Touching history

This weekend has seen the beginning of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the building which is now the church I attend. Last evening was the launch of a book that has been written about the history of non-conformist Protestantism in Beccles.

We are very lucky that we have quite a large archive of material about the church, including a fantastic 'tome' of letters, newspaper clippings, photos and other stuff kept by the family of a Victorian Minister of the church. This has some wonderful things in it if you have the time to decipher the beautiful writing!!

One such document is entitled 'An Essay on Umbrellas'. Another is an 'Address to Sabbath Breakers in Beccles'from 1872.

"Badly spent Sundays will surely bring grief; and
without repentance, will end in everlasting ruin."

An amazing insight into the lives of people over 100 years ago.

The image I've chosen for my blip is the transcript of the funeral sermon preached upon the death of Prince Albert in 1861. Touching history indeed.