Complex sentence: His wife then asked if she should send for the minister of the established church at Bradford, but as it was getting late, John requested her to read a few chapters of the Bible to him, but he received little comfort at that time.
Split into simpler sentences: His wife then asked him if she should send for the minister of the established church at Bradford. As it was getting late, Wroe requested her to read a few chapters of the Bible to him, but he received little comfort at that time.