I grew up and live in the United States. When I was a child, we had Sunday afternoon dinners at my Grandmother and Grandfather Spring's house. There were drawings of an old church on the wall above the sofa in the living room, surrounding our coat of arms. We were told how this was our coat of arms, and drawings of a church that some of our ancestors helped to build in England. Everyone would talk about how my great grandfather had the opportunity to see the church during the war, and how beautiful it was. This was a time when people did not travel as they do today, and a visit to England from the United States was a once in a lifetime experience!

As travel to Europe became more common, my parents began to talk of a trip to England to see Lavenham and "our" church. During one conversation, they asked my grandfather, at whose home our coat of arms hung all those years, if he would like to go with them. His response was, "I thought you would never ask!"

My parents drove from London to Lavenham, causing what my mother still refers to as a near divorce, (remember that we drive on the other side of the road). When they arrived at the church, my grandfather stood in the doorway for at least 10 minutes. My mother kept asking him to come in. He seemed to want to savour the moment for as long as possible.

With travel being much easier now, I and my family have been to Lavenham three times, and plan to return again this summer. I even had the chance to perform, (I am a professional clarinetist) during a church service during my first visit - a thrill beyond my wildest dreams.

Driving into town during our first visit, everything that I had heard about the beauty of Suffolk, and the beauty of Lavenham created an emotional feeling that I can not begin to describe. We stayed in the Angel Hotel and had several wonderful meals there and at the Swan. Our room at the Angel was in the front of the hotel and faced the church. I woke early and watched the Church's bell tower through the mist. I have several photos of this hanging in the front hall of my home.

We Americans have a very brief history. My branch of the Spring family came to the New World in 1640. The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul was already completed at that time. My church in Phoenix, Arizona, an Anglican (Episcopal) church was built in 1910, and it is one of the oldest in this area. You are so fortunate to be part of the beauty and majesty of the beautiful village of Lavenham, and to have such a great history.

Robert Spring
robert.spring@asu.edu