christian heritage tour edinburgh

Watch The Christian Heritage Tour feature on Songs of Praise for the BBC

Why travel all day long in a coach to see Scotland pass you by through a window, when you can breathe it, feel it and experience it on Edinburgh’s doorstep?

Paul James-Griffiths

Paul James-Griffiths is the director of Soul of Scotland Tours. He read ancient history and classical studies at University and used to say that anything after Augustine was modern. He has worked as a teacher and as a chaplain for London’s West End theatres and was a member of the Actors’ Centre. In 2009 he pioneered Christian Heritage Edinburgh. He has written several books, including A Spiritual History of the Royal Mile and a novel called The Seers. He is married to Isolde.

Isolde James-Griffiths

Isolde James-Griffiths is the administrator of Soul of Scotland Tours and she is also a professional singer who trained at Darmstadt Academy. She has been a P.A. for leading classical musicians in Germany and established Eternity, an Edinburgh-based chamber music group in 2006. She recorded her first album called Seasons of the Soul, which is an a cappella rendition of Scottish Psalms for four voices.

Abi is Paul and Isolde’s collie and she was born on a farm in the Scottish borders. She accompanies them on some of the tours and loves people. If you listen carefully, you might hear her sing along with Isolde in a quiet, sensitive way.

Featured Tours

Women who Changed the World Tour

Christian Heritage Museum Tour

£10.00 to £15.00 per person

On Tuesday last week you guided me together with a group of Swiss PhD students through Edinburgh. I want to say thank you for the skilful, passionate and interesting tour. You and your wife do a good job.

from Switzerland

Thanks for an insightful, entertaining and sensitive city-walk to vitalize our knowledge on the Scottish reformation with its meaningful links with the Swiss reformation.

University of Basel

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• Cookie Policy

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side.

You can also read our full Privacy Policy here .

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

More information about our Cookie Policy

Livingstone statue

Scott was a Church of Scotland elder at Duddington. When ill, he asked his servant to bring "the Book" .  When the servant asked which book, Scott replied: There is only one Book - the Bible! The Bible is the Book to live by and the Book to die by. Therefore read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practise it to be holy.

Later in the nineteenth century, it was thought that another famous Scotsman, whose achievements exemplifed the courage, faith and enterprise of the country, also deserved to be remembered here – David Livingstone.  A statue of the celebrated missionary explorer stands within the gardens of the monument, but it's a modest affair compared with Scott. It shows him dressed for jungle travel, with leather belt, boots and holster, a coat knotted casually over his shoulders, his stick resting on the ground and the Bible held out in one hand. The skin of a lion is draped over a stump behind him, recalling the famous incident when he was attacked by a beast which had just been shot, but left him with a permanent injury to one arm before it expired.

St Giles Cathedral

St Giles may not have the architectural splendour of its English counterparts, but its significance in Scottish church history is as great as any in England. In this respect it can be compared to Westminster Abbey in London, with memorials to celebrated Scots, as diverse as the writer Robert Louis Stevenson and pioneer of anaesthetics James Young Simpson , as well as pivotal figures in the spiritual life of Scotland, like John Knox and Thomas Chalmers .

The central position of the tower gives the nave and choir equal length, a feature that enabled the cathedral for a time to have separate congregations at the east and west ends. There was even a third congregation meeting in what is now an extra aisle on the south side, from which various chapels lead off. From the outside, we can see the eight flying buttresses over the tower meeting centrally to form an open structure, known as a crown spire .

Founded in 1124, St Giles was twice reduced to ashes by invading English armies, burn marks on the stonework apparently visible until nineteenth century restorations.  In the sixteenth century, the cathedral became the focal point of the Scottish Reformation. In 1558, with Scotland fast adopting a strongly protestant theology, the statue of St Giles was removed from the church and thrown into Edinburgh's putrid Nor' Loch, today the site of Princes Street Gardens.

In 1559, John Knox, lately returned from exile in Geneva, marched into St Giles and preached there for the first time. The following week he was declared minister and the cathedral was stripped of all its Catholic ornamentation. In 1560, the Scottish parliament declared Scotland a protestant country and St Giles thus became the founding church for world Presbyterianism – with no bishops, but each congregation governed by elders or presbyters, and ministers chosen by the members.

Jenny Geddes stool

The next major crisis in Scottish church history came 80 years later. In 1637, Charles I attempted to align the Church of Scotland with the Church of England by appointing bishops and imposing the use of the Anglican Prayer Book. This precipitated a major disturbance: on 23 rd July of that year, James Hannay , dean of Edinburgh, appeared in a surplice and began to read the service according to the Anglican liturgy. A riot broke out with clapping and shouting by local women. When Dr Lindsay , bishop of Edinburgh, rose to call for calm, Jenny Geddes , a local vegetable seller, hurled a stool at the preacher with the cry Daur ye say mass in my lug ? and the whole congregation rose in uproar. Magistrates were called to escort the prelates from the cathedral and church services were suspended for a week. Later that night, a large group of women spotted the bishop and his friends and chased them down the street with sticks. While church leaders distanced themselves from this behaviour, calling the protesters a rascal multitude, these events led the opponents of the king's policy to draw up the National Covenant, signed in Greyfriars church in 1638.

A memorial plaque to Jenny Geddes was placed in the Moray Aisle in 1886, and in 1992 it was joined by a bronze stool , known as a “cutty stool”, sculpted by Merilyn Smith. The sculpture is entitled Dux femina facti  [ A woman was leader of the deed ], and was financed by subscriptions from forty women. It seems they may have celebrating Ms Geddes as a feminist icon, rather than for her protestant ideals!

A 19 th century stained glass window on the south wall shows John Knox (1514-1572) preaching the sermon at a funeral in 1570. When he died two years later, he was buried in the kirkyard here, but some time later his  remains were reinterred in an unmarked grave at Greyfriars. Knox also has a statue in the north aisle, dating from 1904. There is an account of his life, quoting his famous dictum Give me Scotland or I die .

A marble memorial with a bronze profile portrait celebrates Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) as Christian orator, theologian, patriot, professor of divinity at Edinburgh University . Chalmers is particularly remembered as one of the initiators of the Great Disruption, by which the Free Church of Scotland separated from the main body of the church, principally over the appointment of ministers.

Many of the memorials on the north side relate to the First World War and the role of the Royal Army Medical Corps is given particular prominence. One memorial commemorates the surprisingly large number of Scottish women nurses who lost their lives, presumably from a combination of disease and accidental military action.

William Smith memorial

In one of the chapels on the north aisle is a memorial plaque to Sir William Smith (1854-1914). He was a Scottish businessman and Sunday school teacher, who in 1883 founded the Boys Brigade at the Free Church Mission Hall in Glasgow. As a uniformed youth organization which emphasised Christian character, it was used as the model for Baden Powell's more secular Boy Scouts.

