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Planning takes two years for the annual pilgrimage to London by high school seniors and college freshmen from Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. The trek gives them the opportunity to reflect on their journeys so far and where they are going in life, and includes holy places that organizers hope will help them experience God or see God more clearly in their lives. One of the most powerful, they say, is the Canterbury Cathedral.

"Today we went off alone to meditate for several hours. I chose to go into Canterbury Cathedral's crypt, a vaulted, dimly lit chamber beneath the floor. It was noisy at first, but got quieter as people left. As I got up to leave, it was almost silent. As I was walking out, I walked past a (votive) candle-holder, and I paused. Suddenly inspired, I got out several small candles, lit them, and placed them in the shape of a cross in the holder. It was so neat, because the cross really stood out in the darkness. I said St. Benedict's prayer, and as I walked out I was filled with an incredible sense of peace."
- Daly Brower

"Today was our second day in Canterbury and after breakfast we headed out with our delightful guide Alison. She brought our group first to St. Martins, this small church, miniscule compared to Canterbury (Cathedral), and explained to us how it truly was the first church to bring Christianity to England. I enjoyed this church the most of any sight seen thus far because of its humble and homely atmosphere. We had a group service and then after browsing around we actually got to relax and sit in silence in the graveyard. After my meditation I realized that no matter what size everything has meaning and St. Martin's church truly brought that reflection to light."
- Austin Johns

"Canterbury has had worship services every day for almost 1500 years...1500! That's a lot of prayers, a lot of worship, and that has made this place extremely holy. I had a quiet time in the crypt of Canterbury today. I felt that I was really able to soak up all of the prayers during that time. I could really feel God's presence. That was a very special time for me that I will always cherish."
- Charlie Laughlin

"At Canterbury Cathedral there is a section of steps called the pilgrim steps. They are called this because when pilgrims came to the Cathedral (to visit Thomas a Becket's shrine) from all over, they would go up the steps on their knees in prayer. There are about 20 to 25 steps. Some of the group desired to do that. I have bad knees, but it felt important that I should carry on the tradition. So I got down on my knees, started to climb and pray. The stones were really hard. It killed my knees, but I did not get up. When it was over I was so glad I could do it, and be a part of all the pilgrims that have come before me."
- Marie Lawler

"We walk into this monstrous church one sunny afternoon about dinner-time. We find our pews and get situated and prepare for what we thought would be just another ole church service. Well, the organ started and about 16 little boys and 10 men dressed in purpose robes walked in and took their spots in the "quiet" pews. The prelude ended and a new tune started and all of the boys, old and young, carried the first chord all the way from the ceiling, (maybe) 50 meters high, to my arm where chill bumps were in full effect. The fact that these boys could sing so well amazed me. In America we don't have places that, what seems like, just breeds mall singers. I was even more amazed when a little boy with dark hair shot out a note higher than anything I could do. That service was called Evensong and that was my most favored moment of the trip."
- Celeste Mize

"Today, July 2nd of our pilgrimage to England, we went to St. Augustine's Cathedral (Abbey). Knowing this, I thought we would be touring some giant church that was still being used. To my surprise, the entire place had been in ruins for years. With St. Augustine's Church in (Augusta) Georgia being the first one I ever attended, and the place my grandfather is a deacon, made me quite excited and emotional. I found this place to be the starting point of my ongoing spiritual journey and am thankful for that big ol' site of ruins."
-Cary Quillian

"I had an amazing experience transitioning from the noise and vivacity of London (and the outlet mall we stopped at!) to the quiet, pious atmosphere of Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral. For the first time, I actually felt like a pilgrim rather than purely a tourist, because of the silence and history and majesty of this place. Canterbury resembles a castle and truly conveys the gravity and reverence of the area and its long history. I particularly appreciated a period of silence and solitude that we undertook for an hour as reflection. The Celtic tradition describes "thin" places, where the veil between earth and heaven is less discernible, and I believe wholeheartedly that Canterbury Cathedral is such a place."
- Ross Taggart

"On the fifth day of our trip, after a bumpy bus ride to Kent, we came and saw Canterbury Cathedral. At first you are in shock at the site and the location of this magnificent site, but throughout our visit I realized that this Cathedral and its groups are different from any other Cathedral that I have been to. It has a feeling of peace, love, and worship that is just in the air of this place. Sitting in the courtyard of the Cathedral instantly made me feel at peace. This cathedral and its grounds are gated by massive stone walls and within the walls is God's world; his community. But once on the other site, you are instantly back to the rush of your everyday human life. I thank God for this spiritual place."
- Whitney Zammit

