Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Church cleaning is going on this week and I have lent my horse and man to draw water on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Went to Brailes and arranged for visiting Bridlington with Mr Smith and staying there if possible on Sunday July 22.

Sent manuscript of paper on Domestic Economy, Text Books for Birmingham Congress on 17, 18, 19 inst. to Secretary, Society of Arts, London.

Ezra Green’s wife sent for some more wine which I gave her.

Miss Mawle called, accompanied by Miss ?Finch? and paid me 10/- being Mr Hitchcock’s of Horley subscription towards the Sunday School treat.

James Barnes called this morning, being well enough to get out. Gave him Certificate of Baptism of his nephew Thomas Henry Stock 1843.

James Barnes was able to resume his duty today.

Visited Mrs Shelswell and her daughter Marion. Also Sally Green to whom I recently gave some flannel for a petticoat. Also Widow Cakebread who being upstairs, and no-one else there, I did not see.

Administered H.C. to Mr Joseph Dix and Mrs Dix at their house. Miss S Dix also communicated.

Visited C. Inns who has been laid up for the week with rheumatic gout, but is now better and able to get about.

Visited Mr W Fox and the Misses Dix.

Went to Banbury and ordered a kitchen range and boiler for the farm.

Went to Bloxham and called on Mr Hodgson to make arrangements for his curate to take the services for me on Sunday 22nd inst when I purpose being at Bridlington.

The postmaster at Banbury told me that Webb the ?usual? postman here was making incorrect returns as to the time he finished his delivery here day after day.

Visited Elizabeth Gibbs who is better. Her husband had not been able to do his allotment owing to his wife’s illness and his want of means to purchase manure. I gave him 3/- to help him over his difficulty, telling him he must keep his ground in order, otherwise the stewards would direct my attention to it.

Mr Pettipher senior called this morning for Certificate of Baptism of Anne Gardner. I reminded him of the letter I wrote to him at Christmas time. He said he could prove that he had given two guineas a year to the church for the last 20 years. On my asking for an explanation he spoke of Choral festival fund, offertories, etc. I told him that what was collected in this way was always for some special purpose, but that it was the subscription for the ordinary church expenses that I had alluded to and that it went into the churchwarden’s hands, none of it passing through mine. He received what I said with a very good grace and I thought it better to leave him to think about it.