Gwennap Pit

Today's primary objective was to travel to the far southwest tip of England and visit Gwennap Pit near Redruth in Cornwall, one of John Wesley's favorite places to preach. It is also a World Heritage Site, as part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.


John Wesley preached to the tin miners here many times and tried to make at least one trip down per year. It is now an amphitheatre (renovated as such in 1806 and has been functioning that way ever since). We were hosted by Ian and Margaret Haile, learned about the pit, had worship together, and then a cuppa. Ian had powerful words to share with us about being at peace with everyone and sharing in the work of God with others from all traditions and backgrounds. Jesse shared about loving one another, and doing good for "the least of these" out of thankfulness for God's grace rather than as a way of earning favor.

Group pic!

Lovely monument and mosaic at the entrance of the pit


Jesse preaching in Gwennap Pit

The chapel that was built at Gwennap Pit

An artist's rendering

Gwennap Pit is still used for special worship occasions and worship is held there on Sundays once a month by various churches in the area. Many other groups also use the amphitheatre for musical or dramatic performances. It's a beautiful space, and touching to worship there.

When children visit, they are told that if they go around each circle of the pit from top to bottom, then back up again, it is one mile. They are given a certificate if they complete it. Russ and Bruce both earned their certificates. Mine had to be edited as a consolation prize, because I only did about 3/4 of it.

Another side note about Gwennap... one of our group members, Cindy Jackson, has the maiden name Guinnup. I looked up earlier today and found that they are variations of the same surname!

It was a good drive down and a good drive back, so this was our only activity of the day. Other than eating. We just had a quick bite for lunch, but I was able to get a famous Cornish pasty.



We did drive through Plymouth on our way back to Exeter.... the last stop for the Mayflower before heading to America!



Our evening meal in Exeter was an exercise in patience for these time-minded Americans (and Latvians)... we waited almost two hours for our meals! But we were determined to stick it out and wait for dessert. Mine was another caramel apple betty, which I didn't photograph.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 8, 2017 at 3:36 PM

    Yum, and meat information. My Scottish neighbor used to make the most awesome Brown Betty. How are the Janis's doing? We will see them soon!!

    ReplyDelete

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