"I experienced God in many places this trip, but never more poignantly than in my fellow pilgrims. I learned how they deal with their faith and the very individual ways in which they show the light of Christ. I gained tremendous respect for them and they definitely helped bring out the light of Christ in me, because they showed me how to respect someone without necessarily agreeing with them one hundred percent of the time."
- Daly Brower

"God was with us everywhere on this trip. He showed up in the people that we met, the magnificent cathedrals we visited, and most of all in the nature all around us. Today was our last day of our trip and to finish it off we visited this small town of Avebury. This old-fashioned town had stones a lot like the Stonehenge. Since I had researched Stonehenge I honestly didn't care to figure out about Avebury's stones. Moreover, I wanted to just be outside in the tall grassfields with the sheep that grazed. These sheep were beautiful and peaceful and my experience with one truly showed God to me in a way I could have never imagined. The sheep hated me, to put it simply; I baahed and I tried to join in their group but they all just ran to the hills.
After chasing the hundreds around for a good 30 minutes I finally just sat down in front of this big oak tree. This one sheep that I sat near, though, had the courage to stay where she lay, unlike the bulk of the group. I looked at this large ugly creature and she stared blankly back at me. With all the flies around her and the dung stuck on her bottom, I saw beauty nonetheless. It is said that every creature is full of God but until I saw "Sheila" I never fully comprehended that. Her job may just be to poop, eat, sleep and have babies but God created her for just that. We all have a purpose in this world and "Sheila" truly opened my eyes more to that."
- Austin Johns

"One day I went into Canterbury Cathedral for some individual quiet time. I went into the crypt of the Cathedral. Worship has taken place at least once a day for the past 1500 years. While down there I really felt that I was able to feel God's presence and I really soak up the overwhelmingly powerful atmosphere of the Cathedral. It got very quiet after a while and I could feel the power of the atmosphere of this amazing place. This is only one of the many instances that happened to me on this trip that I feel truly changed my life."
- Charlie Laughlin

"When we were at Canterbury we went to the Evensong. I myself thought it was just going to be another service, except they were going to have accents with little kids signing. I wasn't expecting much, but when the boys opened their mouths and started to sing it was heavenly. All the groups' mouths dropped, because we were all in awe of what we were hearing. Some of the boys voices went higher than mine! God gave these boys gifts and they are sharing it with the world almost every night, and they were just kids! I thought if angels could sing that is what they would sound like. God was in every one of their faces because you could tell they practiced and loved what they did."
- Marie Lawler:

"I came on this trip thinking, "Wow, England! That is so exciting!" But what I didn't really get was how close I would feel to God. But all I did was sit in a field of grass with all my favorite girls. WE were all laying on each other and sharing iPods, all while basking in the sun. The physical connection we all have towards each other is obvious, but the inner spiritual connection seeped out between us. And I knew God was there."
- Celeste Mize

"Well, I thought that his trip was going to be so much different than it turned out to be. I actually felt God there with me for an instant. While standing on a giant hill at Avebury when the "girls" and I started singing and the wind started to pick up. I believe I felt God there with me. He brought us together in a way that I know will be extremely hard to attempt again. They will always and forevermore be my "England Gals" - Thanks to the big man up top. uF04A"
- Cary Quillian

"I experienced God throughout this pilgrimage in the long history of the cathedrals, and cities we visited. At Canterbury, the fact that there has been worship at that site for over 1400 years every night and that we were part of it through Evensong truly had a profound impact on me. The majesty and beauty of the Cathedral, a place of worship, made a deep impression and changed my perception of religion. I hope now not only to see God in nature and in the pages of history, but to actually seek him in all things. (A singly faith connects all of us to these ancient peoples!)"
- Ross Taggart

"One of the students on this trip is my good friend Austin Johns. This girl is possibly the sweetest girl on the face of the earth and through her sparkling and loving personality I have seen God. Austin loves animals. No matter how ugly or small they are she loves them all. And on our last day we went to Avebury to walk around the stones in large fields. With the rocks were hundresds of sheep and of course sheep poop, so there was sheep poop everywhere! But, how I saw and witnessed God on that day was how Austin loved every single one of the sheep! She even talked to them. She sang to them, and even though the sheep were afraid of this new human stranger, she was gentle and loving and actually made a connection with these ordinary sheep! She sat around her sheep and just smiled and loved them like God loves every one of us. WE are his sheep and even when we walk away from God, he's always there for us, still loving us. That was my friend Austin."
- Whitney Zammit