UK Church History Sites

Blake's fever kept us up a little bit through the night on Wednesday night so I passed on the second morning jog through Bath. Thank goodness for infant Motrin and essential oils to help ease his discomfort and help us all get a little bit of sleep. You can tell from the pictures that he was a little under the weather, but he really has been a trouper and hasn't complained at all. 

We left Bath after breakfast on Thursday morning. Our end point for the day was Preston, but we made a few detours to see some church history sites. 

The first was Gadfield Elm Chapel (I wrote on Facebook/Instagram it was Gladfield Chapel... I was wrong.) Gadfield Elm Chapel is the first LDS chapel in the world. Yes, I said the world! This seems strange since the Chuch was restored in America, but Joseph Smith was most focused on using their resources to build temples so that the saints could receive the saving ordinances of the gospel. The saints in America primarily met outside or wherever they could. 

When Williford Woodruff came on a mission to England in the 1840's he taught a lot of people in the Herefordshire area that belonged to the United Brothern (Methodist) church. Over just nine months 1,800 people (many of whom belonged to the United Brothern) were baptized. The original United Brothern Chuch was turned into a Latter-Day Saint meeting house, thus making it the first in the world. 

My ancestor, William Wood, was 17 at this time and was from this area. He was baptized shortly after Williford Woodruff left the area by one of Williford Woodruff's converts. It is likely he attended church at this chapel before he left to immigrate to America. 

The chapel was sold to a farmer and the proceeds went to assist in some of the saints immigration in the 1800's. It was used as a barn for many years until in 1994 some private members of the church purchased it, restored it to its original frame, and then donated it to the church. 

The chapel and the surrounding grounds were in beautiful condition. We sat as a family in the chapel and sang Called to Serve, in memory of all the missionary work that happened there. It was special to be at the church that one of my ancestors came to learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

We then traveled about 20 min to Benbow Farms. John Benbow heard Williford Woodruff preach (1840) in Manchester and he was baptized and then introduced Williford to Thomas Kington, the head of the United Brothern. Thomas was converted to the gospel and then was influential in bringing his followers and others in the community to the gospel. Many were baptized at a pond on Benbow's property. We were able to visit this pond. 

(Blake was having too much fun walking on the grass and was not happy to be picked up for a picture...)

We stopped for lunch in Ledbury and quickly snapped a picture in front of a building that Brigham Young preached at. (It's the big Blake and White building.)

We then traveled the rest of the way to Preston. Preston definitely was not as much of a tourist attraction as Bath, but it was still incredibly English and beautiful. After checking into our hotel we went on a short walk to a park that was next to the River Ribble. 

The first LDS baptisms in England occurred in the River Ribble, but they were down the river closer to Liverpool. It was still neat to see the river. There were also a few plaques in a beautiful garden area honoring the LDS missionary work that occurred in the area. An Oak Tree has even been planted in remembrance of the missionary work.

What an incredible day full of rich family/church history. It's so neat to be walking the streets that my own ancestors walked. I am so grateful for them and the good choices and huge sacrifices they made so that I could have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life today.