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through ITVP. Cancellations due to state advisories and/or state warnings, acts of war, war, terrorism, acts of God, natural disaster or any other circumstance outside the control of ITVP, are not the fault of ITVP. Great effort will be made to accommodate transfers to another trip or to revise the itinerary; however, cancellation for any of these reasons will not be eligible for a refund. 

Room Service and Other Extraneous Charges: Room Service and extraneous charges not expressly listed as part of the Pilgrimage Package are not included. Should a participant request room service, or any other extraneous charge, including, but not limited to, mini bar, laundry services, internet charges or pay-per-view, the participant will be financially responsible for those charges to be paid at the time of check-out. If these charges are not paid at check-out, ITVP will bill the participant accordingly. 

Luggage: Baggage is at owner’s risk throughout the tour. 

Airfare: No airfare is included in the cost of this package. To obtain assistance purchasing airfare, please contact our office. 

Gratuities: Gratuities are not included.

Health Requirements: This pilgrimage requires significant walking. Any medical conditions or special equipment needs must be listed on the registration form. ITVP is not responsible for any medical condition that occurs prior to, during or after the pilgrimage. 

Final Packet: A final packet containing documents, applicable airline ticket information, local contact information, a pilgrim book, and travel tips will be mailed to each participant approximately one (1) to two (2) weeks prior to departure. Upon receipt of your documents, you are responsible to check your itinerary, spelling of your name, dates, times and other important information to ensure their validity. Should your final documents have any errors, it is the participant’s responsibility to contact ITVP immediately. Documents, including tickets, are not guaranteed if final payment and booking forms are not received by the deadline. 

Unused Services: There will be no refund for any unused portions of the pilgrimage. Refunds will not be made to participants who miss any part of the pilgrimage for any cause whatsoever. 

Itinerary: Although ITVP and its agents and representatives will make every effort to adhere to the printed program and itinerary, on rare occasions it may be necessary to adjust arrangements due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control (including, but not limited to, such circumstances as weather, acts of God, airline schedule change, hotel requisitions, political disturbances, or transportation mechanical problems). Should such adjustments be necessary, substitutions will be made to the best of our abilities. A refund will not be given. Any additional costs necessitated by such changes are the full responsibility of the participant. We do not guarantee preferred seating at events. 

Printing Disclaimer: ITVP is not responsible for typographical or printing errors including errors in trip cost. We reserve the right to re-invoice or correct billing at any time. 

Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages, Inside the Vatican, Inc., its employees, shareholders, officers and directors (collectively “ITVP”) does not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip, including, for example, lodging facilities, transportation companies, local ground operators, including, without limitation, various entities, which may utilize the ITVP name, guides, sightseeing companies, entertainment, food or drink service providers, equipment suppliers, etc. As a result, ITVP is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any person or entity it does not own or control. Without limitations ITVP is not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damage, injury, death, loss, accident, delay, inconvenience or irregularity of any kind which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission beyond its control, including, without limitation any willfully or negligent act, failure to act, breach of contract or violation of local law or regulation of any third party such as a cruise line, airline, train, hotel, bus, taxi, van, local ground handler or guide, whether or not it uses the ITVP name, financial default or insolvency of any supplier which is to, or does supply any goods or services for this trip. 

Similarly, ITVP is not responsible for any loss, injury, death or inconvenience due to delay or changes in schedule, overbooking of accommodation, default or any third party, attacks or bites by animals, insects or pests, injury or death while on activities sponsored by lodging facilities or by other third parties, sickness, the lack of appropriate medical care, evacuation to same, if necessary, weather, strikes, acts of God or government, acts of terrorism, or the threat thereof, force majeure, war, quarantine, epidemics, or the threat thereof, criminal activity or any other cause beyond its control. Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless ITVP and its employees, owners, officers, directors, shareholders and agents from any and all claims, damages, losses, or actions resulting from or arising out of the Inside the Vatican Pilgrimage.

Should Dr. Robert Moynihan, Deborah Tomlinson, or any other guest leader be unable to participate in this event, reasonable efforts will be made to secure a substitute. Regardless of the participation of Dr. Robert Moynihan, Deborah Tomlinson, or any other guest leader, the tour will proceed as scheduled on the dates listed. By signing this form to participate on this trip you agree that the terms of the cancellation penalty will be binding upon you regardless of whether Dr. Robert Moynihan, Deborah Tomlinson, or any other guest leader is able to participate. ITVP is not responsible for any loss incurred by participant including lost days of the scheduled cruise/tour, due to a canceled flight or other means and modes of transportation. We will have daily Mass and strive to be in places as indicated. However, sometimes this is not possible as the site may not be available for Mass or itinerary changes are forced upon us. In this case, an alternative site for Mass will be arranged. 

