Anyone who visits Covenant College will immediately notice the Scottish influence all over campus. From the sound of bagpipers practicing on the grounds to the thistle imprinted on its official shield; from the name of the soccer field (Scotland Yard) to its mascot (the Scot); from Fergus, the Highland cow that regularly visits campus to the name of its bookstore (Tuck Shoppe); from their own registered plaid to the name of the college paper, The Bagpipe. Yes, Covenant College embraces its Scottish and Presbyterian heritage.
So it’s no wonder that to inaugurate the Alumni & Friends Travel program, travelers visited Scotland.
The trip was named “Scots in Scotland,” and its goal was to highlight our Reformed heritage by visiting key places from the Scottish Reformation. The trip was promoted to all of Covenant’s alumni, parents of past and present students, and other friends of the college. The intention was to increase affinity for the college and expose travelers to the rich teaching current students experience in their classes.
In early June, 36 alumni and friends of the college landed in Edinburgh, Scotland, for a Reformation History tour. The group included the Covenant president Brad Voyles, his wife Kelli, Ralph Kelley, director of constituent relations, and Christina Fox, assistant director of alumni relations. Covenant’s own Clift Ward, associate professor of church history and theology, lectured at various Reformation sites around Scotland.
In preparation for the trip, the group received a suggested reading list about important events in the Scottish Reformation. They also received a program containing a daily devotional based on readings from the Scots Confession, allowing participants time to meditate upon the gospel truths their spiritual forefathers confessed and for which many died.
The group visited key locations including Perth, where John Knox preached a sermon that ignited Scotland’s Reformation, St Andrews, where Knox’s followers removed icons from the cathedral and Protestant leaders were martyred, and Edinburgh where John Knox lived and preached. The group learned about the Covenanters and saw the location where they were imprisoned and killed.
Ward helped the group understand the connection between what happened at those sites and our Protestant Presbyterian faith today. As the group sat in the churches where Knox preached and stood before grave markers of those who died for their faith, he encouraged the travelers to consider how the history of the Reformed faith impacts our lives today and the work and mission of the college.
Shannon Hathaway, parent of a current student, shared her impressions: “Feeling the cold stones where the Scottish martyrs lived, preached, and died made history and theology pulse with life. This trip gave me a profound appreciation that God will preserve and reform his church according to his Scriptures, and will bless institutions such as Covenant College that train his people to represent him in his world.”
In addition to Reformation history, the group toured other Scottish historical and cultural sites, including Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle.They enjoyed driving up into the Highlands and seeing the beauty of Glencoe and Loch Lomond. They also visited with leaders of Edinburgh Theological Seminary where they learned about the current state of the church in the United Kingdom.
On the Lord’s Day, they joined St. Columba’s Free Church in Edinburgh for worship. Gordon Sluis, a 1975 alumnus whose children also attended Covenant, described his experience on the tour: “Our Scots in Scotland trip was a wonderful way to connect with fellow Covenant-lovers in a beautiful setting where so much of our spiritual heritage was birthed. Professor Clift Ward and our Scottish guide were both adept at explaining the complex, often violent, interplay among Reformation and Catholic leaders, and political and ethnic rivals. It was a special joy to worship in a centuries old church with like-minded believers.”
There was plenty of time for the group to enjoy exploring the area on their own. Some hiked to Arthur’s Seat, others visited Holyrood Palace, and everyone explored the Royal Mile of Edinburgh. A few brave souls even tried the haggis!
“As the parent of a current student at Covenant, I am most grateful for the opportunity to connect with and learn from President Voyles, Dr. Ward, college staff, and the amazing trip participants,” Hathaway said. “We forged new friendships as we shared a collective wonder at the beauty of Scotland and the rich spiritual heritage of the stones where reformers lived, preached, and died.”
Learning about the history and culture of a place with those who love the Lord makes the travel experience all the more enjoyable.
President Voyles said, “Kelli and I had an incredible time both connecting and learning with alumni and friends on this inaugural trip and look forward to trips in the future. Beyond the rich history and incredible beauty of Scotland, it was a delight to see relationships formed over meals and excursions between alumni from the class of 1972 all the way to 2030.”
Covenant plans to offer more travel opportunities in the future in other countries and with different professors.
Christina Fox serves as Assistant Director of Constituent & Alumni Relations at Covenant College.