Those who feel called to take the trek are invited to join the pilgrims from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, in Islip, this Aug. 23 through September, while embarking upon the journey of a lifetime and joining the group, Following Celtic Footsteps: A Pilgrimage to Scotland and Northern England.

This incredible opportunity merging faith, history, travel, and community is led by Fr. Edwin and Laura Beckham. They will explore how the Celtic church brought Christianity back to the ruggedly beautiful, northern part of the British Isles in the 500s, grounding it in the English-speaking world for the next 1500 years. All are invited to come on this adventure to learn, worship, fellowship, and grow.

“We did one pilgrimage before, in 2018, and I vowed to make it a regular part of the rest of my life,” said Fr. Beckham of the previous trip to Scotland and England, where his ancestors are from. The Episcopal priest-in-charge had planned on studying history, before being called to serve as a church leader, so this trip is a melding of these overlapping areas of interest for Beckham.

If visiting this area of the world is something you or someone you know may be interested in, it’s not too late to register for this intimate pilgrimage, which will be the first one to depart from the Islip church since the pandemic.

“I think we have about five people registered. We’ve had lots more interest this year. We hope to get another 12 to 15 people, with definite interest. We’re hoping to get up to 20 to 25 people,” said Beckham.

The financial investment for this journey is $5,195 for 13 days. Beckham explained the differences and similarities between a vacation and a pilgrimage for those who may be unsure of the distinction. “I would say in both cases, expect to disconnect from work and have time to recharge. But, a pilgrimage has a faith-oriented component,” said Beckham, who was sure to note that there is no sectarian barrier and everyone is welcome to attend, while it is geared toward those who are looking to deepen their Christian faith.

“Since this will be a pilgrimage, the journey will pay considerable attention to special and holy centers to learn about Christianity, for its 1500 years, in this particular place.”

Highlights of this pilgrimage will include going to the Isle of Iona, which will be the first main stop. Iona is where, in the mid-500s, Irish monks set up a new home base. “It was abandoned for maybe centuries, and maybe 100 years ago or so, folks built a new facility there. There is a monastery community there, and a handful live there,” said Beckham. Other key locations will include Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and Durham, England.

Those interested are encouraged to make plans soon and invite friends and family to come along. All details and registration info can be found at tinyurl.com/pilgrim2023. For any questions contact Fr. Edwin at revbecks@stmarksislip.org or call 706-540-2027.

So, who is most likely to enjoy a pilgrimage such as this? “Those who want to build up their faith by walking it. Those who want to learn about the faith of our ancestors, on which we stand on their shoulders,” explained Beckham. “Those who are eager to see a stunning landscape and natural beauty as a way to appreciate God’s creation.”