Sacred Healing Tour
Dates: Monday, November 4, 10am – 12:30pm
Friday, November 8, 10am – 12:30pm
Meeting Point: Old Course Hotel Library
Return Point: Old Course Hotel
Duration: 2.5 hours
Embark on a transformative journey through the historic and sacred sites of St. Andrews with the “Sacred Healing Tour” guided by renowned historian Professor Martin Palmer. This immersive tour will take you on an enlightening exploration of the spiritual and healing heritage of this ancient town, providing historical insights on the relic of St. Andrew, the healing shrine of St. Andrews, the sacred geography of the town, the rise of the University, the impact of the Reformation and the role of St. Andrews in the Scottish Enlightenment.
Tour Highlights:
Introduction and Context Setting
- Gather at the Old Course Hotel Library for an engaging introduction by Martin Palmer. This session will set the stage by delving into the history of the Culdees, a Celtic Church known for its defiance of the Catholic Church and its focus on sacred places, healing, and nature. Discover the origins of this spiritual tradition dating back to the 4th century AD.
The Relic of St. Andrew
- Learn about the arrival of the relic of St. Andrew, the disciple of Christ, in the 8th century. Explore the legend of St. Andrew as a healer and understand why his relics were brought to this sacred place. Trace the exact route taken by the monks, marked by churches dedicated to St. Andrew, standing for over 1200 years.
Healing Shrine and Sacred Geography
- Visit the healing shrine of St. Andrews and uncover the sacred geography of the town. Discuss the significance of the churches located at the east end of the town, the dedication of the parish church to the Holy Trinity, and the medieval monastic hospitals. Understand the saints these hospitals were dedicated to and their importance in healing practices.
The Rise of the University
- Explore the foundation and growth of the University of St. Andrews. Learn about the origins of its two colleges and their historical significance.
The Reformation: Assault on the Sacred and Healing
- Delve into the impact of the Reformation on sacred and healing practices. Discover how the Reformation dismissed old skills and beliefs about humanity’s place in nature, leading to a modern obsession with facts, data, and human supremacy. Contrast this with the medieval Churches’ belief in humanity’s integration with nature.
Scottish Enlightenment and Modern Quest for the Sacred
- We will end with a sense of the positive, and with the beginnings of the Scottish Enlightenment in which the city St. Andrews played such an important part, and on to the modern quest for the sacred in nature and a revival of the sense of pilgrimage and the healing that comes from nature.
Join us for a profound exploration of St. Andrews, where history, spirituality, and healing converge.
To book: If you are already registered for the Summit, sign back in to your GWS registration with your email and confirmation number to add the tour. If you are not registered yet, feel free to book the tour via the form at time of registration.
About Professor Martin Palmer:
Professor Martin Palmer is a theologian, world faiths’ specialist, broadcaster, author, translator of Classic Chinese, environmentalist co-founder with HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh of the world’s largest Civil Society movement on the environment – that of the faiths – and is President the world’s largest faiths and investment network. He is also Chair of the WWF Beliefs and Values Program and Senior Advisor to the World Federation of Daoists and the China Daoist Association. He is Senior Advisor to the Green Climate Fund on Faiths and Arts and Advisor to Eco-Sikh as well as Eco-Islam. He is Visiting Professor in Religion, History and Nature at the University of Winchester and a regular broadcaster for the BBC – especially In Our Time, Beyond Belief and as a columnist for BBC Scotland. Martin studied Theology, Religious Studies and Classical Chinese at Cambridge (1973-6) after a year as a volunteer in a Chinese Children’s Home in Hong Kong from 1972.