Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Buried the remains of Rev Edmund James Smith, M.A. late Fellow of Worcester College Oxford and Rector of Tadmarton, at 1 pm. Mr Wyatt, Mr Egerton, Mr Macdermot and many parishioners were there. Gave Mr Wyatt a lift as far as his own house, as I drove on to Banbury after the funeral. Brought out Lottie Eve.

Mr Wyatt requested me to write an obituary notice of the late Canon E. Payne for the “Guardian”. I had suggested to Mrs Wyatt that some one of the neighbourhood should do it, and I thought her husband, as having known him for more years than I would be more suitable than myself. But it appears that practically, he had not known him longer than I, and not more intimately, and was not so well acquainted with the work he had done for the Church as myself.

Sent a brief memoir of the late Canon Payne to the Guardian.

Visited Richard Austin of Sibford Ferris who is suffering from dropsy. he is a curious man – very fond of his own opinions on every subject. He has never been to church since I have been here, though I have spoken several times about his duty in this respect. He says he was baptized at Great Bourton. He sometimes goes to the Friends’ meeting House but does not like it to be insinuated that he is a Quaker, a sect for which he appears to not have a great amount of respect. I fancy he has quarreled with some of them which tinges his views. He says my church is too noisy – and there is too much formality.

Drove Bell and Lottie to Brailes with some Four-shire Books. Saw Mr Smith who told me of John Cooper’s serious illness at Burlington. He is a Solicitor (son in law of Mr S.) and was agent to the Conservative Candidate. He worked very hard; had haemorrage of the lung, was unable to vote, and the Radical Candidate got in by a majority of one.

Showery and close. Visited Hannah Simmons. Was pained to hear her talk about the death of her grand child Eliza Simmons who was sent to London to a Home, by Misses Norris and Canon Payne. She was confined in a lying in Hospital and died, the doctor told me, of pleurisy. The old woman says they “killed her.”

Services at 10.30 am. and 7 pm.

Drove to Tadmarton this afternoon and took service at 3. Preached funeral sermon for late Rector, Rev. Edmund James Smith. The church was full, a great number from Swalcliffe being present.

I had given notice of a Children’s Service at 3 in my own church, but had to postpone it.

Rev. C. H. Daniel, Bursar of Worcester College, took the service at Tadmarton this morning.

Mr. MacDermot and Mr. Salmon spoke to me about the sequestration which I had advised them to obtain. They had promptly asked on my advice.