Hallowed Ground

Home again, home again jiggety jig, Battys are everywhere diggety dig.

Upon arrival at St. John the Evangelist Church in Lancaster, we were greeted by our private tour guide, Mandy. Of course she had red hair, stood about five feet tall, and had sparkling blue eyes...related? Probably. Fortunately, Edie had been in contact with her months before our arrival, and she was ready for us. After a couple of hours of learning the church history (the woman could talk!), we learned where our ancestors probably sat (in the back of course, based on the fact that families had to buy pew space, and our family was big...those Battys could reproduce), but we also learned that this church is basically untouched and a historical monument. With a little spit and polish, it could be our own little Westminster Abbey.

Edie touching the sounding board 

We also got to see the special mahogany sounding board that was stowed away upstairs under an old bed sheet. It was much bigger than we thought; about 4x4x5 sq. feet with intricate engravings. Mandy said the sounding board was used before they had microphones. We think it's because when the Battys get talking no one can get a word in edgewise, so a BIG sounding board was needed. Sue only scared Mandy once by asking if she could stand on it!

Our church

Preserving a copy to bring home

Three hours later (no exaggeration) we were invited to go outside and take a look around at the gravestones...most were overgrown with weeds and random little flowers. Mandy also wanted to show us the original baptismal font(I know...look it up). We rounded the corner, looked at the wall and there it was. Not the font, but EDWARD BATTY'S grave marker affixed to the wall. He was our great great great great grandfather...the town architect who designed the famous Dalton Town Square. We were famous! Mandy's eyes lit up. Now, she wanted to take our picture for the local newspaper. Click, click, click went the cameras. So take that Queen Elizabeth!

Signing the church registry

Upon finding the street our family lived on was called Pitt St., and it was a pit, we hoped they wouldn't advertise that little known fact in the newspaper! Looks like there was a good reason why the Battys were looking for an entirely new country to invade.