Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Returned to Sibford Gower, leaving St Leonards at 12, arriving Victoria 2.30, left Paddington 3.30, arrived Banbury 5.59.

Webb met me at the Station and told me that John Hathaway died on Wednesday and they wanted to bury him this afternoon. He expected the funeral would be waiting for me at the house – the weather being sultry. But when I arrived at Sibford Ferris I found they had postponed the funeral till tomorrow.

Took Boys School this morning. Buried John Hathaway at 2. Attended choir practice this evening.

Mrs Stock called to ask the “Rules about funerals” in my church yard. Their only son, an intemperate and idle man, has just died at Birmingham and they have some thoughts of bringing him here to be buried. He has been a great trouble and expense to his parents, and so I told her I would allow him to be buried here without charge as though he had been a parishioner.

They afterwards made up their minds to bury him at Birmingham. She seemed much upset by his death and expressed herself as very grateful to me. She is sister of my late Clerk, James Barnes, but neither she nor her husband has been to Church for years. She came once or twice after I first came here – I called one day on her – some 8 or 9 years ago and spoke about her husband, asking her to use her influence to bring him to Church with her. But she never brought him and I don’t think ever came herself afterwards.

Bonner and his wife came to remove Sally Green’s goods. I went in with them and took an inventory. Mrs Stock came and took some tea, soap etc for 2/- owing for rent, and Bonner gave the rest of the perishable articles to John Wilks for carrying the goods into Miss Dix’s premises.

I afterwards visited Stock and his wife to condole with them. Isaac Padbury’s wife their only surviving child was there.

I sent a copy of the inventory of Sally Green’s goods to Bonner. There was 2/2 in money which the poor old creature had saved up to pay her grocer. Bonner afterwards told me he paid it over to him.

Preached Harvest Thanksgiving at Balscote Church this evening. It was beautifully lighted and decorated and was filled with people. I afterwards took supper with Izatt, his wife and one or two ladies at the Orphanage at Balscote.