Gadfield Elm Chapel and Benbow Farm Pond

Last Saturday morning, July 12th, Sister Jolley, (using the Self-Employment Office upright vacuum), did aerobic vacuuming of the flat, cleaned the entire kitchen including cupboard doors, countertops, appliances and floor. Then she cleaned the bathrooms and dusted all the furniture, which may have totaled 2 hours...definitely easier cleaning than the homestead back in Kaysville! But far less exercise. :-) Meanwhile, the Hulk a.k.a. Elder Jolley was out for his "wog". Hip hip hooray!

After the cleaning, wogging, and showering, we headed out in the afternoon of this sunny day, for some church history sight seeing. We had the co-ordinates for the Gadfield Elm Chapel, which took us right to the chapel. It is located near Pendock, in Worcestershire. (Yes the sauce originated here!) The chapel was built in 1836. In the entrance, photos can be seen of some of the early local church leaders. There is also a register for visitors who wish to sign their names and make comments.

                                              The wooden pews & rafters inside the chapel.

                                                   

                                             This side is the entrance with the secret code.

                                           This door leads directly into the area with pews.

                                                   Sister Jolley out by the wishing well.

Over 160 years ago, Gadfield Elm Chapel belonged to a Christian congregation called the United Brethren. They were a group who had broken away from the traditional religious denominations of their time. All but one of their congregation joined the LDS church after hearing sermons preached by Wilford Woodruff. After the congregation was baptized by Brother Woodruff, they donated the Gadfield Elm Chapel to the LDS church for their meetings.

During the few months he was in this area, Wilford Woodruff also baptized 1200 from other denominations. Church History (as someone said) did not happen only in America. Lots of church history took place in the U.K. Many of these converts traveled to America and helped to establish the city of Nauvoo. They were later driven out and were among the saints who crossed the plains and settled in the Salt Lake Valley. This was the first chapel used by the saints. They had not constructed chapels in America at that point in time.

The Gadfield Elm Chapel fell into disrepair through the years, but in 1995, the church bought the site and restored the chapel as best they could to replicate its original state. In 2001, Jeffrey R. Holland, a descendant of one of the original United Brethren leaders, re-dedicated the chapel. It is now a popular church history site for youth groups and others to tour.

If you can figure out the riddle at the door, you can enter the chapel at any time. First, what is the middle initial of Heber Kimball? Second, How many chapters are in the book of Enos? Third, What age must you be for baptism? Fourth, How many members are in the Godhead? Fifth, How many books are there in the BOM after Moroni? And sixth, What was the first initial in Brigham's last name? The only ones that count are the 4 in the middle - did you guess what they are?

Hill Farm

                                                    Path Leading to Benbow Farm Pond

                                           The water is surrounded by a wooden perimeter.
                                       Difficult to see the pond since it is as green as the grass!

                                         

                                               Plaque located near Benbow Farm Pond

                                                    Elder Jolley: "THIS IS THE POND!"

The Benbow Farm Pond was our next destination. The significance of the farm is that is where Wilford Woodruff met John Benbow, a wealthy farmer, and his wife, Jane. He preached his first sermon in their home. The next day, he preached another sermon. Six people were baptized in the pond, including John Benbow, his wife and four United Brethren. When Wilford Woodruff preached in their church, 1000 people showed up, as compared to their usual congregation of 15. Many of the 1000 were baptized and formed some of the earliest branches in the church in England. Brother Benbow also helped finance the 1st British edition of the Book of Mormon.

It took us about an hour, tired and hungry by then, to find the Benbow Farm Pond. The secret is: When you leave Gadfield Elm Chapel, enter Ledbury into your SatNav (England for GPS).  Once you find Ledbury, the farm is only 20 minutes from there.  Head into Ledbury City Centre, pass the Tesco on your left, continue straight ahead to the turnoff to 4214 Bromyerd. (sign post) Continue through Staplow Village. Road forks. Take LEFT fork to 4220.  Signpost will say Bishop's Frome & Bromyerd. Continue to a sign post at tip top of the hill which points to the right and says: Frome's Hill. Take that right turn and continue until you see the Hill Farm sign.

Enter the driveway and park up by the barn. You need to get out and look for the gate. There is a little sign on the gate that designates this is the way to the BF Pond. Open the gate and walk down a slight slope. The church doesn't own the farm. They only own and maintain the pond. You can enter another  gate to get closer to the pond...have a seat on the bench and relax and meditate. :-) These directions are for US in case we go back. We won't ever get lost again!

Great Church History Tour! These photos were taken with Elder Jolley's phone, since the camera battery had died. Pretty Sweet!