The temple was dedicated in 1958 by President David O. McKay. It is located about 25 miles outside of London. One interesting fact about this temple is that it was built without an Angel Moroni on top. It was later added by helicopter in 2008 during the celebration of the 50 year-anniversary.
This lovely pond is where Wilford Woodruff baptized many of the saints in 1840. John Benbow was a local preacher for the United Brethren and allowed Woodruff to preach to his men. It was here that many of his congregation were baptized into the LDS church by Woodruff. “The first thirty days after my arrival in Herefordshire, I had baptized forty-five preachers and one hundred and sixty members of the United Brethren, who put into my hands one chapel and forty-five houses which were licensed according to law to preach in. This opened a wide field for labor, and enabled me to bring into the Church, through the blessings of God, over eighteen hundred souls [this number is given at a lower estimate in other accounts; it is approximate only] during eight months, including all of the six hundred United Brethren except one person.”
The Gadfield Elm Chapel is another location in Herefordshire that is important to the early church members. Wilford Woodruff preached here and it became a church for the LDS people. The United Brethren donated it after many of their members converted. It was here that Woodruff had many interesting experiences. “When I arose to speak at Brother Benbow’s house, a man entered the door and informed me that he was a constable, and had been sent by the rector of the parish with a warrant to arrest me. I asked him, ‘For what crime?’ He said, ‘For preaching to the people.’ I told him that I, as well as the rector, had a license for preaching the gospel to the people, and that if he would take a chair I would wait upon him after the meeting. He took my chair and sat beside me. For an hour and a quarter I preached the first principles of the everlasting gospel. The power of God rested upon me, the spirit filled the house, and the people were convinced. At the close of the meeting I opened the door for baptism, and seven offered themselves. Among the number were four preachers and the constable. The latter arose and said, ‘Mr. Woodruff, I would like to be baptized.’ I told him I would like to baptize him. …
Herefordshire Beacon was where the country of England was dedicated to the spreading of the gospel. It is remarkable to be able to see so much history and so much success in this country. Wilford Woodruff had this to say about his work here, “I brought eighteen hundred into the Church in that mission, and I will say that the power of God rested upon me and upon the people. There was a spirit to convince and a people whose hearts were open and ready to receive the gospel.” England has remained the longest mission in church history and its members are a huge part of that. Those who did not make the journey to America found ways to keep their religion alive and practice the things they had been taught. I have been blessed as I have gone to each of these places to have been able to walk in the shoes of the church leaders before me and to experience what it was like for them in the early days of the church.
Quotes were taken from various LDS talks and can be found at these sites.
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/01/harvest-in-herefordshire?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1971/09/history-of-the-church-in-great-britain?lang=eng
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