Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Taught in Sunday School this morning and Choir in evening.

Went to Banbury and brought out Mr Maclean a new pupil who wished to prepare for matriculation at Oxford in October.

Miss S Dix took Penny Bank for me.

Visited Thomas Sabin and Anne Fox. Sorry to find the latter sells the Police News. Paid her for the Banbury Guardian for last quarter. Went to Brailes.

Went to Hook Norton. Changed a pair of boots which I had sent for for Ada Manning, but which were too large.

Visited Edward Scruby, Widow R Scruby, Job Harris, his mother Widow Harris, Dr Routh, John Reason and Joseph Payne.

St Mark’s Day. Divine Service at 9.15.

Rev Thomas Smith, Mr Atkinson his curate, R Braddell, Harry, Annie and Minnie and Sophy came to tea.

Visited Mrs Bond, Thomas Sabin and Widow Manning.

Attended Sunday School. Preached at Winderton this evening.

Drove to Brailes to fetch Harry. Visited Richard Harris, no one at home.

Attended meeting of Banbury Clerical Club at Middleton Cheney, Rev Prof. Buckley’s. Drove Mr Henderson out from Banbury and back.

Visited Thomas Sabin. Presided at a Temperance Meeting in the School room this evening.

Heavy fall of snow, which however soon disappeared.

Saints Philip and James. Divine Service at 9.15 am.

Lent Harry and Mr Maclean my horse to drive to Stratford on Avon to Shakespeare festival on opening of the Shakespeare Memorial.

Children’s May tea at School room this evening. They came to play on my lawn afterwards.

Mr Josiah Woolgrove called. I paid him £2.2 as my subscription to Church expenses and £2.1 for repair fund which Canon Payne will refund to me.

Visited Mary Wilks.

Mr Thomas Hitchcox called this morning – said he had been very unhappy in mind – and had come to offer me a full apology if I would accept it. I said I would, we would say no more about the past but try to do better for the future. I shook hands with him and said I was much pleased to see him.

Went towards Swalcliffe intending to call on Canon Payne, but met him. He was on his way to call on me. he gave me a cheque for Loggin Money and Church repair fund. He told me he called on Hitchcox a few days ago and was grieved at condition he found both him and his wife in – apparently both were worse for liquor, he more so than she. But she kept going out of the room in a curious and suspicious manner. Hitchcox told him how I had talked to him and that he had said he would never come to Sibford Church again, but that he would go to Swalcliffe. Mr Payne told him he would not like to see him there etc etc – but so far as I could learn did not speak to him on the main question.