An oval tablet on stairway leading down to the cafe remembers Wellesley Bailey (1846-1937), founder of the Leprosy Mission. Bailey was an Irishman who had originally travelled to India with the intention of joining the police, but seeing the condition of leprosy sufferers, he applied his Christian faith to addressing their treatment and relief. He lived in Edinburgh from 1882 to 1886, where he worked as a secretary for a Church of Scotland mission.

John Knox House

John Knox's house

Halfway down the Royal Mile – midway between the Castle and the Palace of Holyrood – is the bizarre medieval building known as John Knox House . From the outside, its unusual shape and unique appearance suggests the setting of a fairy story or a fantasy film. Despite the name, it was apparently never owned by Knox, nor served as his manse, but it is believed he spent time here as a sick man in his final months and may have died here. The actual site of Knox's manse - in Warriston's Close , a narrow lane off the High Street near St Giles - is marked by a plaque.

At the time of Knox, the owner was James Mossman , a goldsmith and jeweller to the royal house, and his wife Mariota Arres . Ironically, Mossman was a Catholic loyal to Mary Queen of Scots, and, following the siege and surrender of Edinburgh Castle in 1573, was hanged for counterfeiting and treachery.

Even with no historical links, the house would be a place of great interest. It projects onto the street with one facade looking up towards the Castle, with the other facing across the road. An external staircase to the first floor gives an excellent view towards Holyrood and the coast beyond. There are four storeys with overhanging gables, and a host unusual features on the outside. These include the letters IM MA, initials of Mossman and his wife, with a family crest. A gilded sun with the words Theos, Deus, God shines onto the bearded figure of Moses, who is kneeling on a sundial at the corner. There are gilded wreaths either side of the first floor window, while above is a circular recess with urns either side – perhaps a later classical flourish. Best of all, running round two sides with gilded lettering is the command LVFE GOD ABVFE AL AND YI NYCHTBOVR AS YI SELF.

Inside the house, some exhibits tell the story of Knox and the Scottish Reformation, while others describe aspects of the goldsmith's trade and other crafts. An adjacent building serves as the Scottish Storytelling Centre .

J Knox house interior

On the ground floor, opposite the reception area, we can see the original stonework of medieval “luckenbooths”, lockable stalls facing the street which were rented out as shops. Upstairs there is a display entitled The Word and the Book , emphasising the importance of the Bible in Scottish history. Among items on display is a rare original copy of the Bassandyne Bible, the first Scottish printing of the English Bible in 1579, using the Geneva version. There are also copies of books written or owned by reformers including Theodore Beza and George Buchanan .

On the second floor, a room entitled Reformation and Revolution quotes various passages from the writings or sermons of Knox – on idolatry, preaching, education, obedience to the state – and then explains how these were implemented or interpreted. The top floor is called the Oak Room, which has been beautifully restored with panelling to represent the interior of a typical 16 th century home.  Here, dramatised versions of the exchanges between Knox and Mary Queen of Scots are being played.  There is also a striking picture representing the offerings of Cain and Abel.

Greyfriars Church

Visitors from across the world come to hear the moving tale of Greyfriars Bobby. When his owner, an Edinburgh policeman, died in 1858, the faithful Skye terrier kept watch at his master's grave until his own death 14 years later – cared for by the equally faithful sexton. Dog, master and sexton all lie here, their graves an important stop on the tourist itinerary.

For other visitors, the immense historical importance of Greyfriars, particularly as the scene of the signing of the National Covenant, is the main attraction, also as the last resting place of many of the giants in the story the the Scottish church, including George Buchanan and Alexander Henderson .  Indeed, the bones of John Knox himself lie here, unmarked, after removal from the kirkyard of St Giles cathedral during redevelopments.

Formerly the site of a monastic order, the area was given to Edinburgh Town Council by Mary Queen of Scots as a burial ground.  It served this purpose for some years before the construction of the church, begun in 1602 and eventually dedicated in 1620. There is a useful plan of the churchyard, marking the tombs of many prominent citizens (and one dog!).

George Buchanan's grave

The grave of George Buchanan (1506-1582), just to the north of the church and beyond its western end, is marked by a stone obelisk inset with a bronze bust of the scholar. Buchanan was an immensely significant figure at the time of the Scottish reformation. A man of great learning, he had studied in Europe and wrote major Latin works of poetry, history, law and constitutional politics, while moving gradually from a humanist position similar to Erasmus to a fully Reformed view.  He was an adviser to the teenage Mary Queen of Scots, newly returned from France as widow of the young French king, but later a severe critic of her policies, especially after her marriage to the vain and foolish Lord Darnley.   He also became tutor to her infant son, the future James I of England (and VI of Scotland). There is also a bronze plaque to Buchanan on the east side of the churchyard.

Alexander Henderson's grave

Not far away, close to the western wall and a little to the south, lies Alexander Henderson (1583-1646). His tomb is covered by a square stone monument, with a lengthy Latin inscription, badly weathered, but there is also a verse in English.  Henderson was largely responsible for the text of the National Covenant, signed here in 1638. It was less than a century after the Reformation that the young Church of Scotland faced a new threat – this time from Charles I , and his sacramentally-inclined Archbishop William Laud . Their attempts to impose episcopacy and the Anglican Prayer Book on a Presbyterian Scottish church led to a series of wars and ultimately to the English Civil War, with its tragic outcome for the King. It was not just a religious matter – bishops had a significant secular role and their appointment was seen as interference in political affairs and against the civil liberties of Scotland. Henderson was a theologian and ecclesiastical statesman, who did his best to mediate between the disputing parties and on several occasions negotiated personally with the King, on whom he made a very favourable impression. Sadly, matters were unresolved and the Civil War still in progress when Henderson died in 1646.

On the eastern wall of the churchyard, on the left as you enter from the lower end of Candlemaker Row, is a large memorial to the Coventanter martyrs , many of whom died at Grassmarket close by. When we visited, it was undergoing a major restoration, covered in scaffolding and fabric. Another connection with the Covenanter period can be seen at the southwest corner of the kirkyard. Here, there is an extension of the burial ground in an area now fenced off and enclosed, but previously used as a prison. As explained on the notice, following the Battle of Bothwell Brig in 1679, Covenanter prisoners were held here for several months. Some were executed, some pardoned and some escaped, but the remainder were sentenced to be transported to the American colonies. However, their ship was wrecked in the Orkney Islands and most of the prisoners drowned.  A few survived and managed to escape. (For Covenanter memorials throughout Scotland and beyond see www.covenanter.org.uk )

Inside the church itself, Greyfriars is plain, with very little adornment; its modest architectural qualities belie its great historical importance.  It has a broad nave with octagonal columns and north and south aisles, but no transepts or side chapels. In 1718, an explosion blew out the west end of the church, after the city unwisely kept its store of explosives nearby.  After pondering the problem of reconstruction, the church authorities eventually decided to divide the church in half with a wall down the centre, forming two congregations. The eastern part became Old Greyfriars, and the rebuilt west end New Greyfriars which explains the two adjacent front doors.  This arrangement continued until the the two parts were reunited in the 1930s.

