We have started our oral history interviews and have watched a video of the British Pageant (Aug 2013). The pageant was very well done and, while it didn’t produce the convert baptisms they hoped for, it appears it did a lot to strengthen the church and the members in the area. The play is now performed every other night in Nauvoo. The hope remains that it will return to Chorley.
Last weekend we went to Fountains Abbey–which are the ruins of a 12th century monastery. I thought it was one of the most restful places we have been and even the crumbiest camera would look like a pro here. Terribly windy; but beautiful clouds.
Monastery Ruins
Monastery Ruins
Monastery Ruins
Monastery Ruins
Stream and Bridge at Abbey
St. Mary’s Church next to Fountains
Inside St. Mary’s Church next to Fountains
We then visited a Workhouse Museum in Ripon. Workhouses were the 19 century welfare program. Every Council (City) was required to care for their poor and they did so by building and operating workhouses. Here, an entire family could be housed, clothed, and feed and their children educated while they did work for the benefit of the community. Conditions were intentionally not wonderful in order to encourage people to leave as soon as they were able. Men and women were separated and children older than 3 were only allowed to visit their parents on weekends–in order that they could be educated and not overly influenced by what caused their parents to be there–often alcohol. It is easy to consider these conditions inhumane today, but I thought they served their purpose–in some ways better than our often dead-end systems of today. Interestingly, religion was a very important part of the day with a worship service and three prayer breaks during each daily routine. Here is a picture of the Ripon Workhouse.
Workhouse Museum
It is interesting how matters assigned to me in the office seem to come in country clusters. This week it has been Poland. I think my name is going to be changed to Konoldski. Just today, I worked on a trademark infringement case, a zoning matter, and a matter involving a missionary automobile accident–all in Poland.
The weather has been nice for a few days. We were walking until about 9:00 tonight. Could easily have walked another 1.5 hours in the light with the temperature in the high 60’s. But tomorrow, we return to rain and temp in the 50’s. This is what makes this country so beautiful.
Cheers for now.