June 5-11, 2018  - Hever Castle

Last week was Single Adult week at the temple and we had a large group of single adults from the area attend the London Temple.  Also there were single adult firesides held each evening at the Welcome Center and Sister Burkinshaw accompanied a vocalist for one of those firesides.

Here at the London Temple, our "brother and sister ministers" (formerly home teachers) are Brother Nigel Rogers and Sister Denise Rogers who are also ordinance workers on our shift at the temple.  For their first act of ministering, they brought us dinner one evening - the traditional English favorite, fish and chips.  It was outstanding!!!

Sister Denise and Brother Nigel Rogers, our "Brother and Sister Ministers" (formerly known as home teachers) brought dinner to us in our flat (aka apartment).

A delicious plate of fish and chips provided by Brother and Sister Rogers, our "Ministering Brother and Sister."

On Monday, June 11, we went to Hever Castle with Elder and Sister Wolsey (Barry and LuAnn).  Hever Castle was built in 1270 was the girlhood home of Anne Boleyn (originally spelled Bullen).  William Waldorf Astor, who was the richest man in America in 1890, purchased and renovated Hever Castle in 1902.  In 1983,  it was sold by the Astor Family and is now a tourist attraction and is only about 7 miles from the London Temple.

Hever Castle, originally built in 1270, was the girlhood home of Anne Bolelyn, one of the most famous wives of Henry VIII because to marry Anne, Henry broke with the Catholic Church and established the Church of England (Anglican Church) and acquired significant wealth as he took over all the Catholic resources.

A "deer" created by trimming a yew bush (such "bush sculptures are called topiaries).  The grounds of Hever Castle have a variety of topiaries.

A "pig" topiary on the grounds of Hever Castle.

Sister Burkinshaw (with a granola bar in her hand), peeking around one of the walls of the large yew plant maze at Hever Castle.

Sister Burkinshaw and Elder and Sister Wolsey at the monument located at the center of the yew plant maze at Hever Castle.  It was quite an adventure navigating through the various passages and dead-ends to successfully arrive at the center..

The dining room at Hever Castle.

The dining room at Hever Castle can be rented for activities.

Library at Hever Castle which was created during the Astor Family renovation in the early 1900's.

Personal armor used by knights during the time of Henry VIII.

Life-sized mannequins of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn which illustrates the interesting fact that he was very tall for his time at 6' 2".

Chairs (thrones) in Hever Castle.

Explanation about the bedroom above.

The private priory (place of worship) just off the bedroom used by Henry VIII at Hever Castle.  It was here he could have private worship rather than going to a church or cathedral.

Painting of Henry VIII in Hever Castle

Painting of Anne Boleyn (or Bullen) at Hever Castle.

Castle bathrooms and an indirect answer to why swimming in the moat was discouraged!

A view of the moat at Hever Castle.

The Italian Garden with fountain at Hever Castle which was added to the estate by the Astor Family in the early 1900's.

Hever Lake adjacent to the Italian Garden and Fountain which was also created by the Astor Family during their multi-million renovation in the early 1900's.

Roses in the Italian Garden at Hever Castle.

Red roses in the Hever Castle Italian Gardens.

White roses in the Hever Castle Italian Garden.

Purple roses in the Hever Castle Italian Garden.

Hever Castle is a beautiful area and they have a variety of activities there during the year so it is a favorite place for missionaries to visit on Mondays.  For us, perhaps the most interesting facts were about King Henry VIII and the English Reformation which broke from Catholicism to form the Church of England or Anglican Church and the confiscation of the tremendous wealth of the Catholic Church in England for the King, who became the Supreme Head of the Church.  And all driven by Henry VIII desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon so he could marry Anne Boleyn (and later four additional wives).

"It has been said that the gate of history turns on small hinges, and so do people's lives. The choices we make determine our destiny." (Thomas S. Monson, "Choose You This Day," General Conference, October 2004).  Our personal actions set in motion a chain of events that affects not only us but those around us and especially those we love.  Will we be remembered as "givers"  and "ministers" or "takers?"

There is a destiny which makes us brothers; 

None goes his way alone. 

All that we send into the lives of others 

Comes back into our own.

(Edwin Markham)

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw