This last week my class took a field trip (yay for field trips in graduate school!) to Newburyport, to the burial grounds of George Whitefield, who is praised as the greatest preacher of the 18th century. He is actually buried in the Old South Church under the pulpit from which he preached. The church itself is 250 years old this year and, for all practical purposes, is the original building built by the Puritans themselves. They did it in three days. Absolutely mind boggling.
This is George Whitefield's tomb (the skull is not actually his; he is buried below it) which is in the basement of the church directly below the pulpit. Below his name on the plaque is the epitaph he wrote for himself. It reads: I am content to wait till the day of judgment for the clearing up of my character: and after I am dead I desire no other epitaph than this, 'Here lies G.W. What sort of a man he was the great day will discover.'"

It is hard to tell, but this is a picture of the rafters above the sanctuary ceiling. The wood is the original timber cut by the Puritans.

You should all come visit me and see the places for yourselves!
when i visit, elm, we will NOT be surveying random rafters no matter how many famous dead guys lie below.
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