Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Bright morning. Windy afternoon. Rain at night all way to Wroxton where I went to preach Harvest Festival Sermon for Horton Infirmary. I was one or two minutes late. The congregation were singing processional hymn when I got to the church, some delay having been caused by having to show Burdon the Vicarage and going into the yard with him, though there was no one at home. After service I had some supper at the Vicarage with the churchwardens and choir. Rev B. Smith, Vicar of Alkerton, who read the Lessons. Fine drive home but intensely cold, and all our rugs etc were intensely wet.

School reopened.

Maria Hone, daughter of Widow Mary Hone, who has two bastard girls age 14 and 10 respectively, sent for Penny Bank half-crowns of the younger (the elder has left school and had hers out long ago) on the ground that she is leaving Sibford this week to be married to Henry Upton, widower, of Shenington. I did not give the half-crowns, but told the girl to say she could have it when she was 13 years old or passed 4th Standard. The girl said her mother has been “asked” at the Board of Guardians’ Office. A week or two after this, however, the banns were put up in my church.

Visited Richard Walker and Mrs Austin Gardner. Her boy is gone to New Brompton and they have heard that he has arrived safely.

Wet day. Harvest Festival at Swalcliffe. Mr Norris had invited Mr Davies to preach and me to take part in the Service and supper afterwards at his house. Very wet night. I read the Lessons, Mr White the prayers, Mr Davies preached.

Drove to Tadmarton to take Frank who was invited to tea with Mr MacDermot’s children being the birthday of one of them. Rained in torrents. Called at Swalcliffe Park for Mr Davies on my return and brought him out to Sibford. Mr Norris consulted me about the Swalcliffe Loggin allotments.

I called at Tadmarton Rectory for my umbrella, which Mr Willoughby had taken from here instead of his own – but it was raining so fast I declined to go in.

Bright morning. Mr Davies visited Misses Dix and Mrs Turner.

Mr Norris sent me a note saying that the College yesterday appointed Rev Dr Wilkinson, a Dublin man, Vicar of Swalcliffe. He appears to be a man of means and is at present Vicar of a parish near Bolton in Lancashire.

Very wet. Mr Davies returned to Hellidon. Burdon drove him to Banbury.

I find on reference to an old copy of the London Gazette preserved in the iron chest in the vestry that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in May 1844 made a grant of £27 a year to this Living.