George Buchanan window

In the years following the Reformation. any kind of church adornment, including stained glass, was frowned on as reminiscent of Roman Catholicism, but this gradually changed in subsequent generations.  Hence there is an impressive window to George Buchanan in the south wall. Another window commemorates Robert Traill (1603-1678), a significant figure in the events of the time.  He became minister here in 1648 and preached before Charles II at his coronation by the Scots in 1651 (Charles seeking Scottish help to recover his throne after the execution of his father).  In 1660 he engaged in a new Remonstrance, appealing for the rights of an independent Scottish church and supported the decision of the Covenanters to take up arms. He was arrested for High Treason, but was allowed to seek exile in Holland, from where he carried on a regular correspondence with the Covenanting minister William Guthrie of Fenwick. He was able to return to Edinburgh shortly before his death and is buried here.

The National Covenant

Other ministers who served the congregations here include Andrew Mitchell Thomson (1779-1831) and Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873). Thomson was a leader of the evangelical party in the Scottish church. Like his English counterparts linked to the Clapham circle, he promoted a wide range of reforming projects, supporting the immediate abolition of slavery. He was a co-founder of the Edinburgh Bible Society and promoted music in worship, for which he composed hymn tunes. He was minister of New Greyfriars from 1810 to 1814, when he moved to the newly founded St George's church.

Guthrie (1803-1873) was minister of Old Greyfriars in the early 19 th century, but at the Great Disruption in 1843, he left to become one of the founding fathers of the Free Church of Scotland and first minister of Free St John's Church built in 1845, which is now St Columba's Free Church. He is also remembered as the founder of the Ragged School movement in Edinburgh – an unattractive name, but at least it provided a basic education for poor children who would otherwise have been illiterate.

In the south west corner of the church is the Visitor Centre, which has a small museum of items relating to the church, including an original copy of the National Covenant .

St Columba's Free Church

Strategically situated at the bottom of Castlehill, the church serves as a base for Christian Heritage Edinburgh – a small team who put up display panels and conduct walking tours throughout the tourist season. Well informed guides, sometimes in contemporary dress, give graphic descriptions of the most dramatic, and sometimes tragic, episodes of Scottish church and secular history. The panels here refer to the wider significance of Christian heritage in areas such as law, science, medicine, education, human rights and social reform. (See www.christianheritageedinburgh.org.uk )

Church of Scotland Assembly Hall

The first minister of the church (originally known as Free St John's) was Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873), an important figure in the Great Disruption of 1843, when a large proportion of the congregations of the Church of Scotland left to become the Free Church of Scotland. The main topic of contention was the right of church members to appoint their own ministers rather than having them imposed by the local patron. There is a prominent bust and memorial to Guthrie in the entrance lobby.

Immediately opposite St Columba's, is the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall . It was here that the American evangelists, D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey , conducted an important mission in the 1870s and also where the World Missionary Conference of 1910 was held. Following the great rise of missionary activity in the 19 th century, it was hoped and believed that the whole world would have the opportunity to hear the gospel within the next few decades.

Grassmarket

Today it may be a cheerful tree-lined street, with shops, bars and tourists, but its past is a story of tragedy, martyrdom and sacrifice.  Grassmarket had long been the place of execution for common criminals, but is remembered particularly for the deaths of many Covenanters between 1661 and 1688, during the reigns of Charles II and his brother James II (VII of Scotland).

Their father Charles I had tried to impose the English prayer book and episcopal system on the Scottish church in 1637, leading to the signing of the National Covenant and provoking a series of conflicts which eventually led to the English Civil War, culminating in his own execution.

Covenanters memorial, Grassmarket

After the restoration of the monarchy, the later Stuart kings showed that past disputes over church government had not been forgotten or forgiven. During the Civil War, Charles II (then Prince of Wales) had made a pledge to honour the Presbyterian system of the Scottish church when he needed the support of the Scots against Oliver Cromwell, but this was forgotten after his restoration to the throne. This caused some Covenanters to renounce their loyalty to the king and to leave the Scottish church, often building “conventicles” in remote places, which was punishable by death. It was only after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when the Catholic James II was deposed and replaced by his protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange, that the persecutions ceased.

At the eastern end of the street is a circular granite memorial, with a cross set in cobbles and the inscription On this spot many martyrs and Covenanters died for the Protestant faith . Nearby, there is a list of about a hundred men and women who were executed here or at other locations in Edinburgh, ending with the death of James Renwick in 1688, who is generally recognised at the last of the Covenanter martyrs.

Magdalen Chapel

Located in Cowgate and not particularly impressive from the outside, this may well be the place where the first assembly of the Church of Scotland took place under John Knox in 1560. It was built in 1541-44 as a hospice for a few poor men, and the meeting place for a guild of metal workers, known as the Hammermen. The tower and spire date from 1620. The assembly of 1578 was also held here under the moderator Andrew Melville (1545-1622).  It has the only pre-reformation stained glass in Scotland, still in its original position. One panel shows the arms of Mary of Guise, mother of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Following the Reformation, the Catholic chaplain to the guild was replaced by a Protestant. The building has served various roles over the centuries and remained in the possession of the Hammermen until 1857. During the period of the Covenanters, one of its more tragic duties was as the place where the bodies of the martyrs, executed in nearby Grassmarket, were brought and dressed for burial, including Archibald Campbell, Marquis of Argyll and Dr James Guthrie .

It was too here that the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society was founded in 1841 at a meeting led by Dr James Abercrombie. The adjacent building was once known as the Livingstone Memorial Hall, in memory of the society's best known missionary David Livingstone .

John Knox statue

Overlooking Princes Street and the Scottish National Gallery are two theological colleges virtually next to each other. New College occupies an impressive building in Mound Place and is the postgraduate School of Divinity of Edinburgh University. In the courtyard is a statue of John Knox in a striking pose, his right arm raised in preaching, the other holding a Bible with one finger inserted to mark his text. It was erected in 1896 by Scotsmen who appreciated Knox's legacy. 

Next door, but technically in North Bank Street , is the Edinburgh Theological Seminary , training ministers for the Free Church of Scotland. Access is only by prior arrangement, but in the wood-panelled Presbytery Hall there is, at one end, a stained glass window with portraits of some of the most important figures in Scottish church history, and at the other, a remarkable painting of both artistic and historical interest. There is also a framed copy of the original National Covenant , bequeathed by the Earl of Dalhousie in 1874. Those depicted in the window include George Wishart , John Knox , Alexander Henderson , Andrew Thomson , Thomas Chalmers and John Erskine .

