Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

xvii Trinity. Fine and dry but cold. Bell and I visited Mr and Mrs Ainge after Church this afternoon. Mrs Marshall was at church this morning for the first time since her illness.

The Evangelists’ Tent is still here. There are two Evangelists with it, I believe and I am told they both lodge at Hillman’s, opposite the Vicarage. I heard one of them singing and another preaching this evening when I was near Mrs Enock’s. They seemed well qualified but had not, apparently more than 30 or 40 in their tent. My congregations were good.

Dull and cold, but no rain. Drove Bell, Rosa and Frank to Bloxham to tea with Mrs Kershaw, by invitation. Miss Heskett, a friend of hers, was staying with her. We did not get back till ten o’clock, having delayed longer than we should otherwise have done owing to the darkness of the earlier part of the evening.

Meeting of Banbury Clerical Society at Wigginton. I drove through Temple Mill and Hook Norton taking Hyde to open the gates, but he went back unexpectedly leaving me to manage the last by myself. Fortunately I found a large stone with which I was able to prop the gate open whilst I took my horse through. Mr Warren read an excellent paper, on the so-called “Higher Criticism”. We read and discussed 1 Timothy vi, 3-10. Mozley kindly and readily promised to preach a Harvest Festival Sermon for me on the evening of Sunday October 7th. Canon Wood told me that the living of Chacombe including Advowson and next presentation (Mr Ayton the Vicar has just retired at the age of 78) for £300 at Auction mart. The purchaser has just come in as Rector. There is a good house. He did not say that Mr Ayton was the former patron.

There was a large meeting at Wigginton, 17 or 18 present. Mrs John Shelswell called this evening.