If you prefer to register by mail, download the Registration and Information Packet (coming soon). Mail in the Registration Forms, pages 15 and 16, with your check as instructed on page 17.  If you should have any questions, please call our U.S. Office +1.202.536.4555. 

$200 Early Booking Discount - To apply this discount apply on or before Thursday, February 10, 2022 and use discount code: EARLY, when registering.

Call our office for information about any additional discount codes – U.S. Office at +1 202.536.4555.

Visit West Grimstead

Arrive in England and travel to Canterbury stopping on the way to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation of West Grinstead, the first Catholic Shrine in honor of Our Lady to be established in England before the Reformation 

Overnight in Canterbury. Dinner is included. Lunch is on your own.

From Rome to England: The landing of St. Augustine of Canterbury      

After breakfast in the hotel, we will depart for the coastal city  of Ramsgate and the Shrine of St. Augustine of Canterbury, known as the “Apostle to the English.” It was here where St. Augustine first landed in England in 597 to begin his journey of converting Britain to the Faith at the request of Pope St. Gregory the Great. We will attend Mass celebrated in the Extraordinary Form at the shrine. 

After Mass, we will travel south for a short drive to the White Cliffs of Dover for lunch, overlooking the English Channel. We will see the white cliffs from the restaurant. If it is a clear day, we will be able to see the country of France, which is only 20 miles across the Channel. Late afternoon and evening will be free to explore Canterbury on your own. 

Overnight in Canterbury. Dinner on your own.  Breakfast and Lunch included.

Canterbury, Eastminster. Mystical Life of the High Middle Ages, Thomas à Becket through the Reformation

After breakfast, we will tour the Canterbury Cathedral which was originally founded in 597 by St. Augustine. The Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest Christian churches in England. Canterbury has been an important spiritual center since the time of St. Augustine; however, it became a major pilgrimage destination after the martyrdom of St. Thomas à Becket in 1170. This is perhaps most famously demonstrated in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, which revolves around a group of pilgrims journeying to see the holy relics of this great saint in the Canterbury Cathedral. The cathedral continues to play a central role in English Christianity today as it functions as the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England. 

The Roper Chapel, located at the Anglican St. Dunstan’s church, is our next stop, where we will venerate the severed head of St. Thomas More, before attending Mass at the only Catholic parish in Canterbury, St. Thomas of Canterbury church. In mid-afternoon, we will travel a short distance to Eastminster to encounter the Benedictine nuns of Minster Abbey for tea and Vespers.

Overnight in Canterbury. Breakfast and Dinner are included. Lunch is on your own.

Aylesford, Walsingham. Mary’s gift of the Brown Scapular

After breakfast, we travel toward Our Lady’s Shrine in Walsingham, stopping along the way at the Carmelite Shrine at Aylesford. This shrine was founded in 1242 when the first Carmelites arrived from the Holy Land. They came under the patronage of Richard de Grey, a crusader who gave them a small piece of land at his manor of Aylesford. Our Lady appeared here to St. Simon Stock in about 1251, giving him the brown scapular with her promise of final perseverance to all who wear it with devotion. Here we will attend Mass and spend time in prayer at the shrine before lunch. Then we continue north for Walsingham to check in to the Dowry Retreat House for the next three nights.

Overnight in Walsingham. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included.

Walsingham, Quidenham, Norwich. An Interior Life of Prayer

After breakfast, we will depart for Norwich, the city of Saint Julian of Norwich, the 14th-century English anchoress and an important Christian mystic. Her book, Revelations of Divine Love, written around 1395, is the first book in the English language known to have been written by a woman. 

Inspired by divine love, Julian made a radical decision. Like an ancient anchoress, she decided to live in a cell located near the church called after St Julian, in the city of Norwich — in her time an important urban center not far from London. – Pope Benedict, 2010 

We will visit her shrine, which was built on the site of her original cell. There we will be drawn into the interior life of this woman of prayer. We will attend Sunday Mass at the Catholic Cathedral in Norwich. 

Lunch will be in Norwich’s city center at a wonderful local English restaurant. We will have time to walk around this medieval town with its cobbled streets, alleys and courtyards, and a river at its heart. It is the only English city in a National Park, the Norfolk Broads. 

Time permitting, we will depart for the Carmelite Monastery of Quidenham, where we will encounter modern day mystics.

Overnight in Walsingham. Breakfast and Dinner are included. Lunch is on your own.

Feast of the Assumption

After breakfast, we will explore the village of Walsingham, which is often referred to as “England’s Nazareth,” after Richeldis de Faverches, a devout English noblewoman, in 1061 had a vision of the Virgin Mary in which she was shown Mary’s house in Nazareth. Mary requested Richeldis to build a similar house in Walsingham. A monastic community still exists there today, and the nuns have undertaken an interesting journey from the Church of England to the Catholic Church. On this, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, we will attend Mass at midday at the Chapel of Our Lady of Walsingham, and pray in the restored “Slipper Chapel” where medieval pilgrims used to leave their shoes before walking the “holy mile” into the village where the original shrine was situated. 

