Saturday, 19 November 2017

Saturday, 18 November 2017

I like to sing "Saturday is a special day.  It's the day we get ready for Sunday."  And today was no different.  Elder Wallace and I set out to Tesco to do our grocery shopping.  The four Visitor Centre Sisters are coming for dinner tomorrow. We planned out dinner and went shopping.  We had a long list of things to buy.  Shopping is so much better early in the morning.  Received a phone call while at the store from Sister Harkness.  Her and Sister DeArden wanted us to around Lingfield and Godstend to see some churches and grave sites.   We jumped at the chance of sightseeing and learning a bit of history and being with the office sisters.

St. George Church

The first church we went to was the St. George Church in Lingfield with had the oldest tree in England called the Yew tree. It is over 400 years old. There is a sign from Queen Elizabeth saying it is the oldest tree in England.  We walked the grounds and sat in the church.  I loved the stained glass windows and was fascinated with the pillows that hung in front of the pews with the family crest to pray on. I loved the headstones and felt bad that the names were weathered and gone.  I took a few pictures so I could research the names on Family Search.  Go to the web and look up St. George Church and see the pictures.  It was a very cloudy day and pictures weren't that good. 

Yew Tree

The outside of the Yew Tree is growing but the center is hollowed out.
You could have a picnic or a hiding place.

Yew Tree

Sister Anne DeArden (sitting) and Sister Janet Harkness.
Sister DeArden can walk but not stand because she fell of a roof.
(Sounds familiar!)

St. George Chapel with stained glass.

Leaving St. George Church

Pillows with family crest.

Sister DeArden & Sister Harkness at St. Nicholas Church.
It is the largest cemetery we have seen.

Just keep in mind that these places are 10-15 minutes from the London Temple.  We need to explore more of what is around our area.  There is lots of history and lots of sights to see.

The next place we went to was St. Nicholas Church in Godstone.  It has a story about a pirate and the pirate's headstone. The church was closed and we were not able to look inside.

Entrance to St. Nicholas Church

St. Nicholas Church

St. Mary's Home
A place next to the chapel where homeless people can stay.

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St. Mary's Home

People come to walk around the cemetery.

This is a homemade cross!

A greenhouse next to the homeless home.

The Sisters took us to a pub called the White Hart.  I learned from this gentleman in the picture that the pub has been sold and someone is going to renovate the place.  The gentleman was 88 years old and was carrying Christmas pudding for the Christmas holidays.  He orders one every year.  He invited me to church the next morning at 8 am.  We had a wonderful time eating roasted chicken with mushroom gravy and chips.  We went to pay the bill and the sisters insisted on buying lunch.  We want to go back and try some other dishes.  White Hart was old and quaint and very interesting. Afterwards, Elder Wallace dropped me off at the office so I could work on some files.  I was so glad I did.  I found some things I needed to do for Monday early. 

Sister DeArden waiting for Pub to Open while I had a friendly
conversation with this gentleman.  He let me take his picture.
People are so friendly and personable in England.

The building did look like it need a lot of work.

We were the first ones in line for lunch.  Love being with these people.

After leaving me at the Mission Office, Elder Wallace came home and washed the car in the rain and vacuumed and dusted the house.  We had enough time to eat an apple and some crackers before going to the Accommodations and watched 'Beauty and the Beast' movie with the temple missionaries.  Popcorn and candy and munchies.  I spent the time on the popcorn.  Still trying not to eat sugar.