Through the Thin Places

Private

September 8, 2027 - September 22, 2027

Ireland, Scotland, and England

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Fifteen Days, Three Countries, One Thread

September 8–22, 2027 · Ireland, Scotland, and England · Hosted by The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Vail Valley · Led by Father Brooks Keith with special guest the Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson, Ph.D.

The ancient Celts spoke of “thin places” — where the veil between heaven and earth grows nearly transparent. For two weeks in September 2027, we will walk them together.

From a 3,000-year-old fort on the edge of the Atlantic to the mother church of the Anglican Communion, this is a journey through the very roots of our faith: the saints who carried the light through the dark ages, the stones they raised, and the stories that still shape how we worship today.

We are not tourists. We are pilgrims — traveling with purpose, worshipping in the places where Christianity took hold of these islands, and building toward a crescendo at Canterbury and London that we will earn, together, one thin place at a time.

Ireland: Where the Light Was Kept

We begin at the wild Atlantic edge, in the world of St. Enda, father of Irish monasticism, and at a cliff fort that has stood over the sea for three thousand years. From there we stand where St. Patrick lit the paschal fire at the Hill of Tara, descend into the passage tombs of Newgrange, and walk the monastic city of Glendalough.

Scotland: The Cradle of Celtic Faith

Across the sea to Oban, and then the day many will call the heart of the pilgrimage: Iona, where St. Columba landed in 563 and Christianity came to Scotland. Glencoe follows, then Edinburgh's Royal Mile, and a tide-timed crossing to Lindisfarne.

England: The Crescendo

South by rail to mighty Durham Cathedral, then London, where the story of our faith is written across a great city. A full day at Canterbury brings us to the seat of our tradition and the destination of pilgrims for nearly a thousand years. We come not to see it, but to worship in it.

Pilgrimage, Not Tourism

A true pilgrimage. Worship, teaching, and communion in the sacred places themselves, led by Father Brooks with Canon Robertson joining for the English portion.
Pilgrim pacing. We earn each place. No forced marches — room to breathe, and independent exploration time built in.
Prepared hearts. In the ECOT tradition, we study, gather, and build community before we ever leave home. Each pilgrim adopts one place or saint and becomes our expert on the road.
Comfort along the way. Hand-picked hotels, two meals daily, luggage handled for you, and comfortable first-class transportation throughout.
A small company. Limited to 30 pilgrims.

“We come not to see it, but to worship in it.”

Historic stone abbey overlooking the green countryside and rugged coastline of Ireland.

Panoramic view of central London, England, featuring St. Paul's Cathedral and the River Thames.

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Speakers

Father Brooks Keith

Father Brooks Keith serves as Rector of The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in the Vail Valley, and he leads Through the Thin Places as pilgrimage leader. Across fifteen days in Ireland, Scotland, and England, he guides worship, teaching, and communion in the very places where Christianity took hold of these islands, walking alongside pilgrims so that every stone and story points back to Christ.

The Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson, Ph.D.

The Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson, Ph.D., joins Through the Thin Places as special guest for the English portion of the journey. He travels with pilgrims through Lindisfarne, Durham, London, and Canterbury, the stretch where the pilgrimage builds toward its crescendo at the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Ireland: Where the Light Was Kept

September 8 — Wheels Up. We depart the US and fly through the night toward the west of Ireland.

September 9 — The Edge of the Ancient World. We land at Shannon and go straight to the wild Atlantic edge, the west of Ireland, where the ocean meets the oldest stones. Our first days take us into the world of St. Enda, father of Irish monasticism, and to a 3,000-year-old cliff fort standing over the sea. Our pilgrimage begins where it should: at the beginning.

September 10–12 — Dublin and the Valley of Two Lakes. Three nights in Dublin. We stand where St. Patrick lit the paschal fire in defiance of a pagan king at the Hill of Tara, descend into the passage tombs of Newgrange — older than the pyramids — and walk the monastic city of Glendalough, where St. Kevin sought God in the wilderness. We worship in one of Dublin's great cathedrals of our tradition.

Scotland: The Cradle of Celtic Faith

September 13 — Across the Sea. We fly to Scotland and settle into the harbor town of Oban: a travel day, a breath, and our first taste of the Highlands.

September 14 — Iona. The day many will call the heart of the pilgrimage. Ferry to the Isle of Mull, across its wild interior, and over the water to Iona, where St. Columba landed in 563 and Christianity came to Scotland. We walk where he walked. We worship where fourteen centuries of pilgrims have knelt.

September 15 — Through the Highlands. A panoramic journey through Glencoe, one of the most dramatic landscapes in Britain, as we make our way to Edinburgh.

September 16 — The Royal Mile. Edinburgh from the bottom up: St. Giles' Cathedral, the haunts of John Knox, and St. Margaret's Chapel, the oldest worshipping chapel in Scotland. Afternoon free to explore.

September 17 — Holy Island. A tide-timed pilgrimage to Lindisfarne, the Holy Island — cradle of English Christianity, home of St. Aidan and St. Cuthbert, and birthplace of the Lindisfarne Gospels. We cross when the sea allows. It's worth the wait.

England: The Crescendo

September 18 — Durham to London. South by rail with a stop at mighty Durham Cathedral, shrine of St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede, and one of the great buildings of Christendom. Evening arrival into London, our home for the rest of the journey.

September 19 — London, the Pilgrim's City. The story of our faith written across a great city — Wilberforce, Tyndale, Cranmer, and the places where the English church was forged. Evensong where the music finds us.

September 20 — Canterbury. A full day at the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the seat of our tradition and the destination of pilgrims for nearly a thousand years. We come not to see it, but to worship in it. (Details being finalized — this day will be one to remember.)

September 21 — The Summit. Our final full day builds to the culmination of the entire pilgrimage in the heart of Anglican London. (Details being finalized.)

September 22 — Home. We return to the US, changed, we hope, by the thin places.

Optional Extension · September 22–24

Stay on in London at your own pace: the West End, Westminster, the city on your own terms. Hotel, breakfast, and airport transfer included.

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