Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney linked to Mansfield church
STRONG links between United States presidential candidate Mitt Romney and a Mansfield church have been unearthed in a Mormon history book.
The Republican, who will go head to head with Barack Obama in November’s election, has not ruled out a trip to the venue which was visited by his son and second cousin.
In 1969, Mansfield’s Mormon movement decided to build a new chapel on Berry Park Lea, Berry Hill.
The following year the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was completed. Records show it was dedicated by Marion G. Romney of the Council of the Twelve Apostles in September 1970.
Derek Dove, of Cranmer Walk, Nottingham, noticed the name in the history book and contacted Chad thinking it may have been Mitt Romney’s mother.
Research into the Romney family tree revealed Marion was actually Mitt’s father’s cousin.
Further investigation showed Mitt’s son Josh visited the Mansfield chapel as a missionary in 1995.
Local historian and church member Denis Hill, who wrote the book, thinks it is an ‘interesting link’ for the town.
“I don’t think the link to Mitt Romney is something that has been publicised that much,” he said. “It is an interesting link for Mansfield, particularly in the current circumstances with the presidential election in November.
“I was there as a 16-year-old when Marion G. Romney came over. I can remember the day but don’t remember much about the man.”
Mr Hill said he vaguely recalls Mitt Romney’s son Josh coming to Mansfield in the mid-1990s.
He added: “I think it is just a coincidence that he came to Mansfield. Headquarters in Salt Lake City will have assigned him to the Leeds mission of which there are about 40 locations from as far south as Mansfield right up to Scotland.
“He would then have gone to any seven of those locations.
“I can remember the surname Romney from the 1990s and I remember asking him what relation he was to Marion G. Romney. The chapel itself is in one of the most ideal locations in Mansfield with fantastic views of the town yet very few people even know it is there.”
A spokesman for Mitt Romney was unable to provide Chad with a comment but did not rule out a visit to the town when he is next in the UK.
Not to be outdone by his fierce rival, Barack Obama also has links to the region.
In 2009, researchers from the US uncovered evidence to show one of his ancestors on his mother’s side, Edward Fitzrandolph, was baptised at St Mary’s Church, Sutton, in July 1607.
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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