LONDON 2025: Methodist & Wesley Heritage
We are going to England to celebrate John Wesley Day on May 24th, 2025
and explore some church history that led to the Methodist Movement.
All photos below are from 2023 John Wesley Day Trip.
LEADERS
Pastor Erick Hunter, Merrimac UMC and
former Global Mission Fellow at Wesley's Chapel London
Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter, Suamico UMC
DATES
Depart Tuesday May 20, 2025 and return Wednesday May 28, 2025
Flying midweek for reduced airfare costs and less congestion.
Schedule listed below. Items with ^ are included in trip cost.
Initial payment of $1200 due October 31, 2024 or at time of plane booking if earlier.
We plan to order plane tickets by November 2024.
Remainder due February 28, 2025.
Pay now and we will book flight as soon as you pay deposit.
Main Cabin, 1 free bag check. Flight insurance available. Airline Refund extra.
COST
$2200 per person, double occupancy in hotel; $2700 single room.
Cost includes: airfare, hotel, Westminster and St. Paul's entry, Wesley's Chapel tour fees, Big Bus tour and water taxi, trip insurance, exchange fees for these items, fee for leader.
Not included: Local transportation, food, donations for church visits, other site visits (ie Tower of London) and other personal expenses.
Recommended Apps to download to your phone:
CityMapper (for directions/tube/bus routes)
American Airlines (ticket and gate info)
BigBus (route and location of bus)
Recommendations for Preparing for Trip:
Be fit! Prepare for 10,000-15,000 step days.
Use a suitcase with wheels or backpack - long walks through airport and trains
Have a credit card with a chip - used for public transportation & purchases
No currency exchange needed - All contactless payments with chip card
Have a backpack to carry umbrella, jacket, snacks, water bottle, purchases
Check cell phone coverage to ensure data plan for using apps
Eye mask can be useful on plane and adjusting to jet lag
Electricity Converter - different plug + electricity voltage in UK
Bring water bottle, sunglasses, umbrella, jacket, sun hat
Not all airports have a lot of charging outlets - consider battery pack
Day 0 : Tuesday May 20 : Departure
Depart from Green Bay or other local airport
Meet together at O'Hare International Airport
Fly American Airlines to Heathrow Airport, London overnight
Day 2 : Thursday May 22 : Westminster
Medieval History of British Church
Group meeting at Wesley's Chapel for Devotions + Seminar on church history.
Tour ticket^ entry 12:00pm, Jubilee Gallery Entry 2:00pm
Worship Opportunities:
Eucharist/Communion 12:30p*
Evensong 5p*
All worship is free.
Other Opportunities:
Look at statues outside of great world leaders in Parliament Square. Walk by Central Methodist Church where United Nations got started. Stop for tea to rest your feet. Walk over to St. James Park and see Buckingham Palace. Cross bridge by Parliament and hear Big Ben chime or take London Eye into the sky.
Pilgrimage to Celebrate John Wesley
Welcome to John Wesley Day. We will gather at Wesley's Chapel for worship and a light lunch with Methodists from around the world. We will gather at John Wesley's Tomb for singing and prayers, then walk to Susanna Wesley's Tomb for singing and prayers, then walk to Aldersgate Street for singing and prayers. Our final walk will take us to St. Paul's Cathedral for a special worship service celebrating the ministry of John and Charles Wesley, with singing and prayers at the John Wesley statue outside after the service.
We will have matching t-shirts to celebrate the day and promote our Wisconsin Conference connection!
Dinner at Nando's by St. Paul's after worship (Portuguese/African - fantastic!)
Day 6 : Monday May 26 : St. Marleybone Parish + Regent's Park
Charles Wesley Parish
Visit St. Marleybone Parish, the Church of England appointment for Charles Wesley. John Wesley often visited here as he was developing the Methodist Movement. Charles wrote "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Love Divine all Loves Excelling" while serving this parish. Charles Wesley is buried here.
Relax in Regents Park, one of the great parks of London.
Day 1 : Wednesday May 21 : Arrival + Bus Tour
Arrive
Arrive at Heathrow Airport
Go through passport control & customs and collect luggage
Take train into Central London
Drop off luggage
Be a Tourist to Deal with Jet Lag
Big Bus Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour^
Download app to see exact locations of buses and tour route.
Great way to settle down some jet lag! Tour includes a water ferry from Tower of London Pier to Westminster Pier under by the Houses of Parliament and London Eye - 40 minutes with commentary on bridges and waterfront sights. Can take once in either direction.
Stop for Fish & Chips meal or ice cream at County Hall by London Eye and Big Ben.
Day 3 : Friday May 23 : St. Paul's & St. Bride's
Churches After Great Fire
See "newer" churches, built after the Great Fire of 1666 by Sir Christopher Wren. 15-20 minute walk from hotel, or take city bus.
Tour Tickets^ enter cathedral at 2p.
Worship Opportunities:
Eucharist 12:30p*
Evensong 5p*
Worship is free.
Free to tour, donations accepted at kiosk onsite. Basement museum has great info on history of Great Fire, as well as remains of Roman road and small chapel from medieval church previously on site. Five minute walk from St. Paul's.
Open for visit from 10a-3:30p
Worship Opportunities:
Space for Silence 4-5p weekdays - silent meditation with candles.
Morning Prayer 8:15a weekdays in crypt chapel. 15 minutes.
Other Opportunities:
Eat at Old Bell pub (built 1670s) by St. Bride's for historic pub experience. Other pubs in area as well.
Millennium Footbridge across Thames River to Globe Theater and Tate Modern Museum.
Day 5 : Sunday May 25 : Wesley's Chapel Worship
Sabbath
Worship at Wesley's Chapel. 9:45a Communion in Foundery Chapel (30 minutes). 11a Worship in main Chapel.
Free Afternoon Recommendations - take tube over to Tower of London to tour and see great history and Crown Jewels. A replica of the Golden Hind, the first British ship to sail around the world, is across the Tower Bridge from the Tower of London on the southside of the Thames River. Take a nap... or explore something you have always wanted to see.
Day 7 : Tuesday May 26 : Wesley Home & Methodist Museum
Heart of Methodism
Morning Devotions & Seminar - Wesley's Chapel
Lunch at Spitalfields Market.
Official tour of Wesleys Chapel, John Wesley Home (pictured above), Methodist Museum, and Wesley Garden with John Wesley's Tomb. 2p^
Map of Wesley's Chapel, Hotel, Tube Stop
Note on maps: the "blocks" you see do not match American "blocks." Many of these blocks are only two-three buildings long - maybe 1/4 the size of a "block" we are used to. Walking from Old Street tube stop to Wesley's Chapel is about 5 minutes.
Walk from Travelodge Hotel to St. Paul's Cathedral is 15-20 minutes (about 1 mile), or you can take a bus or the tube. St. Paul's to St. Bride's is about 5 minute walk.
Map of our Main Area of Activities
Map of St. Paul's Cathedral Area & Sights
