travel education
Christ Church is pleased to offer several pilgrimages in association with Connoisseurs Tours.
Sublime Ireland: Celtic Christianity and God’s “Thin Places”
April 16 to 25, 2026
with Christ Church Denver and The Rev. Terry McGugan
Northern Ireland Post Journey Extension
Following C.S. Lewis: Belfast to the Giants Causeway
April 25 to 28, 2026
“A thin place is where the boundary between heaven and earth is especially thin. It's a place where we can sense the divine more readily, where God and humanity meet in a mysterious way.”
Celtic Christians believe there are “Thin Places” in nature, where our eyes may pierce through the mists of time and see the Kingdom of God rushing towards us from the future - sacred places where the boundary between heaven and earth is thinner.
You are invited to join this journey deep into the soul of Ireland. It is a pilgrimage exploring Celtic Christianity's origins in places not open to the typical traveler. We will be hosted by the owners of private estates who, for generations, have been the guardians of God’s “Thin Places.”
We begin in Dublin City, replete with Georgian architecture, with a visit to a private home that has been featured in Vogue magazine. We’ll walk through Trinity College with its magnificent ancient Book of Kells and celebrate The Eucharist at Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, which houses a copy of the Magna Carta and Viking ruins and is considered our first “Thin Place.” Afterward, we will have coffee with the Cathedral members. We continue through Ireland with a private visit and lunch with the Marquis and Marchioness of Waterford at Curraghmore. In addition to their beautiful Estate, we will be privileged to see the family’s private Chapel, which lies deep within 110 feet of the megalithic “Mother Brown” standing stones - this “Thin Place” has been at the heart of worship for thousands of years.
We traverse breathtaking scenery, such as the Cliffs of Moher and the Great Atlantic Way, and take time to experience authentic Irish traditions! From traditional Irish music in ancient inns with peat fires to farm-to-table dining (think grass-fed beef, Irish cream, and butter…).
We’ll enjoy a visit to Kylemore Abbey, another “Thin Place” we are privileged to visit. Kylemore is steeped in history and tales of tragedy and romance; sail on the Shannon River from Clonmacnoise, an ancient monastery on the River Shannon in the Kingdom of Meath, as we journey to Wicklow to visit The Rock of Cashel, the seat of Kings and Medieval Bishops for over 900 years. It is a sacred place where St. Patrick first connected with the shamrock and the Holy Trinity.
For those who have more time to travel, we have an optional post journey to Northern Ireland! We are limited to 25 participants or less. We invite those interested in being the first to view the journey details to fill out this short form:
Here are some of the destinations of our previous trips
1. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Biblical Jordan,
2. Greece, traveling into the New Testament, following the growth of the Church.
3. England – tracing our Anglican roots.