Free Church College window

The massive painting depicts what became known as the Disruption Assembly , by which the Free Church of Scotland separated from the Church of Scotland over the right of congregations to appoint their own ministers, irrespective of the wishes of the local patron. The picture is by David Octavius Hill , who was among those present. As well as a gifted artist, Hill was also a pioneer photographer and friend of Henry Fox Talbot. At the suggestion of the physicist Sir David Brewster , also present, he cooperated with Robert Adamson to photograph several hundred of the delegates, from which he obtained good likenesses. This may have been the first time photography was used in support of painting, and certainly the first time on this scale.

The painting is titled The First General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, Signing of the Act of Separation and Deed of Demission at Tanfield, Edinburgh, 23 May 1843 . Central to the group is the key figure of Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), much respected by all sides for both his learning and character, who became the first Moderator of the Free Church. Also prominent is Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873), disciple and successor to Chalmers. Of particular interest are laymen depicted here, distinguished in many academic disciplines, illustrating Scotland's well deserved reputation for intellectual achievement in the 19 th century: anaesthetist Sir James Young Simpson , physicist Sir David Brewster , geologist Hugh Miller , pioneer of savings banks Henry Duncan and missionary educationalist Alexander Duff .  Altogether, Hill captured likenesses of 474 of the delegates (including himself!) out of about 1,500, and the picture took 23 years to complete. Modern commentators may deplore the few women in the portrait, mostly wearing bonnets and at the back, but pictures reflect their own time, not the sensitivities of later generations.  Several of those depicted, including Miller, Simpson and Hill himself, were prominent lay members of St Columba's Free Church nearby.

Edinburgh New Town is rightly considered a triumph of architecture and town planning and is now a World Heritage Site .  It was principally conceived by the architects James Craig (1739-1795) and Robert Adam (1728-1792).  Begun in the 18 th century after the Union of England and Scotland, the street names reflect the Hanoverian kings, queens and politicians of the period - George Street, Hanover Street, Frederick Street and Charlotte Square.  From the 18 th to the 20 th century, many significant figures of the Scottish church lived in this area.  Scotland does not display the blue plaques familiar in London, marking the former dwellings of famous people. Those remembered are more likely to be scientists, doctors or writers rather than church ministers.

Thomas Chalmers statue

Thomas Chalmers lived at 3 Forres Street (EH3 6BJ), a handsome four-storey terraced house, with decorative iron balconies on the first floor. He also has a statue in George Street , at the junction with Castle Street. It shows him with his Bible held in both hands, reflecting his role as a highly respected theologian, professor of divinity and first moderator of the Free Church of Scotland.

Further along George Street is the church of St Andrew and St George , with a spire in several tiers like a wedding cake, four Corinthian columns and other classical features. This was the scene of the opening events of the Great Disruption. On 18 th May 1843, 121 ministers and a number of elders left the Church of Scotland General Assembly held here, and walked down the hill to Tanfield Hall in Canonmills, where the Disruption Assembly was convened, with Chalmers in the chair. A few days later, there was another meeting for the Signing of the Deed of Separation . It was eventually signed by 474 ministers, a significant proportion thus leaving to become the Free Church of Scotland. The scene was depicted in a famous painting by David Octavius Hill, now in the hall of the Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

Church of St Andrew & St George

The Disruption was over the Patronage Act of 1712, which gave authority to local landowners to choose the pastors, which undermined the democratic nature of the Presbyterian Church. Debates over this issue had simmered on for over a hundred years, but the Disruption came to a head over the Strathbogie incident, in which a pastor who had been rejected by the congregation was forcibly reappointed by the civil magistrate.

Birthplace of R. M. M'Cheyne

Andrew Mitchell Thomson, a much respected Church of Scotland minister, lived at 29 Melville Street, solidly built in stone, with steps to the front door, an iron archway and first floor balcony. Thomson was minister for a time at Greyfriars church. He died too soon to become involved in the Great Disruption and is buried at St Cuthbert's Church at the west end of Princes Street. Because of its topography, the burial ground here is terraced, and Thomson lies on one of the lower levels, but its location is marked on a plan at the church.

14 Dublin Street was the birthplace of Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813-1843), minister at St Peter's Church, Dundee, renowned for his life of holiness and dedication, which came to a tragically early end through typhus before the age of 30. The house is in a terrace of fine residential properties, mostly five storeys, including the basement. Number 14 looks as if it might once have been a side entrance to the present number 16, but the numbering may have changed. There is no plaque.

The Georgian House, 7 Charlotte Square.

Georgian House interior

This splendid property is now owned by the National Trust and open to the public. It has been restored in the style of Robert Adam and furnished appropriately. In one room an audio-visual display describes the family life and domestic arrangements of the first residents. Displays in other rooms recall the lives of other owners or occupants over the last two centuries. (The adjacent property, even more impressive, just happens to be Bute House , 6 Charlotte Square, official residence of the First Minister of Scotland!)

On the second floor is a display describing the life of Alexander Whyte (1836-1921), a Free Church of Scotland minister, who served for many years at St George's Free Church (now Charlotte Chapel ). He lived here from 1889 until his death, although his wife Jane and family continued to occupy the property until 1927. They had eight children, several of whom had distinguished careers, one as an MP, another as an eminent scientist.

In 1913, Whyte and his wife played host to Abdul Baha , son of the founder of the Baha'i faith, who had spent several decades in prison in the Middle East, because the new religion was seen as a rejection of Islam. Mrs Whyte had met Baha on a trip to Palestine in 1906, and was involved in organising his visit and arranged for him to address a number of meetings in Edinburgh. While clearly not accepting all Baha's beliefs, it seems the Whytes had a mutual interest in promoting freedom of expression for all religions especially in Muslim countries.

Whyte was a fervent evangelist, but also had a broad cultural background, not often seen in the evangelicals of his day. Besides his relationship with Abdul Baha, he lectured on Dante and corresponded with John Henry Newman. He welcomed the American evangelists Moody and Sankey to the city in 1873, and from 1909 to 1918 was principal of New College.

Charlotte Chapel

This impressively large church stands on the corner of Shandwick Place and Stafford Street. Its architecture, striking both inside and out, is 19 th century Roman baroque revival, with a later Venetian tower. The building has undergone various changes in name and denomination during its history. Formerly know as St George's West , or Free St George's , it was here that Alexander Whyte exercised his ministry from 1870 to 1896, succeeding the equally distinguished R. S. Candlish .

The present congregation is a free evangelical church, with a thriving ministry in central Edinburgh. They have evolved from a Baptist church founded in 1808, which has occupied buildings in various locations in its history, including Charlotte Square, hence the name. Former ministers of Charlotte Chapel, although not in its present location, include W Graham Scroggie (1916 to 1933) and Alan Redpath (1964 to 1968).

