Another Adventure

Jeannetta Richards home in Walkerfold

Built in 1612

Our new friend in Barnoldswick

Front door of the old Baptist Church

Soon to be the front door of her home.

She has not seen the last of us.

Upstairs in the church.

yes, I would say there is still a bit of work to be done!

Back of the church. Possibilities!

Wickworth Road in Nelson, England

No. 10 is where GBH lived in 1933

You've heard of No. 10 Downing Street in London, England

Well this is No. 10 Wickham Road in Preston, England

Today we are between groups. A group left yesterday and another one comes tomorrow. So we had a day off (with sunshine, no less). We mapped out a plan to visit several church historic sites driving first of all to a town called Nelson. When GBH (Gordon B. Hinckley) served in England he first served in Preston and was then sent to Nelson. We had the address of the home in which he lived, so we plugged it into our GPS and was surprised to find it still exists. In his journal he describes Nelson as a mill town where the people were so poor and downtrodden. As we drove into the city today, I think it looked much like it did in 1933 when he was there. Miles of row houses lined the hillsides. The flat where he lived was up a steep cobblestone street in a row house that looked like the hundreds of others in the town. When we arrived the current resident was just unloading her groceries and we stopped and talked with her. She said she had heard that once this home had some religious people that lived in it, but she didn't know what that meant. (She knew by the time we finished with her!) She was gracious enuf to allow us to take a pix. She told us she has 3 children but she is also a "child minder". (Do you think that means she teaches children to mind?!?) It was here in Nelson that GBH met Robert Pickles who was then a young man about his age. Sometimes they would tract together. Years later when GBH returned to England he again met Robert Pickles and they renewed their friendship. It looked as if today the town is full of East Indians. Many shops catered to their taste.

From there we went to Barnoldswick in search of an old Baptist Church where Elders Kimball and Hyde preached to 600-700 people. These people were so excited that the next day the factories closed down so that workers could hear what the elders had to say. We had a pix of the place but no address, so we just began showing people on the street the pix and asking if they knew about this. We were standing outside a little beauty shop and the woman inside was watching us. When we couldn't get the help we needed, Richard opened the door of the shop, with pix in hand and showed it to her. She began to squeel and said, "You are standing in the place. The church is around the back"! She then took us around the back, into the church and explained that some years ago she bought all the property. The church, the flat that is attached to it, and the grounds, including and old cemetary. When we told her of the Mormon history that took place there she became so excited she could hardly talk. She grew up next door to this church and vowed that someday she would buy it. By some stroke of luck it became available and she managed to get her hands on it. She plans to convert the church into a home. We talked much of religion and our history and promised to return. Tonight Richard has sent her a Book of Mormon with a letter and a copy of the history. We will return again and visit her. Really it was one of those little miracles!!!

While in Barnoldswick we took a lunch break ---- bought a sandwich in a little deli and sat on a bench in the town square while we people watched. I often wonder where these people live, if they have families, if they are happy, what they do for a living.......and wish with all my heart they had what I have.

From there to Walkerfold where we assume some of Richards relatives got their start. We know that the Walkers came from the Preston area and Walkerfold was, in all probability, part of their lives. Church history tells us it was the home of Jennetta Richards who was baptized by Elder Kimball in the River Ribble. After the baptism, Elder Kimball composed a letter to his fellow missionary Willard Richards, who was serving in another part of England. He wrote, "I baptized your wife today.!" Indeed, it came to pass and Jennetta Richards never had to change her name. (how easy would that be!) She was one of the first in England to join the church and the very first to be confirmed a member of the Church. We found her home on the main road, again from a pix we had of it!"

The countryside connecting these villages was beautiful -- rolling green hills dotted with grazing sheep, beautiful stone built farm houses, stabled horses, and an occasional person. So picuresque!

Somehow England has managed to maintain the integrity of the small villages. Each one seems to have a personality all its own. The small shops, the town squares, the quaintess adds to the charm and beauty of each little place.

And there are always little surprises....

Today's surprise: a small plaque on the front of a building stating:

"In 1832 on this spot nothing happened"

How is that for cute!

Tonight we are enjoying a quiet night. No one is here except us and the Williams, so we scrambled some eggs and ate some toast together. Found out the stove in this apt. actually works! But trust me! I won't overdo it!