Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Burdon wheeled Rosa in her chair to church – to practice turning it round and getting it in and out of church. Bell and I accompanied them.

Very fine day.

Drove Bell, Amy Ferguson and Harry to a garden party at Lady Caroline Jenkins’s.

Major Norris spoke to me about pupils, having seen my advertisement in the “Times”, which has brought no replies.

Sent a bottle of St Jacob’s oil to Ann Payne, for her rheumatism, from which she is suffering considerably.

Attended Boys’ school this morning. Called on Mr White this evening.

Bell and I visited Mrs Shelswell – Oscar and Arthur came in whilst we were there.

Visited Mrs Hiorns and Mrs Maitland, from Ealing, who has been lodging there with her three boys for a few weeks’ country air.

One wheel of my carriage being out of repair I sent Burdon to Brailes to see whether Molins could do it. He said it would take a week.

I met Mary Lively this evening. She told me that the Methodists refused to sing one of the hymns marked by her late husband, who had been a member of the society for 50 years. As she was telling me this opposite her own cottage – it was dark at the time – a voice out of the darkness exclaimed in a very angry tone “You’re a bad, wicked woman, Mary Lively, yo say such lies.” I was for the moment quite startled, but went to the region of the voice and found it came from Joseph Alcock one of the leaders among the Methodists here. He told me that it was usual for the friends of the deceased to ask for a funeral service. Neither Mary Lively nor any of her family had asked for this service which was consequently not held, and the hymns alluded to were not sung. Mary Lively said she would never go to the Methodist Chapel again, that Joseph Alcock came to see her husband while he was almost dying, and “only read the newspaper”.

Drove to Banbury. Took Amy, Frank and Bell. Took my carriage wheel to Hawkins the coachbuilder, who lent me another carriage to use till the wheel was finished. I had to borrow Mr Oddie’s wagonette to drive in with.

We all, including Rosa, went to a lawn-tennis party at Dr Routh’s this afternoon. Miss Buller, Miss Grace, Miss Maria Dix, Mary Thame, Mr Oddie, Mrs Oddie, and Oscar and Arthur Shelswell were there.