Dean Cemetery

Grave of Brownlow North

Just to the west of Edinburgh, the charming Dean Village lies in the deep valley of the Water of Leith and just beyond is one of the city's main cemeteries. Here, the well-to-do professional classes are often remembered with elaborate headstones and memorials, the inscriptions giving warm appreciation of their achievements. It seems as if every other citizen was a doctor, lawyer, diplomat or scientist. Alexander Whyte is buried here but our visit did not allow time to locate the site.

We came in search of the grave of Brownlow North (1810-1875).  Marked by an obelisk, it lies along the southern boundary of the cemetery, to the left of the path.  North came from an aristocratic ecclesiastical family (his grandfather of the same name had been Bishop of Winchester), but until his mid-forties led a life of careless self-indulgence, marked by party-going, hunting and gambling. In 1854, he experienced a dramatic conversion when suddenly taken ill while playing cards. Thereafter, he became an effective evangelist, greatly used in the Northern Ireland revival of 1859. As his epitaph declares ...he preached the gospel with singular power, and was greatly honoured in winning souls to Jesus.

Robert Kalley's grave

Scotland is famous for generations of medical missionaries and few exemplify that tradition better than Dr Robert Kalley (1809-1888).  Born and educated in Glasgow, Kalley became a ship's doctor and then settled in Madeira on account of the health of his first wife, who suffered from TB.  During his eight year residence, he founded a small hospital, several elementary schools and the Presbyterian church of Funchal.  Catholic opposition, however, forced Kalley and his converts to leave.  While the converts eventually found a home as a Portuguese-speaking colony in Jacksonville, Illinois, Kalley moved to Brazil with his second wife in 1854.  Here, there was still resistance to Protestantism, but he became a friend of the emperor Pedro II and was instrumental in founding Crista Evangelica churches based on the Presbyterian model.  Returning to Scotland in 1876, Kalley became Director of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society. His grave is on the hidden lower terrace of the cemetery.

South Edinburgh

Liddell's Olympic race

At the point where Bruntsfield Place becomes Morningside Road is the Eric Liddell Centre (EH10 4DP). Named after the famous athlete and hero of the film Chariots of Fire , this church building has now been converted for use as a social centre, providing services for families, dementia sufferers and the elderly and disabled.

Inside, there is a display of books either about Liddell or written by him, and along a corridor at the back a series of photographs of scenes from his life. These include school and family groups, and images of his athletic career, when he famously refused to take part in his best event because heats were held on a Sunday, but still managed to win a gold medal in another event at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. There are also scenes from his life as a missionary in China.

Grange Cemetery

Thomas Chalmers memorial

Located on Beaufort Road, about a mile south of the city centre, Grange Cemetery has the tombs and memorials to key figures in 19 th century Scottish church affairs, particularly those relating to the formation of the Free Church of Scotland. Against the north wall, about halfway along, is a plot with the graves of Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) and members of his family. The central memorial stone is to Chalmers himself, giving dates but no biographical details. Other stones name his wife, Grace Pratt, his children and other relatives.

Whether by accident or design, Chalmers' colleague and co-leader of the Free Church of Scotland, Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873) lies in an exactly corresponding position against the south wall. He has an even more impressive rose granite memorial, elaborately carved and with an inset profile portrait. His wife Ann Burns is also mentioned, and side panels list the names of many other relatives.

Grave of Thomas Guthrie

At the entrance to the cemetery, a plan shows the location of the graves of prominent citizens, including Chalmers and Guthrie, but fails to mention that of Alexander Duff (1806-1878). He lies close to the path on the north side, just east of the path running north to south. There is a square stone monument with his name and that of his wife Anne Scott Drysdale and the simple inscription First missionary of the Church of Scotland to India . This hardly does justice to Duff's achievements, especially in education. He founded schools and promoted the teaching of a modern curriculum in India, alongside the Bible, using English as the medium to avoid the complications of local dialects. He was one of the founders of the University of Calcutta, and from 1867 held the chair of evangelical theology at Edinburgh University.

Immediately opposite the entrance to the cemetery is St Catherines' Argyle Church (EH9 1TY).  The first minister here, from 1866 to 1887 was the hymnwriter and preacher Horatius Bonar (when the church was called the Thomas Chalmers Memorial Church).  He lived during this time at 10 Palmerston Road nearby, which has some impressively large houses. On his death in 1889, for some reason he was not buried here, alongside many of the other Free Church pioneers, but at Canongate Kirk on the Royal Mile.

Newington Cemetery

Grave of Dr John Ross

About a mile from the Grange burial ground lies yet another hero of the 19th century Scottish missionary movement.  Educated in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Dr John Ross (1842-1915) travelled to China in 1872 and was based in Mukden (now called Shenyang) in the north of the country.  He established a church just outside the east gate of the city as churches were not allowed within the walls.

Meeting traders from Korea, Ross realised this was an opportunity to bring the gospel to that country, where access for Christian missionaries was very limited.  He made a Korean translation of the New Testament, which, along with other Christian literature, could be carried by travellers between the two countries.

Ross lies on the east side of the main north-south path in the cemetery (EH16 5DT).  There is also a plaque to his memory at Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church , West Mayfield (EH9 1TQ)

Christ centred. Christian led. Custom tours.

Scottish reformation tours.

Welcome to Scotland

It’s everything you imagined it would be.

Experience this beautiful country by learning about its rich Covenanter history from Christian tour guides who know and love Scotland. Walk its paths, visit its monuments, and learn the stories that lie behind our rich Covenanter history.

All tours are custom built, Christian led, and Christ focused.

We also delight in leading tours to places of historical interest in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

“They are extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy.”

“This is a must do!!”

“We felt more like friends than clients”

Lanark Covenanters from Scottish Reformation Tours on Vimeo .

Sample tour: Lanark

Join Jimmy Fisher in Lanark, Scotland, as he gives a brief history of the town, as part of a Scottish Reformation Tour

Choose your tour...

School Tours

Classic Open Tour

Group Tours

All funds from Scottish Reformation Tours are used to help build and grow the present-day church in Scotland.

• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Christian Heritage Tour - Soul of Scotland Tours

• Europe    
• United Kingdom (UK)    
• Scotland    
• Edinburgh    
• Edinburgh - Things to Do    
• Soul of Scotland Tours

This was my first time in Scotland, and the Christian Heritage tour was the highlight of my trip... read more

This was a great and unique tour that I would highly recommend if you are in Edinburgh and have... read more

Christian Heritage Tour

What an AMAZING tour! I learned so much and found it all so interesting! What an amazing opportunity to learn new things! I can’t tecommend this enough!

Wonderful experience, heartfelt, gospel-centered your. Mixed with beautiful music. I learned so much from the experience, they really connect the dots with faith, culture, and history.

