Owdo me owd butties, thank’ee for joinin’ me for more of me owd chunnerin’s you’re gluttons for punishment. Radio Shropshire’s Johnty Odonty asked me about this which reminded me that I anna shared it on here, so blame him if you dunna like it.
Many villages possess their individual stock of old-world stories but how many can boast of a link with South Africa that dates back to the 1860s. The story commences in Lesotho, formerly known as Basutoland, and features one of the outstanding characters of South Africa, Moshesh I, also known as Moshueshue. He was unique among African leaders at the time for preserving the independence of his people in the face of constant pressure from the neighbouring Boer republics. He taught his people how to use the rifle and to ride so that they could resist the Boer, although finally he had to seek protection from Britain.
Later in 1850, Moshueshue requested Bishop Gray, the first Bishop of Capetown, to send missionaries to his land. This eventually led to two of Moshueshu’s sons being educated at the Anglican school, Zonnebloem, in Capetown. One of the sons, Jeremiah Libopuoa Moshueshue was converted and baptised. By 1861 enough money had been raised by the Hereford Missionary Society to send four of Zonnebloem’s most promising pupils to St Augustine’s College, Canterbury, which had been founded in 1844 to provide training for missionary priests. The vicar of Welshampton at the time, the Revd Buckely-Owen was a supporter of African work and following a meeting with Bishop Gray, an invitation was extended to two of the African students, Jeremiah and Samuel Lefulere Moroka, to come and stay in Welshampton for the consecration of the new church.
The visit was to have an unhappy consequence for Jeremiah, whose own health had been delicate whilst in England. After getting soaked whilst out walking he developed gastric fever and despite all attempts to save him, died on 26th August 1863. It was decided to bury him in the village churchyard, beside the new church. The funeral was the first to be held in the newly consecrated church. the headstone is the work of Drayton Wyatt.
Eventually a memorial window (depicting St Philip baptising the Ethiopian Eunuch), was placed in the church overlooking the font in the NW corner of the church, the corner closest to the grave. In recent years royal entourages and civic dignitaries of Lesotho have made pilgrimages to the grave, one of which took place in May 1999, with the visit of the Queen Mother of Lesotho, Queen Mamohato.
Her Majesty Masenate Mohato Seeiso, Queen of Lesotho visited in October 2010.
Well that’s enough of me owd chunnerin’s, thank’ee to anyone who is still reading this far down now run along and play nicely.
