Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Funeral of Mrs Ellis. Visited school. Called on Mr Whale and Mrs James Rimell.

In bed all day with violent cold.

Met Bishops’ Commission appointed at instance of Ecclesiastical Commissioners to whom I have applied for a grant for Parsonage, at Swalcliffe Vicarage at luncheon. It consisted of Rev Canon Payne, Rev H Back, Vicar of Banbury, Rural Dean and Rev J H Cookes, Rector of Tadmarton.

Among other particulars I supplied was the following account of Fees received for the past seven years.

1871  £ 2.  3.  4
1872       13.  4
1873       10.  4
1874    1.  3.  4
1875    1.  3.  4
1876    5.  8.  0
1877    1. 10.  0

Income

From College, Corn rent £150
Land, let                 40
Cottage                    3. 10
Eccl. Commissioners       27.  0
Q.A.B.                   9.  2.  8
                       £ 229. 12.  8

Canon Payne set down the house here as “unfit for occupation” or rather told Mr Back to write it, which he did.

Very wet. My cough was very bad.

Winderton Church opened. Mr Smith had invited me and asked me to write a report for the newspapers – but I was unable to go, though I afterwards wrote reports.

I spoke to W Barton Senior in the vestry this afternoon when he came to have his child registered after Baptism, about the outcry made last winter when the Trustees gave 2/6 for each child who had attended 250 times during the year and the report that it was he who wrote the notices calling the “public meeting” in Tennant’s Barn – although he was one of the very recipients of the half-crowns whom the others were jealous of. He declared that he had nothing whatever to do with it. His boy William is gone out to service. I sent a kind message to him by his father.

Drove to Hook Norton. Mr Smith of Brailes called and had dimmer with us this evening.

Visited Mr Rushton at Hook Norton. Met Dr Routh in Hook Norton and spoke about the School recommending him not to allow Bishop or Inns to draw him into any discussion of the Charity matters.

Drove to Banbury. Mr Rusher, Actuary at the Savings Bank, died. Mr Smith of Brailes called here this morning on his way to Leamington, and again in the evening on his return – on both occasions about report of opening of Winderton Church. I gave him copy to take away with him.

Visited Miss Dix – Hannah Aris and her daughter Elizabeth Wilks – Thomas Aris – Mary Weaver – Solomon Geydon – Jane Legge – Henry Bishop who, as well as his wife began again to ask what they were to do with the children. I replied “send them to school” – and added that they would have to pay the 3d per week which the Trustees had fixed.

Visited Humphrey Sabin – Dyer – Saw many family Bibles with entries of ages for purposes of child’s school book.