An excellent tour - very informative, giving insight into the life of Christians who have had a huge impact on Scotland - it's education, health system, social care - of Christian who have exercised great faith and laid down their lives for the sake of Jesus.

I walked up for this tour at the last moment. I joined a group on a tour that consisted of students and teachers from Edinburgh Bible College. Paul did a wonderful job connecting historical events and discoveries with a Christian perspective. He showed the relationship of the Christian architects of several inventions and well documented historical events. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who has a thirst for knowledge whether it be for history or for Christian roots! Well done Paul!

I went with a group on the Soul of Scotland Tour and I loved every second of it. Scottish Church history deep and rich and when my family and I go back next year I will be taking my husband and children on this tour with me. The guide knows his history and he makes it interesting and I’ve been reading more about it since I came home. You will not be sorry you booked! I can’t wait to go back and do it again!

Excellent tour around some of the key influential sights in Edinburgh looking at the history of the city; particular reference paid to the transformational work of Christian leaders and their work for social and educational reform. The work done here had far reaching influence globally and impacts areas of law, politics and education today. I felt like I learned so much about Scottish history as well as church history on this tour, highly recommend!

RIVER CRUISES

GREECE TOURS

ISRAEL TOURS

GERMANY TOURS

ITALY TOURS

BECOME A TOUR HOST

BROWSE ALL TOURS >>

TRAVEL INFO

Helpful links, 11-day tour of england & scotland.

September 9, 2024 to September 19, 2024

Join us for a trip of a lifetime in England and Scotland! Visit the Tower of London, travel to the infamous Stonehenge, tour Salisbury Cathedral in Oxford, take a walking tour down the medieval streets of Edinburgh, enjoy a special Loch Lomond Cruise, and so much more!

This trip is comparable to a sightseeing bus tour. Most of the travel will be from the comforts of our air-conditioned motor coaches. There may be limited walking, sometimes even across uneven surfaces. Nearly all sites will be wheelchair accessible.

This trip consists of light walking, potentially 1-3 miles per day at most. Most of your time will be spent on the bus, at museums or other sites with frequent stops, or places with similar accommodations. Occasionally there will be uneven paths, however most sites will be wheelchair accessible.

This trip is our most popular and standardized for our most common programs. On average you’ll be walking 3-5 miles per day, with a handful of sites having uneven pathways. Some sites may be wheelchair accessible, however some will not. Some sites may be inaccessible due to stairs or rugged terrain. There will be frequent stops throughout the day to rest and catch your breath.

This trip is a bit more energetic, featuring the occasional hike or even potentially a dig site. You’ll be walking anywhere between 4-7 miles per day, many sites will have uneven or unpaved walkways. Several sites will be wheelchair accessible, and have wheelchair specific areas, however many sites do contain stairs or other similar obstacles. Travelers are welcome to sit on the bus or meet with the group at the end of certain sites if they do not wish to participate.

This is our most energetic program! We’ve specifically aimed these programs at students and young adults, as they may consist of 6-10 miles of walking per day, along with hikes and other adventurous obstacles. This tour is more strenuous than most tour programs. While some sites may offer accommodations for wheelchairs or walkers, travelers may want to opt out from certain sites due to uneven terrain and unpaved pathways. Some programs also include early dusk or dawn hikes or walks, which could be difficult for some with impaired vision in darker settings.

Note: the map indicates the general route of the tour, and may not reflect the exact route that will be taken on the trip.

Tour members meet for our flight to London. After dinner is served, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the on-board entertainment to prepare for this exciting adventure of a lifetime.

Today, we arrive at London Airport where we’re met by our English-speaking guide and driver before we transfer to central London. Take a ride on Europe’s tallest observation wheel for breath-taking 360-degree views of London. See Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, and a patchwork panorama of London stretching up to 40 kilometres (or as far as Windsor Castle) on a clear day. Afterwards, we enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel in London.

This morning we visit Westminster Abbey! The Gothic masterpiece of Westminster Abbey has been at the heart of British history since the formation of the Abbey by Edward the Confessor in 1065. A visit of Westminster Abbey takes in such highlights as the Coronation Chair, the medieval Lady Chapel, museum containing a collection of royal effigies, and the Abbey Gardens which whisk you away from the hubbub of the city. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a quick Thames River Cruise from Westminster Pier to Tower Pier. After we disembark from our river cruise, we’ll visit the Tower of London which resides on the banks of the River Thames. The Tower is cloaked in nearly 1000 years of history and intrigue. It’s been used at various times as a palace, barracks, military stronghold, zoo and even a prison! The Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the only intact medieval buildings on the list. We overnight again in London with dinner at our hotel.

This morning, we make a photo stop at Buckingham Palace and see the changing of the guard (conditions permitting) before we begin our travels for the day. Our first stop of the day is St. Paul’s Cathedral, the most recognizable feature of the London skyline. The cathedral was completed by one of Britain’s most accomplished architects Sir Christopher Wren in 1711. Destroyed and rebuilt after the Great Fire of London and an unlikely survivor of the Blitz, the Cathedral has earned a place among London’s most popular sights. Afterwards, we travel to the infamous Stonehenge! The Neolithic stone circle of Stonehenge in the Wiltshire countryside is one of the most famous wonders of the world. Dating back to approximately 3000 BC, the circle of huge upright and horizontal rectangular stones continues to fascinate academics, spiritualists and visitors. How and why did hundreds of people transport five ton stones from all over the South of England and Wales to create a monument that has no obvious function? A multitude of theories regarding the origins and purpose of Stonehenge abound - some serious and some a little hard to believe but all have their supporters. Stonehenge could have been an elite burial mound, druid temple or ancient observatory and may have been put there by ordinary people, aliens or by Merlin the mythical wizard. We travel on our to our hotel in Salisbury for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we depart Salisbury to begin our journey to Oxford. Our first stop today is Salisbury Cathedral! Medieval Salisbury Cathedral may sit serenely within eight acres of manicured lawns in the Wiltshire countryside, but it also has a hugely important place in the history of Britain’s architecture, religion, and politics. This Gothic cathedral boasts Britain’s tallest spire, (123 metres / 404 ft), and largest close, quire and cloisters plus the world’s oldest working mechanical clock. Afterwards, we head to The Roman Baths of the historical city of Bath. This is home to some of the best preserved Roman ruins in the world and it is even possible to wander around this vast leisure complex just as the Romans did over 2000 years ago. Built in AD70 over hot springs the Great Bath still receives over one million liters of hot water daily from the 12,000-year-old Kings Spring below. An interactive museum, costumed characters and award-winning audio guides narrated by witty travel writer Bill Bryson are also available to bring the history of the baths to life. Afterwards, we conclude our day at our hotel in Oxford for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we make a quick stop to visit Christ Church Cathedral before venturing onward to Stratford-upon-Avon. Once we’ve concluded our time here, we carry on to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage for a quick photo. This is the beautiful 500 year old cottage where Shakespeare courted his bride-to-be. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a twelve-roomed farmhouse where Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare, lived as a child in the village of Shottery, Warwickshire, England, about 1 mile west of Stratford-upon-Avon. With Shakespeare on the mind, we continue on to visit his birthplace. In the charming town of Stratford-upon-Avon is a distinctive 16th century, half-timbered house where the great Bard William Shakespeare was born, grew up and lived with Anne Hathaway and his children for the first five years of their married life. Today the birthplace of William Shakespeare is a literary shrine to millions of pilgrims per year and gives visitors a glimpse into the life of Shakespeare through the artefacts and memorabilia of a number of exhibitions, one of which includes a copy of the only known portrait of the playwright. The house can be toured with an audio guide and there is also a shop, cafe and gardens. Afterward, we conclude our day of travel in Manchester for our next dinner and overnight.

