“When I arrived there I found about six hundred people called United Brethren. They had broken off from the Wesleyan Methodists. They ought for those ancient gifts that I have been speaking about. They had been praying to God to open the way before them.” — Wilford Woodruff¹

In 1840, Wilford Woodruff arrived in Liverpool, England with John Taylor to serve a mission. After a brief stay with John’s relatives, Wilford traveled southeast to Staffordshire, where he established a branch of the Church. Guided by inspiration from God, he continued south to the Benbow farm, where he met John and Jane Benbow, who were part of a group called the United Brethren. This group had broken away from their church, seeking the true gospel. After hearing Wilford preach, the Benbows accepted the restored gospel and were baptized.² Wilford later baptized hundreds of members of the United Brethren, including many lay ministers. and people from other churches, significantly expanding the Church's presence in the region.^2,3 In total, around 1,800 people were baptized through the efforts of Wilford Woodruff and other missionaries in the British Isles in 1840.³

1. "Discourse 1889-03-05," 2, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org

2. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 34, 409-411

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 36, 428-429

4. ”1840 Baptisms,” wilfordwoodruffpapers.org