Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited school. St Andrew’s Day. Divine Service at 10. Read some special collects for missions, but did not have evening service as I purpose preaching for missions on Sunday next.

J Horsman, mason, called for payment for work at farm and school £3.7.6. I spoke to him about his coming to church so seldom. He said the free seats were so narrow that he could not sit on them, having a lame leg. I told him I thought he could afford to pay 5/- a year for a seat in one of the pews. He said he would like to do so and so would his eldest daughter who is in service with Mrs Green the Quakeress. I told him he should speak to Mr Woolgrove about the matter and this he promised to do.

Drove to Banbury. Paid Robins for iron rods supplied for school room, and Dean for some flannel etc supplied for Charity.

Mr Hiorns who is Waywarden called this evening and asked me to write notices for a vestry to be held in schoolroom on Wednesday evening next at 6 o’clock to say whether a certain road which runs from his house round the west end of the village should be repaired by the parish, and as to other roads too.

Holy Communion. 34 communicants. Offertories

were devoted to S.P.G.

Visited Boys’ Sunday School this afternoon and returned them their club money with 1 shilling added to each.

Attended choir practice this evening and visited Mrs Mawle.

Yesterday I received a parcel of books value £3, granted for use of Village Library by S.P.C.K.

Spoke to Robert Austin about the younger of his two apprentices (a workhouse boy from Shipston Union) who is in a rapid decline and quite unable to earn his living. The doctor can do nothing for him. Austin said he would gladly repay a proportion of premium if the Guardians would cancel his indentures. I promised to make inquiries and help him if I could.

Unwell from want of sleep.

Called on the Misses Dix and asked them to copy some circular letters convening a meeting about Lending Library for Monday evening next.

Vestry meeting in school room concerning roads in parish. I attended and took chair. Subsequently wrote a copy of resolutions and forwarded same to Local Highway Board by Mr Henry Hiorns the Waywarden.

Divine Service at 7 pm.

Mr Montagu came to luncheon.

Visited school. Called on Robert Austin, told him I had written to the chairman of Board of Guardians at Shipston concerning his apprentice William Charles Webb.

Visited Buckingham who is better, but unable to go to work.