Dedication of the Preston England Temple
Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Preston England Temple on June 7, 1998. “I feel as if I’ve come home,” the Prophet said. “This is an emotional day. ... It has been a treasured experience for me to come back to this area of Lancashire where I served as a missionary 65 years ago.”
President Hinckley expressed his gratitude for the courage, conviction and testimony of the members in Preston. “A bit of my heart is here,” he said. “I’ll never get over it. There’s a bit of England in me.”
He said that the Church in the British Isles when he was a missionary is a different picture than what he observed at the day of the dedication. “The Church has reached a maturity here that is satisfying,” he said.
The Prophet said that the new house of the Lord was “very impressive” and that it had an “English feel to it that is reminiscent to the old churches built in this land many years ago.”
One member, Bryan Loynes, at the dedication mentioned how, despite the constantly changing weather, everyone had smiles on their faces.
“A lot of the people have come on long bus rides, some in excess of nine hours,” said Loynes. “They’ve had a brief rest and then have been directed to the lines. Everyone has been very pleasant.”
Patsy Dorsey of the Leeds Stake mentioned her joy for the temple. “This has been a very emotional experience for me,” she said. “I’ve been a member of the Church 20 years in October. Being here today is the icing on the cake.”
Dorsey continued, “I was amazed at how strong the Spirit was. Each time President Hinckley was in tears, I was in tears. I felt very privileged to be in the temple for this special occasion. I’m grateful for what’s been done here.”
Attending the dedication with President Hinckley were President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency; President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elder W. Eugene Hansen of the Presidency of the Seventy; and members of the Europe North Area presidency — Elder Cecil O. Samuelson, Elder Spencer J. Condie and Elder W. Rolfe Kerr of the Seventy.
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “This magnificent temple has been reared in this beautiful area where Thy chosen servants, in the days of their deep poverty and great sacrifice, first preached the restored gospel. Through 161 years of history this land of England, together with Scotland, Wales and Ireland, has yielded a harvest of converts who have blessed and strengthened Thy Church. ... We pray that Thou wilt accept [this temple] as the sacred offering of Thy thankful people. This is Thy house, and we ask that Thou wilt sanctify it with Thy presence. From this day forth, may Thy Holy Spirit dwell within these walls and touch the hearts of all who enter herein.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Preston England Temple here.
Timeline of the Preston England Temple
President Gordon B. Hinckley announced a temple for Preston, England, on Oct. 19, 1992. The Prophet presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on June 12, 1994. An open house was held from May 16 to May 30, 1998. President Hinckley dedicated the Preston England Temple on June 7, 1998.
Architecture and Design of the Preston England Temple
The Preston England Temple stands on 15 acres and is a total of 60,000 square feet with a single spire and modern classical design. The exterior was finished with Olympia white granite from Sardinia, and the exterior walls — featuring tall windows — are lined with trees, shrubs and flowers.
Located on the north edge of Chorley, England, the temple overlooks hills to the east and a greenbelt area to the north.
The temple grounds feature large grass areas and a small pond. Also located on the temple site are a stake center, a distribution center, a missionary training center and missionary housing.
Inside the temple are featured paintings of Jesus Christ and murals of the local area. The structure includes a baptistry, four ordinance rooms and four sealing rooms.