{"id":8139,"date":"2008-10-29T22:19:14","date_gmt":"2008-10-29T22:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aletheiabaptistministries.org\/Blog\/?post_type=birds-eye-view&p=8139"},"modified":"2021-06-17T02:14:08","modified_gmt":"2021-06-17T02:14:08","slug":"leicester-england-10","status":"publish","type":"birds-eye-view","link":"https:\/\/aletheiabaptistministries.org\/Blog\/birds-eye-view\/leicester-england-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Leicester, England (#10)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although our Tour does not always include Leicester (pronounced “Lester”), England, it is worth a visit for the history of Carey, Bunyan, and of English nobles.  It was here that Carey wrote his famous work, Enquiry<\/em>, prompting local pastors to undertake his burden for missions. The site of Carey\u2019s church in Harvey Lane was demolished a decade ago to make way for a Holiday Inn, but the road leading to the site still retains the name Carey\u2019s Close. The English word \u201cclose\u201d is used to mean alley or small entrance (like a driveway) to a property. The term comes from the idea that these accesses were small enough to be \u201cclosed\u201d off at night, usually with heavy iron gates, to keep enemy intruders from approaching. The Central Baptist Church on Charles Street houses an interesting museum of Carey\u2019s work.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was while John Bunyan served in Oliver Cromwell\u2019s Army that his life was changed by what he termed Divine intervention. Bunyan was to serve his military guard post on the Leicester Fort wall, but asked a comrade to take his place. That night his replacement was killed; Bunyan knew the Lord had spared him for greater things. That part of the old wall has been preserved at the fortress site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the original town square there is a huge farmer\u2019s market sitting amid streets with their old world names: Horsefair, Cheapside, Gallows, and Hansom Way, home of the inventor of the Hansom Cab. The famed travel pioneer Thomas Cook began his business in Leicester when his first arranged train party rode to Loughborough for a Temperance Meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lady Jane Grey, England\u2019s infamous 9 days\u2019 Queen, was born here; King Richard III was killed in Leicester during the Battle of Bosworth (1485) and is buried in the Abbey of St. Mary. Cardinal Wolsey, staunch opponent of King Henry VIII\u2019s divorce, caught pneumonia and died at Leicester Abbey. Leicester is also the setting of Shakespeare\u2019s best tragedy, King Lear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n