So long, London

Pastor Clint (we started calling him dad) made us take a 3 hour walking tour of church history before we got to explore London, but we did actually learn a lot… 

St. Paul’s Cathedral, initially constructed during Roman occupation in the 700s, and for years the center of the Roman Catholic Church in England. 

St. Paul’s “cross” or the outdoor pulpit - scriptures hadn’t been translated into English from Latin, and priests only knew enough Latin to mumble through the liturgy. There was little education or accountability, and the Roman Catholic Church controlled daily life because they commanded spiritual training and the hope of heaven. Christians who advocated for the translation of the Bible into English were persecuted and in some cases executed, because it threatened church control.

However, by the end of King Henry VIII’s life, he had broken from the Roman Catholic Church (so he could divorce and remarry his 6 wives) and English translation Bibles were allowed in all churches. 

After Henry VIII broke from Rome and created the protestant Church, successors King Edward VI, and Mary Queen of Scots went back and forth until Elizabeth I, the virgin queen (and last descendant of Henry VIII) created the Elizabethan sacrament - a middle path, an English Church for English people. As it was the Church of England, it was considered treason not to adopt CoE doctrines, and Roman Catholic holdouts were executed. 

However, the reformation carried on by puritans who didn’t feel the CoE had reformed enough, and they were also persecuted.

Throughout the world, similar reformations and scripture translations were occurring, birthing various additional Protestant denominations, including Martin Luther’s Lutherans in Germany, and John Wesley’s Methodists in England. 

Puritans who sought religious freedom emigrated to America, and with them brought the Great Awakening. So yes, thank you, England!

Despite such devoted beginnings, only 3% of Europeans now claim to be evangelical Christians. 

Our family decided that more than anything, when someone asked what we did in London the answer should be “ride the tube” because that is where we spent the most time (but it DID take us various places)!

Good thing for cell phones, but the iconic phone booths were still available if you needed a quiet place to step in for a call!

King Charles was in residence at Buckingham Palace today!

The guards had swagger

Our own royal family

Adria at Queen Victoria’s monument outside Buckingham Palace

Braelyn making a wish at the fountain

I got a couple’s picture! 

“Look kids! Big Ben, Parliament…”

Someone who shall remain nameless told us to go to Harrods for souvenirs. We knew better, but still took a spin in the famous luxury department store for the experience. I had hoped to run into Taylor Swift, but alas she has already headed to Edinburgh… 

One of my favorite things, the classic black cab that took us to the hotel for the night! 

I am more in love with my family, my church, and my God now than I was at the beginning of this trip, but also with our cozy home in Gainesville. Tonight we will sleep in our own beds! See you on the other side!