Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1885, April 30, Thursday 

Received further loan of £600 from Bessie, making £1020 altogether. To pay 4 per cent, more if I can. It is understood that the capital is not to be called for.

Attended Board of Guardians, asked Rural Sanitary Authority to let pond business to stand over for a few days longer, to give parishioners an opportunity of discussing the propriety of having a cattle road through it or not, which I understood was the point in dispute among the chief part of the Ratepayers who oppose the present plan.

Called on Isaac Padbury this evening and learnt that he and Inns would propose that no alteration whatever should be made in the pond, but that it should be cleaned out and restored to its original condition.

1885, May 1, Friday

Saints Philip and James: Divine Service at 9.15 am.

Rain.

Wrote note to F. Inns telling him that as I understood he and Padbury were going to propose the entire setting aside of the R.S.A. plan for improving the pond I should decline to summon a meeting of Ratepayers for the purpose; but that, of course, he might get the overseers to do so.

Miss Shelswell and Miss Ida Berridge came to tea.

I received the boys recently confirmed this evening at the Church, gave them a quiet discourse with good advice and presented a Communion Book to each.

1885, May 2, Saturday 

Visited John Reason, Joshua Lines, William Haines, Dr Routh, Maria Payne, Ellen Hone, Thomas Keen.

The Brass Band came down this evening and played on my lawn. I gave them £1 which Mr Jenkins, of Upton House had left with me for the purpose when he came to the Conservative meeting.

1885, May 3, Sunday

Holy Communion at 8 o’clock and at noon so that lately confirmed should not lack an opportunity to receive their first Communion. Most of them came, and altogether there were 59 communicants.

1885, May 4, Monday

Attended Archdeacon Palmer’s Visitation at Banbury Old Church, and stayed to dinner at the Red Lion with him and the Clergy and Churchwardens.

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Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.