Benbow Farm and Gadfield Elm

During our break we took a little 2 day jaunt to Benbow Farm and Gadfield Elm. We explored a bit on our way and the picture above is of historic interest. This elevated building is in Ledbury and dates back to 1633 - 53. Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards all served here for a time in the 1840's.
This small church is a neighbor to Benbow Farm. When Elder Woodruff was preaching at the home of John Benbow, the rector of this parish sent a constable to arrest Elder Woodruff. The constable was invited to sit until the end of the sermon, and at the conclustion, rather than arrest Elder Woodruff, the constable requested baptism. Following this episode, the rector sent two others to learn what was being preached and they too were converted. That ended inquires by the rector!

Benbow Farm is a beautiful, pastoral farm. It was here that Elder Woodruff first preached and two days later, in this pond he baptized the Benbows and several others in the Church. This continued as many others came into the church. The pond and surrounding areas are today owned by Robert and Louise Manning who have been generous by allowing visitors to freqent the area.

The home at Benbow Farm. The day we were there Robert was kind enough to invite us in and show us around. They are chicken farmers and raise 141,000 chickens and farm 300 acres.

Wonderful people and great friends of the church.

The highlight of the day was Gadfield Elm. This is a tiny chapel in the middle of nowhere! This little building was given to the church in 1840. Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards preached in this hall. In 1842 the chapel was sold to help those who were emigrating. Various owners held title to it for a century and a half. Finally a group of interested Latter-day Saints organized a trust and purchased the building at auction. The Trust then donated it to the church in 2004. It was first dedicated by Elder Holland and then on May 27, 2004, President Hinckley visited this spot and again offered a prayer and planted a tree to commemorate the occasion.

This is supposed to be the oldest chapel in the church.

The house is not manned but there is a key pad (above) with questions that you answer and then the door is unlocked.

If you can answer these questions, you can unlock the door. Very clever, don't you think?

It was a wonderful little break and reminded us once again of those early saints who made such sacrifices.