Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited school.

Visited Edward Holland. I had heard he was “very ill”. But I found him sitting by his fire. He had kept his bed only one day with a cold. His son was at his dinner with a child on his lap and the young woman Holloway was there. i did not feel that I could speak about her being there before them all; though I am told on good authority that there is only one small bedroom in the house.

Attended Miss Dix’s sewing class. Read and prayed at close.

Visited Widow Keene and John Padbury.

A fully attended Library Committee meeting was held this evening at the schoolroom. Every member was present except Rosa. Certain rules were made, notably that the Vicar was to be ex-officio president and the Vicar and churchwardens ex-officio trustees and members of committee. The meeting was adjourned after 2½ hours sitting, to 7 o’clock next Thursday evening.

Mr Sharp a quaker gentleman of Ettington who is to lecture at Brailes on Tuesday next on “Volcanoes” on behalf of the Church restoration Fund and who is at present staying with Mr R Routh called and offered to give the lecture here on Monday evening next for the benefit of our Library Fund. I thankfully accepted his offer.

Miss Capper a quaker lady called with a parcel of books which she offered to present to the Library.

Mrs Stevens and self visited Rev Mr and Mrs Izatt of Balscott.

Robert Austin called to say that he took his apprentice William Charles Webb to Shipston on Stour this morning and the Guardians on seeing him and having a report from their medical officer on the boy’s condition cancelled his indentures before a magistrate and sent him into the infirmary of the workhouse. Austin refunded half the premium he had received with him, ie £6.

Taught in Sunday School this afternoon; 25 boys present in morning and I believe 27 in afternoon.

Having a cold I did not attend choir practice this evening.

Called on Canon Payne to make arrangements for Feoffees’ meeting and wrote to Rev W S Miller asking whether Monday January 14 next at 2 pm would suit him.

Mr Sharp gave his lecture on Volcanoes this evening. There was a very good attendance of working people and children and many quakers. Receipts £1.3.

Press cutting from Banbury Guardian, 20 December 1877

LECTURE — On Thursday evening an interesting and instructive lecture on volcanoes was delivered in the schoolroom at Sibford Gower, by Mr Thomas Sharpe, of Ettington, who kindly gave his services for the benefit of the Sibford Lending Library. The Vicar occupied the chair, and the lecture was illustrated with excellent diagrams of the Working Men’s Educational Union. There was a large attendance of the parishioners, by whom the lecturer was warmly received and accorded a vote of thanks for his generous services.