In the afternoon, we will return to the village center to see the old abbey ruins of the Augustinian Priory of The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was one of the oldest shrines to Our Lady in England before its dissolution in 1538. Time permitting, we will take a short drive to see the coastline and have tea at Holkham Nature Reserve.

Overnight in Walsingham. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included.

Walsingham, King’s Lynn, Ely, London. Faith in the Middle Ages

We will attend Mass in the morning, followed by a talk describing the life of a medieval friar, given by Fr. James Mary, a Franciscan friar currently in residence in Walsingham. 

Afterwards, we depart Walsingham and drive to London with stops along the way, including King’s Lynn to visit the church dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham that began this devotion, and the historic Ely Cathedral. 

The Ely Cathedral was founded by Etheldreda (d.679), queen, foundress and abbess of Ely. Her shrine was a popular destination for medieval pilgrims; however, it and the monastery were destroyed by King Henry VIII in 1539. This is the third largest church in England, blending several architectural styles, and is known for its music ministry. 

We will enjoy an al fresco lunch at Ely Cathedral overlooking the gardens and cathedral. Some may want to visit Oliver Cromwell’s house located next door. 

After arriving in London, we will enjoy dinner at a family-owned-and-operated pub known for its traditional fish and chips!

Overnight in London. Breakfast and Dinner are included. Lunch is on your own.

To the tomb of St. Edward the Confessor, the National Gallery and London Oratory

Mass at Westminster Cathedral, the largest Catholic church in England, begins our day in London. The Cathedral is only three short blocks from our hotel. Among the exquisite pieces of art and architecture there, we will find a bas relief of the English martyrs, St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher. Additionally, there is a famous statue formerly known as Our Lady of Pew (now Our Lady of Westminster) before which St. Thomas More would often pray. 

Afterwards, we will walk just half a mile to Westminster Abbey for lunch and a tour. Westminster Abbey was originally built as a Benedictine monastery by St. Edward the Confessor in 1065. All the British monarchs have been crowned in Westminster Abbey since William the Conqueror in 1066, and it is here that St. Edward the Confessor is buried; we will be able to vernerate his tomb, which is normally closed to the public. 

Westminster Abbey is dedicated to St. Peter and Eastminster (St. Paul’s Cathedral) is dedicated to St. Paul. During St. Thomas More’s public service in 1504, Parliament met in the Charter House of Westminster Abbey, which was later dissolved in 1540 by King Henry VIII. 

After our time in Westminster Abbey, we will walk by the famous Downing Street and Trafalgar Square on our way to the National Gallery to view the famous Wilton Dyptich. This painting is of most significance because it is one of the earliest depictions of England being presented by the King to Our Lady as a gift, her “Dowry”... afternoon and evening free to explore London on your own. 

A possible excursion in the late afternoon: taxi to the London Oratory. It is the church of the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. Popularly, but incorrectly, known as “Brompton Oratory,” it is the second-largest Catholic church in London. St. Philip Neri (1515-1595) founded the Congregation of the Oratory in Rome and it has spread throughout the world, now numbering some seventy houses and five hundred priests. Soon after converting to Catholicism in 1845, Saint John Henry Newman became an Oratorian and founded the first Oratory in the English-speaking world.

Overnight in London. Breakfast is included. Lunch and Dinner are on your own.

Catholic London and Literary London

After breakfast, we will take a walking tour of London. The streets will come alive as Kevin Turley peels back centuries of Catholic history telling stories of Catholic and Literary London. We begin at Charterhouse learning about the Carthusians coming to London continuing on to St. Bartholomew, the oldest catholic parish in London, and St. Etheldreda for Mass. 

Lunch will be at the famous Fleet Street Pub, one of the oldest in London. Dine where Dr. Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens (who referred to it in A Tale of Two Cities), Yeats, Wilde, and Thackeray frequented. 

Afternoon we will learn more about literary London and the Pre reformation Catholic history to present day Chesterton. Time permitting, we will walk down the embankment to Tower Hill and London Bridge. 

Our day will finish at Tyburn Convent for tea with Sisters. Tyburn Convent commemorates the many Catholic martyrs, including St. Edmund Campion who were executed nearby. We will have a tour of the crypt where we can venerate relics of the martyrs, and we will attend Vespers and meet with the sisters in residence here. Tyburn is a place of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, so we will also have the opportunity for personal prayer here. 

Our farewell dinner will be our opportunity to gather one last time around a table, sharing a meal and conversation.

Overnight in London. Breakfast and Dinner are included. Lunch is on your own.

After breakfast and farewell, a private transport will take you back to the airport for your return home. Farewell to all our fellow pilgrims, our friends, until we meet again…

Breakfast is included.