Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Taught in Boys’ Sunday School this afternoon. Visited Mrs Shelswell this evening. Attended Choir Practice. Rosa unwell with bad cold.

Miss Dix assisted at Penny Bank.

Charles Hands called and paid me his rent 5/- for Heath Allotment all in coppers. I spoke to him about not coming to Church. He said he was badly off for clothes and that he caught cold when he came but he would soon be able to come “again”. He asked me for an old hat. I gave him one of mine – which fitted him very well and made him look respectable “at the top”.

Took girls’ confirmation class at Mrs Elley’s at 3 pm and Boys’ at school at 7. William Spicer was not present. He was not at Church last Sunday nor the Sunday before, though I met him walking with some of the Methodists.

Visited Jane Legge, spoke with Joseph Lamb’s wife.

Visited the people at New Barn – sent to Hook Norton for some beef to make the woman some beef tea. Mrs S sent her some old linen by W Stevens’s wife who came for it.

Visited Richard and Edward Scruby. The former died in the evening.

Attended meeting of the Banbury Clerical Club for the first time – at Mr Back’s Banbury Vicarage at 12 noon. The Greek Text read and discussed was Galatians V 16 etc – “the works of the flesh.”

“Inis Indicabit?” was the other subject – alluding to the present position of our Bishop of Oxford. The Council of Queen’s Bench has issued a Mandamus calling on him to appoint a commission etc under Church Discipline Act of 1841 to enquire into the charges of illegal ritualism brought against Canon Carter Rector of Clewer by Dr Julius, a parishioner, supported by the funds of the “Church Association”. The Bishop appeared before the Court of Queen’s Bench in Person – and has now appealed to the Court of Appeal over which his brother-in-law Lord Coleridge presides. A vote of sympathy with the Bishop or of thanks to him for what he has done was proposed – but not formally – and nothing definite was done. There were 18 members present.

I called at Mr Henderson’s Christ Church Vicarage after the meeting – but both Mr and Mrs H were at Church. I saw Mrs Ford and “Miss Mary”.