Wednesday 8 July: After their coastal stay at St Ives, Janet O’Shea drove Magnus and Rugie to their next destinations, Woodmancote Chapel and Ebley Chapel, stopping at Elkstone Church, the highest in the Cotswolds. Renowned for its Norman architecture, stone carvings and golden light, Elkstone is described as a ‘prayer in stone’.

Following a time of worship with church members from Ebley Chapel, Woodmancote Chapel and Cradley Chapel, they enjoyed lunch and fellowship together.

The next stop in Berkshire on Thursday, enabled Magnus and Rugie to enjoy yet another delicious lunch at The Chapel, Mortimer West End with church members and invited guests from Goring Free Church and Slough Community Church. After lunch Magnus shared the needs and wonderful successes in the lives of children and adults through the work of the Sierra Leone Mission (SLM) and UK churches, making particular reference to the intense joy experienced by children on receipt of their shoe bags.

Jonathan Redmayne also joined The Chapel for lunch before taking Magnus and Rugie back to St Albans for the remainder of their stay.

The next few days combined periods of relaxation with visits, meetings and sightseeing. 

Friday’s schedule provided an opportunity to experience and enjoy Cambridge, combined with a visit to Tyndale House to meet the academic staff and the Academic Vice Principal, followed by lunch with the Director of the Cheshunt Foundation at Westminster College. Magnus is photographed at the Garret Hostel Bridge before visiting Trinity Hall.

At Westminster College, Magnus and Rugie were also delighted to be able to see original paintings of Selina, the Countess of Huntingdon and her family.

Saturday morning was spent quietly meandering through St Alban’s market, before taking a trip to London to visit the National Gallery. Magnus is seen below pointing out the historic painting The Sharp Family by Johann Zoffany, which features Granville Sharp, who partnered with Wilberforce as one of the first British campaigners for the abolition of the slave trade. He later gave his name to Granville Town, Sierra Leone, now known as Freetown.

The last Sunday before travelling back to Sierra Leone, continued the theme of fellowship and hospitality with a morning service at Ridgeway Church and a special "African Lunch' to follow, bathed in sunshine in Jonathan's garden.

Our entire Connexion community has felt very blessed to meet Magnus and Rugie for this three-week trip. Additionally, it has created a perfect opportunity to bring our churches more closely together in sharing the effort of helping to make their visit truly memorable. Huge thanks in particular to Jonathan Redmayne for his meticulous attention to detail in planning.