Elder & Sister Kiddle - London Temple

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

Fletching, Swindon, Chiddington, Scotney Castle

Our family has brought it to our attention that we haven't posted anything new to our blog for a couple of weeks. Time is just zooming by. We have visited four places of interest since we last posted.

1. Fletching is a small village which we drove through on our way home from church and stopped for a picnic lunch and a view of the old church there. It is a very picturesque village.

Sister Kiddle & Sister Curley enjoying a picnic lunch

A charming brick house in Fletching

A Church in Fletching

Main Street showing the current parking situation in England

2. Swindon has a wonderful Railway Museum and was one of the largest Train works in England.

Some History

At one time the fastest train in the World

One of the first Steam Engines

3. Chiddington is the home of the Chiding Stone where members of the community were chastised in public if they needed correction. There is also a more modern Castle near the town.

Our new mission car at the castle (ha ha ha)!

East side of Chiddington Castle

Elder Kiddle receiving a "chiding" from Sister Kiddle at the chiding stone

Main street in Chiddington

4. Scotney Castle is a very picturesque Castle surrounded by a moat. The owner of the castle thought it too damp and cold to live in, so built a large house up on the hill. The Castle was in the valley below. You will see in one of the pictures that it looks like part of the Castle had become ruins but we learned that the castle was built that way to make it more picturesque.

one of several ornate fire places in the house

the house at Scotney Castle

One of the gardens at the Castlen showing walls that look like ruins but are not

Scotney Castle and part of the moat

There seems to be no end of beautiful places to visit in SE England.

Until next time

Elder and Sister Kiddle

Thursday, 8 August 2013

Chichester Cathedral

On July 29th we went on the Temple Van to visit Chichester Cathedral. It was built about 1100 AD and is about the same age as Canterbury Cathedral. When we told of our visit to Canterbury we mentioned that there was a prayer roll in the crypt but we were not allowed to take pictures in the crypt. We found a prayer roll in the Chichester Cathedral also but it was on the main floor so we could take a picture of it which we have included herein. The builder of this cathedral was Ralph Luffa who built the Cathedral and was Bishop of Chichester from 1091 AD to 1125 AD. He is represented as the central figure in one of the stain glass windows we are including herewith. There is an interesting sun dial on the side of the cathedral. We took the picture of it at about 2:00 PM and the sun dial shows about 1:00 PM as it does not take day light saving into account.

Sister Kiddle at the west entrance to the cathedral

Chichester Cathedral

Sun dial on side of the Cathedral

stained glass window showing the Nativity

Prayer Roll

stained glass window showing the Saviour calming the storm

Centre figure in this stained glass window shows Ralf Luffa builder of the cathedral

An Arundel Tomb described below

Inside the Cathedral

Hope you enjoy the pictures. We really miss everyone back home. Our Grandson Gilbert entered the MTC July 31st on his way to Romania. Have a great mission Gilbert.

Love from Elder & Sister Kiddle

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Senic Drives near Temple

Over the past two weeks we have stayed close to home but have still been able to see some beautiful places.

A week ago this past Monday we went to Eastbourne with Brother and Sister Wood. The beach is very similar to the beach at Brighton but the area near the beach is quite different.

Flower Garden at the beach in Eastbourne

Eastbourne pier

This past Sunday we took a scenic drive back to the Temple after Church in Brighton. We stopped at an old Church and had a picture taken behind the church in a small garden.

This past monday after we had finished the laundry we took a trip to Tunbridge Wells on the local bus system. We took 3 different buses there and back again. We went shopping in the Royal Victoria Place mall to try and find a white blouse for Sister Kiddle but were unsuccessful. We still had fun looking in the different stores.

An old building near the mall

Royal Victoria Place Mall entrance

Just for fun we are adding a picture of an airplane flying over the Temple. During the day we have an airplane fly over about every 2 to 3 minutes as they approach Gatwick Airport for landing. You can hear them at the recommend desk near the front door but once you enter the ordinance areas of the Temple there is complete silence. As you can see in the photo they are flying quite low.

Although it might look as if we are on an extended vacation we do work in the Temple for 7 to 8 hours per day, five days per week! We continue to enjoy our Temple Mission.

Love from Elder and Sister Kiddle

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

A surprise celebrity visit

The London Temple has almost everything including celebrities! We were delighted on June 28th when Donny Osmond , his wife Debbie and son Josh came to the temple to work in the Baptistry. Rosalie and I were Baptistry Co-ordinators that day so we were privileged to work with him and his family. We found him, his wife and son to be humble, gracious and devoted to the Lord and the Lord's Church. They were still on the grounds after our shift so we were lucky enough to get some pictures of them. We really enjoyed visiting with them.

Roses in bloom at the London Temple

Elder Kiddle with his favourite "Rose" on their 46th Wedding Anniversary

Our mission at the London Temple continues to go well and we enjoy every day

Love Elder & Sister Kiddle

Monday, 24 June 2013

Summer Visit to Hever Castle

We visited Hever Castle last December when the gardens were in hibernation and wanted to see it again in the summer so last Monday the Temple Van took a group of us to Hever Castle again for Rose Week. Unfortunately, due to the coldest spring in 100 years, the majority of the roses were not out yet. We did however get to see other beautiful parts of the gardens. The flowers in front of the temple have been replaced again, this time with begonias. They are beautiful.

Begonias at the London Temple

Gardens at Hever Castle - this and the next 5 pictures

Elder and Sister Kiddle on the Castle Draw Bridge

We also visited an old church next to Hever Castle. Two of the Missionaries found ancestors buried in it. Wow what a find. It also had some beautiful stained glass windows.

Stained Glass window in the Church

Church next to Hever Castle

Burial place for the Boleyns

Our love and prayers go out to all of you in Calgary and surrounding area's at this time of devastating floods.

Elder & Sister Kiddle

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Dover Castle and the White Cliffs of Dover

Another Monday trip to see another historic site, "Dover Castle" and the "White Cliffs of Dover". The castle is the largest castle in England and is built extremely strong with massive thick walls. It has played a key role in many of the wars in England. Even though it does not have a moat, it is situated on the top of a hill with cliffs rising up from the sea on one side and a very steep incline from the sea on the other seaward side. Large guns from the second world war can still be found. There are tunnels built into the hill below the castle that run for over 4 miles. It was interesting to go in some of them and see how they were set up for administering the war effort during the second world war. The castle itself was fun to tour.

We left the castle and drove to the the top side of the white cliffs. From the top of the cliffs you could see the white cliffs of Calais France. We enjoyed the walk along the tops of the cliffs.

Below are a few of our pictures.