This morning, depart Nottingham to journey to Edinburgh. Since its establishment as a city by the Romans in 71 AD York has played a pivotal role in the history of England and today showcases well-preserved remains that bring this history to life. Over the centuries York was a roman garrison town, Viking stronghold and prosperous medieval city and aspects of all this can still be seen today. Our York walking tour will walk along medieval city walls, visit the ruined 11th century St. Mary’s Abbey and marvel at the exterior of the imposing gothic cathedral. An essential York experience is a walk through the city centre’s maze of half-timbered houses that also almost touch across the narrow, fascinatingly-named lanes like The Shambles and Whipma-Whop-ma-Gate. We will hear stories of the city and the people of York who experienced plagues, sackings, genocides, an unsuccessful civil war, and the coming-and-goings of Roman, Viking, Norman and Scottish armies. We conclude our day with dinner and overnight in Edinburgh.

This morning, we’ll enjoy a combined panoramic and walking tour of Edinburgh, the inspiring capital of Scotland. From the historical closes of the Old Town to the larges avenues of New Town, we’ll explore an outstanding city of contrasts and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The medieval streets meander through the whole city and tell their own story of traditions and myths more than 1000 years old. During our tour, we’ll get to know different parts of the city such as the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh’s Castle rock has been a stronghold for over 3000 years. In its dominating position overlooking the capital city, the grandeur and historical significance of Edinburgh Castle has made it a globally famous icon of Scotland and part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Sited on top of an extinct volcano, gaining stunning views across the City of Edinburgh, the castle has witnessed many of the defining events of Scottish history and has dominated its surroundings with majesty for centuries. After we conclude our time here, we’ll have the rest of the day at our leisure for wandering and shopping. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Edinburgh.

We begin our day with a brief drive to Loch Lomond region where we’ll spend the majority of our day. First, we visit Inveraray Castle & Gardens. Inveraray Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clam Campbell and the iconic, must-see visitor attraction on the West Coast of Scotland. Most notably, Inveraray Castle featured in the television drama Downton Abbey. Afterwards, we relax and enjoy a special Loch Lomond Cruise. No visit to Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park would be complete without a trip out on a loch. Peacefully cruising across the waters provides us with unique views of the surrounding mountains, close-ups of numerous islands and perhaps the chance to spot local wildlife too. This cruise will give us the opportunity to explore Loch Lomond’s fjord-like northern end, its islands, wildlife, history, and of course magnificent views of Rob Roy Country. During our cruise we’ll sail pass the lands of the Clan Colquhoun, MacGregor, Buchanan, Montrose, Graham and the ruined strongholds of the MacFarlanes. After returning to the dock, we travel back to our hotel in Edinburgh for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast this morning, we venture to Stirling Castle. One of Scotland’s grandest castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture, Stirling Castle commands the countryside for many miles around. It towers over some of the most important battlefields of Scotland’s past including Stirling Bridge, the site of William Wallace’s victory over the English in 1297, and Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated the same foe in the summer of 1314. Situated on a volcanic outcrop guarding the lowest crossing point of the River Forth, Stirling Castle is a great symbol of Scottish Independence and a source of enduring national pride. The castle’s long, turbulent history is associated with great figures from Scotland’s past, such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. After we conclude our time here, we continue onward to St. Andrews for a walking tour. Known worldwide as The Home of Golf, the town also boasts Scotland’s oldest university. One of the top universities in Britain, St Andrews is often compared to Oxford and Cambridge for its defining presence and the collegiate feel it gives to the town. St Andrews has also two great beaches, one being the magnificent West Sands, where the famous opening sequence of Chariots of Fire was shot. This evening, we return to Edinburgh to enjoy a special farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Our final overnight is at our hotel in Edinburgh.

This morning, transfer to Edinburgh Airport for your journey back home. During our flight home, we’ll have plenty of time to reflect on this new wealth of knowledge from England & Scotland!

** This denotes this part of the itinerary is part of an optional extension. Please contact our office for additional information and pricing.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Reach out to us today!

Wholesale Tour Packages Since 1987 - Call Us Toll Free: 800.322.0788

Scotland / Knox Christian Heritage 11 Day Package

Click on the tabs for more information, price per person double occupancy.

Price Includes: All motor coach and land transportation, sightseeing, admissions, services of tour director and driver, lodging, meals as specified in tour itinerary, taxes, gratuities to bellhops and waiters at included meals.

Not Included: Cost of obtaining passports or visas, laundry, meals, beverages or sightseeing not included in the itinerary, travel insurance, gratuity to guide, driver, communication charges, & excess baggage fees. Port charges and gratuities to crew are not included on cruises.

Deposit Required: $300 per person will reserve your place. A $100 service fee will be charged for cancellation at any time in addition to our normal payment and cancellation policy.

Day 1: EUROPE BOUND

Overnight flight from the United States to Glasgow.

Day 2: GLASGOW

After meeting with our guide, we'll be given an orientation tour by motor coach of some of the city's important landmarks. These include the University, which overlooks the sloping terraces of one of Glasgow's many parks. We'll drive by Victoria Park and the Botanical Gardens and other famous buildings. It's then on to our hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Glasgow. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 3: GLASGOW

Our day begins with a visit to St. Mungo's Cathedral. This famous, gothic structure is the only church in Scotland to survive the challenging Reformation in 1560. Nearby is the oldest house in the city, which was built in 1471. We'll also visit the Necropolis to see the statue of John Knox, which stands as memorial to all those who have preached the word of God during times of persecution. A trip to the Govan Old Parish Church will be our last visit before lunch. We then drive to view the impressive Burrell Collection, which is housed at Pollock Country Park. This world famous assortment of furniture, ceramics, artwork and stained glass was a gift by Sir William and Lady Burrell to the city of Glasgow. If time permits, the afternoon will be at leisure. Overnight in Glasgow. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 4: GLASGOW / LOCH LOMOND / OBAN

