Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Gave out coal tickets at School at 9 am. Heard children the Church catechism and spoke to them about their manners.

Received Inspector’s report of School – grant £31. 7.

Took Penny Bank at 12, Mrs Turner whose turn it was to help being confined to house with bad cough.

Visited Edward Holland and William Holland.

Went to Banbury and paid various accounts.

Called on the Misses Dix.

Received a second contribution (for poor) of one guinea from Rev J D Hopkins, 1 The Close, Southsea.

Held confirmation classes as before.

Visited Thomas Sabin, Widow Henry Sabin who was in bed with a cold, Barton whose wife said her daughter Mary Ann told her she wished to be confirmed and that she and her father wished it; that the father was going to see her on Thursday and would speak to her about it.

Visited James Rimell, Thomas Padbury and Joseph Gibbs.

Received warrant from Education Department for £31. 7. grant to school and forwarded it to the London County Bank, Oxford.

Bessie Rimell came to me at 12 today and said her church catechism very well indeed.

Visited school and paid Mr Elley £15.13. 6 being half the government grant as promised.

Visited Sylvia Sabin, Mrs Bond, Widow William Keene, not in, Solomon Geydon and Mary Weaver, David Hone and Mrs Jarvis who was not at home having gone to Middleton Cheney.

Visited Joseph Dale and spoke about the split in the “Union” camp.

Wrote to Mr Hodgson about the girl Barton and also to her Mistress. Wrote to Rev O. Mordaunt Hampton Lucy and told him that William Spicer had come of his own accord to my confirmation class.

Distributed notices of Sermon on Sunday afternoon next by Venerable Archdeacon Daykin of Durban (Peter Maritzburg?) on behalf of the S.P.G. I had written for them to Mr. Slatter of Milton-under-Wychwood and told him that owing to the weather and depression of the agricultural interests, I did not expect either a large congregation or even the usual amount of offertory.