One of the joys we looked forward to in coming to Preston, England for our LDS Church service mission was the chance to be in the area where Lynn's great-great-great grandfather, Heber C. Kimball, opened up the first overseas mission for the Mormon Church in 1837.
Today, we took our first trip to places associated with his mission: Downham and Chatburn. My colleague in the Chorley, England area legal counsel office, Jay Peck, and his wife Joan were kind enough to offer to take us to one of their favorite places. The morning was a crisp, clear day so it was a perfect Saturday for this short day trip.
We had remembered reading about these towns as places where Heber C. Kimball had amazing experiences in his first months in England in the wonderful book on the Life of Heber C. Kimball, written by his grandson, Orson F. Whitney, who was also descended from Heber's first wife, Vilate Murray Kimball, like Lynn is. I will weave in some of his own words in describing our experiences there today.
The weather has been wet, breezy and cold the last few days, but the skies cleared overnight leaving the first touches of snow on the hillsides we could see out to the West and the North as we drove first to Preston and then up the Ribble River valley to these two small towns.
First, Jay took us to see the location in Chatburn where Heber's early baptisms took place in these two towns. It was a beautiful, quiet stream with a wider spot. Above it was a foot path leading to an old wagon road that climbs the hill toward Downham, one mile away. North of Downham is Pendle Hill which had a light dusting of snow this morning and an increased amount from the rain/hail that came through while we had a delightful English pub lunch at the Assheton Arms, in the middle of Downham. The whole town is much like it would have been in 1837 with old stone houses, stone walls along the narrow ways and footpaths heading into the hills. We chuckled to note that many of the guests in the restaurant had dogs with them as they had obviously been out on short hikes. Across the street was the town cathedral, St. Leonard's, which dates back to the early 1200's and was rebuilt in 1801 and renovated again in 1910. We heard that the Queen Mother once said in leaving the entrance to the small church that the view was one of the finest in England as it looked out across the church cemetery lot, across the small town below and up to the Pendle Hill outside the town.
Heber's experiences here were extraordinary. He mentions on page 169 of the book on his life:
"Having metioned my intention of going to Downham and Chatburn, to several of the brethren, they endeavored to dissuade me from going, informing me there could be no prospect of success whatever, as several ministers of different denominations had endeavored in vain to raise churches in these places, and had frequently preached to them, but to no effect, as they had resisted all the efforts and withstood the attempts of all sects and parties for the last thirty years, who, seeing all their attempts fail, had given them up to hardness of heart. ... However, this did not discourage me, believing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ could reach the heart, when the gospels of men proved abortive; I consequently told those brethren that there were the places I wanted to go to, for that it was my business not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. ...
"In Chatburn I was cordially received by the inhabitants, who turned out in great numbers to hear me preach. They produced a large tithing barn, placing a barrel in the center, upon which I stood. I preached to them the first principles of the Gospel, spoke in simplicity upon the principles revealed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the conditions of pardon for a fallen world and the blessings and privileges of those who embraced the truth; I likewise said a little on the subject of the resurrection. My testimony was accompanied by the Spirit of the Lord, and was received with joy, and these people who had been represented as being hard and obdurate, were melted into tenderness and love. ... When I concluded I felt someone pulling at my coat, exclaiming, 'Maister, Maister.' I turned round and asked what was wanted. Mrs. Elizabeth Partington said, 'Please sir, will you baptize me?' 'And me?' 'And me?' exclaimed more than a dozen voices. Accordingly I went down into the water and baptized twenty-five. I was engaged in this duty, and confirming them and conversing with the people until after midniht.
"The next morning I returned to Downham, and baptized between twenty-five and thirty in the course of the day....These villages seemed to be affected from one end to the other; parents called their children together, spoke to them on the subjects which I had preached about, and warned them against swearing and all other evil practices, and instructed them in their duty.
"We were absent from Preston five days, during which time Brother Fielding and I baptized and confirmed about 110 persons; organized branches in Downham, Chatburn, Waddington and Clithero; ...This was the first time the people in those villages ever heard our voices, or saw an American."
(To be continued.)
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