We head north this morning along the majestic shores of Loch Lomond to Inveraray where we'll visit the famous castle. For centuries, the impressive fortress was the seat of Clan Campbell. The Castle features many remains of days gone by as well as grand portraits. Our trip continues past extraordinary scenery to the port town of Oban, also known as the "gateway to the islands". We'll visit the incomplete replica of Rome's Colosseum and other points of interest before settling into our hotel. Overnight in Oban. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 5: OBAN / MULL

Following breakfast we board our ferry to the Island of Mull and the exhibit of Saint Columba. This informative exhibition will provide an insightful glance into this dedicated man of God. Mull is one of the more picturesque of the Scottish isles. It's beautiful landscape features small forests, beaches and rivers. We head north along the coastline to the quaint village of Tobermory with it's colorful houses and then on to Derrvaig and the Old Byre Heritage Center. The center features exhibitions on the culture and wildlife on the island. Overnight in Mull. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 6: MULL / IONA / MULL

Our stay on the Scottish Isles brings us to the Island of Iona via Fionnphort. Saint Columba fled to this island in 536 AD after being outcast from Ireland due to religious persecution. Columba and his disciples built a monastery which was conducive in spreading Christianity throughout the northern part of Britain and parts of Europe. We'll visit the famous Abbey and have some time to discover the islands hidden treasures before returning to Mull. Overnight in Mull. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 7: MULL / PERTH / EDINBURGH

Back to Oban and a scenic drive through the beautiful Highlands to the city of Perth. This noble city is situated on the River Tay and boasts the well known Black Watch Museum. The museum features over two centuries of British military history. We'll visit Balhousie Castle and the Cathedral before heading towards Edinburgh this afternoon. Overnight in Edinburgh. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 8: EDINBURGH

The stately capital city and one time home of John Knox, Edinburgh awaits us. We begin with a tour of some of the city's focal points, the distinguished University, Greyfriars and the Mound. We'll view the Martyrs Monument, built in memory of those who's faith would not waiver. A drive along the Royal Mile leads us to St. Giles Cathedral where John Knox preached and his home. Our tour day ends with a visit to the imposing Edinburgh Castle to cast our eyes on the spectacular Scottish Crown jewels as well as marvel at the sprawling city below. If time permits, the day will also include a visit to the Holyrood Palace. Overnight in Edinburgh. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 9: SAINT ANDREWS / EDINBURGH

We're off to Saint Andrews, home of Scotland's patron saint, Holy Trinity Church and the birthplace of golf. We'll stroll the grounds of Saint Mary's College and visit the Cathedral ruins which date back to 1160. George Wishart, the Scottish Protestant reformer, was executed in Saint Andrews for heresy in 1546. Following his martyrdom, John Knox preached in the castle and church. After some free time to enjoy the shops or visit the old golf course, we head back to Edinburgh. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 10: HADDINGTON / GIFFORD / MELROSE / JEDBURGH / EDINBURGH

A day of pleasant adventure is our itinerary for the day. Our first stop is Haddington, the birthplace of John Knox and the location of the lovely gardens of Haddington House. Next we'll visit the picturesque village of Gifford and the Yester Parish Church. Onward to the ruins of Melrose Abbey, once the gem of Scotland and then to the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey. Our day ends in Edinburgh. Overnight in Edinburgh. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 11: EDINBURGH / USA

This morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight home.

Attention Group Leader:

A pre-tour to Germany or Switzerland to include Reformation history fits perfectly on to this schedule, as does the Christian heritage of England. Customize this tour for your group with a variety of tour lengths, beginning at 7 days and up to 21 days. Call the professional tour planners today.

Find Us On Facebook

Follow Us On Instagram

Join Our Mailing List

Educational Opportunities Tours

Reformation in scotland journey | 2024.

Join us for Reformation in Scotland Journey for 10 days starting at $4,448* from New York on two departure dates below. You will see Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles, Princess Street, John Knox House, Holyrood, Dunfermline Abbey, St. Andrews Church, Castle, Holy Rude in Stirling, Cruise on Loch Lomond, Isle of Iona, and more!

Choose a departure date September 18, 2024 September 25, 2024  

What’s Included

• All Inclusive Pricing
• Breakfast and Dinner Daily
• Deluxe A/C Motor Coaches
• Entrance and Program Fees
• First Class Hotels
• Fuel Surcharges and Gov't Taxes
• Guided Tours
• Hotel Gratuities
• International Airfare from NY
• Administrative fees

^ Additional Baggage & Optional fees may apply.

• Download Brochure

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 day 1 – depart the usa.

Depart the USA on your international overnight flight.

Day 2 Day 2 - Welcome to Scotland

Day 3 day 3 – edinburgh castle, st. giles, princess street, day 4 day 4 – john knox house, holyrood, & mtw meet and greet.

Visit the historic John Knox House, where the Reformer resided while in Scotland. Descend the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where John Knox confronted Mary, Queen of the Scots. Catch up with MTW’s representatives in Scotland to learn about church planting efforts and the health of the local church. Dinner and overnight in the Edinburgh area.

Day 5 Day 5 – Dunfermline Abbey, St. Andrews Church & Castle

Cross the Firth of Forth to Fife. Stop at Dunfermline Abbey, where St. Margaret and Robert the Bruce are buried. Continue past picturesque fishing villages to St. Andrew’s, the ancient ecclesiastical capital of Scotland. Visit the ruins of St. Andrew’s Cathedral and the nearby castle with its notorious “Bottle Dungeon”. Here, John Knox and other reformers were held prisoner. Take a look at the “Old Course” at St. Andrew’s, renowned as the home of golf! Continue to Perth for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 Day 6 – Church at Perth

Day 7 day 7 – holy rude in stirling, cruise on loch lomond, day 8 day 8 – isle of iona, day 9 day 9 – inveraray castle, glasgow cathedral.

Take a delightful ride to Inveraray Castle, home of the 12th Duke of Argyll and seat of the Clan Campbell. Continue on to Glasgow, the commercial capital of Scotland which is filled with Victorian architecture. You’ll visit Glasgow Cathedral, dedicated to St. Mungo. This cathedral is the only one to have escaped the violence of the Reformation era, and contains a memorial to later martyrs of the Reformation. Continue to your Glasgow hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 Day 10 – Return to the USA

Say farewell to this rich land of kilts & castles, religion and reformation. Return to the US with an enriched faith and memories to last a lifetime!

Departure Dates

• Wednesday, September 18, 2024 From $4448 Register Now! --> From $4448* Register Now!
• Wednesday, September 25, 2024 From $4448 Register Now! --> From $4448* Register Now!

Know Your Tour Information?

You will find the information you need to complete this form on the cover of your brochure near the suitcase icon.

Fields marked * are required

• * Tour example: HL15
• * Date example: MM/DD/YY
• * Code Choose one… A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• ID# example: 00000