Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1885, April 6, Monday 

Easter Monday. Divine Service at 9.15 am. Rain, but warm; afterwards hail and cold.

Boys Confirmation Class at 7 pm in the Schoolroom.

Brass Band marched out to play today.

Administered Holy Communion to sick and aged at Hannah Keene’s, Sibford Ferris.

Called on Long the Baker at Sibford Ferris who has taken to the business formerly carried on by Joseph Holtom and afterwards by Joseph Manning and young Charles Holtom, the latter two having taken a business at Little Bourton.

1885, April 7, Tuesday

Easter Tuesday.

Mr Woolgrove and Dr Routh called to ask whether they might have the School room for a little private dance towards the end of the week. I said I had no objection but that they should have the policeman up, in case of any rough fellows trying to cause a disturbance and that they should close punctually at 12, to which they both fully agreed.

Vestry Meeting in Schoolroom at 7 pm. Mr Mann proposed that instead of collecting subscriptions at Easter from pew holders as has been done here for many years to pay Church expenses, we should have a quarterly collection in Church. I expressed myself as willing to agree the arrangement if the Vestry desired it, but that I was pretty sure it would not answer. I added that if I gave my usual subscription at the collections I should not be able to give any more to make up any deficiency at Easter. The matter was well discussed and in the end Mr Mann’s proposition was lost.

Mr Mann was then nominated as People’s Churchwarden, after I had reappointed Mr Woolgrove as my warden – but he declined to serve again and nominated Frederick Inns as people’s warden. There being no other nomination, I declared Mr Inns duly elected.

Mr Mann then proposed that the people’s warden should collect the subscriptions and pay the bills always before Easter; so as to present the vouchers to the Vestry which was carried. Mr Woolgrove has done the collecting etc for many years, but has done it after the Vestry meeting instead of before – as I have always said should have been done.

Ben Messenger told someone (who told me) that he had been a great fighter in his day and would fight any man but that he once struck his mother and felt more ashamed of that than of anything else he had ever done in his life.

1885, April 8, Wednesday 

A raw cold morning.

Charles Barnes called to say that Thomas Messenger died at the Workhouse yesterday, and the Master wished to bury him here next Friday. I named 3 pm.

Administered Holy Communion to Rosa, Bell and Harry in her room.

Visited Mrs Shelswell. Visited Canon Payne, but did not see him as he was holding a Confirmation Class.

Visited Mr and Mrs Robertson.

Eliza Lamb, wife of John Lamb gave me her 10/- for Church Expenses for her pew.

Visited Mr Woolgrove.

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Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.