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.
Rain all day.
Received, much to my surprise, a cheque for £1. 1 from the Guardian (Church) Newspaper for my contribution respecting the late Canon Payne.
Called on Mr George Dix and Richard Austin, but did not see either. Visited Mary Lively.
Received rents of Sibford Heath Allotments this evening. George Green came in the worse for drink and wanted to quarrel with Henry Harris because he had an allotment before he had been resident in the parish 12 months. I told him there was no rule of that kind and that he must mind his own business. But he would not keep quiet till I threatened to take away his allotment and cross his name out of the book entirely if he could not behave better. He felt the force of that argument and subsided at once. Several men present who had offered to take allotments in the Furze Land now said they wished to withdraw.
Sent first volume of “Prayer Book teaching” to Butler & Tanner for an estimate.
Attended Boys’ School and paid out their Club money. Taught choir in evening.
Very wet day.
150 at church this morning counted – about 200 in afternoon not counted.
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Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.
