Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-04

oGClLj do OIc SOCS lIlIOuSl Tile country
it is really restful to look at these
people, they seem to take everything
SO cool and deliberately. l visited
Tong Church, near Shifual, an ancient
structure now undergoing repairs This
church dates back to the times of
Oliver Cromwell and even before that,
for marks are still there, on the outside
Of the building, which were made by
the balls from his cannons when he
sought to take it from the hands of
monks and friars. | have an oak panel
taken out of one of the pews and
supposed to be some 600 years old; also
brick block, from the blocks of which
a floor was being laid and supposed to
last some 500 years or more. This place
was reached by team and is about five
miles from any railroad station. Many
people visit this church annually. The
Wrekin Hill near Wellington is worthy
Of mention, and every Whitsuntide is
visited by thousands of people. This
summer it was our pleasure to help to
swell the numbers on the 9th day of
June. It was beautiful day. We
took dinner in the Refreshment
Pavilion at the foot of the hill called
"Forest Glen" which is under the
management Of Mr.. Pointon, of the
Wrekin Hotel, Wellington. Afterward
we climbed the hill, pausing to rest
awhile at intervals as we went upward.
The hill is about 1000 feet above the
level of the sea and it is considered
quite feat to 90 through the eye of
the Needle" and see the "Cuckoo's S
Cup" at the summit The surrounding
country viewed from the eminence
presents a very picturesque scene, with
the fields Of every conceivable shape
fenced IN by hedges, while winding
through them the Severn runs. Here
are cattle sleek and fat, lazily grazing;
there are sheep with playful lambs
enjoying the rich meadow, and all
around both animal and human nature
seems perfectly contented and happy.
The village of Madeley is a place
worthy Of some consideration and does
we'll repay visit Mrs Churm accom-
panied me to this quiet little spot, the
scene of the labors of the Rev. John
Fletcher, the author OF several standard
works, but especially noted for his
purity of life and Christlikeness. We
visited the church and stood near the
pulpit from which he preached the
word of life. He defended John
Wesley and always stood by him, so
much so that Wesley wanted Fletcher
to become his successor in the great
Methodist movement. Here is the
tomb Of Fletcher of special interest to
everyone interested in religion. A
piece of brick from the brick foundation
of the same [ have in my possession.
The day we passed in Madeley was a
soaking wet day, in fact the whole of
the time | was in England it rained
every day but four. The Epitaph on
John Fletcher's tomb is as follows:
'Here lies the body of the Rev. John
William de la Flechere, Vicar of Made
ley, who was born at Nyon, in
Switzerland, September the 18th, 1929,
and finished his course, August the 14th
1855, in this village, where his uneX
ampled labors Will long be remembered.
He exercised his ministry for the space
of Twenty Five years in this parish
with uncommon zeal and ability. Many
believed his report and became his joy
and crown of rejoicing, while others
constrained him to take up the
lamentation of the prophet "All the
day long have [ stretched out my hands
unto disobedient and gainsaying
people, yet surely my judgment is with
the Lord, and my work with my God"
He being dead vet speaketh."
Now we come to Shrewsbury, the
county town Of Shropshire, where we
were driven by Mrs. Churm's brother,
over splendid macadamized road as
hard as possible, upon which rain has
no power to make mud, the more rain
the cleaner looking the road appears.
We passed over this road in a severe
rain storm until we arrived at Atcham
bridge, where is located church
literally covered with ivy and in very
few years will be totally covered unless
| the climbing plant is trimmed. Very
pretty indeed. AS we go into Shrews-
bury we pass the Lord Hill monument,
up the winding, circular stairway we
have often climbed after paying four
cents for the privilege. Then comes
the ''Stone Pulpit" a pulpit exposed
and standing alone, around which a
religious structure was built in olden
times and formed an Abbey. Then
over the English bridge, a stone bridge
which spans the river Severn, and
| right in the town we are. The plan Of
| the town is Irregular, containing many
houses built partly of brick and timber,
but often of very picturesque appear
ances. In the modern quarters the
| houses are handsome and regular. The
town contains interesting remains of
the ancient walls, the castle, two
monasteries and Benedictine Abbey, as
before described in connection with the
Stone Pulpit. We visited the Free
Public Library and the Museum, went
over the Welsh Bridge and caught q
glimpse of Frankwell Looked through
ST. Chads Church, in whose parish
Charles Darwin was born. While here
saw battle flags which had been through