Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Fine. Frank helped with Boys’ School. I attended choir practice this evening. Rain fell for two or three hours at night.

Extremely mild, but dull. Yesterday morning there was a frost which however was not very severe. I drove Bell to Hook Norton this morning and brought out Bessie who arrived by the 12 o’clock train.

I saw a notice in the Times of York-Powell’s appointment to the Regius Professorship of Modern History at Oxford in succession to the late Professor Froude. So I wrote to congratulate him.

Visited James Lines, Anna Aris, Charles Barnes, Anna Young. Mrs Aris, Widow Thomas Lamb, Thomas Keene, William Haynes, Jane Messenger, Bodfish, and gave 24 parcels of grocery supplied by Jewell each to cost 1/10 and containing ½ lb of 2/- tea, 1 lb loaf sugar 2^d, 1 lb raisins 4^d, 1 lb currants 4^d.

Christmas day. Not bright sunshine, but very mild, calm and dry. HC 26, offertory 15/-. Morning congregation 10.30 at least 120, afternoon about 180. We had some Christmas carols very well sung by the choir and full choral service this afternoon. The children sang extremely well. We dined off roast beef at 5.30. Self, Bell, Rosa, Frank and Bessie. I visited Mary Sabin and Miss Sabin.

St Stephen’s Day. Divine Service at 11 am. It is said that John Lamb Junior was drunk on Monday whilst in charge of team of horses belonging to George Padbury, and got run over and a policeman and another man brought him home.

David Hone’s wife sent me this letter

Sir, I have sent to Ask you if you Wold be so kind as to give me A Litte to holp me moove my things as i have to go Away to day And as the Wether was So Wett Last Week it made Short as i Lost to days and i have not got the Money to have them taken i Suge be very thankful if you cold holp me.

I ream your

obent Servant

???? Hone

and afterwards at my request came to the vestry where I spoke to her. Bell being present. She said that her husband had taken a cottage at Swalcliffe and intended walking backwards and forwards to his work at Temple Mill. I gave her 5/- to hire cart to remove her goods. It will be a long walk for her husband every morning and evening.

Rev T Daniel Hopkyns of 20 Winchester Road, South Hampstead NW, formerly of Chichester, owner of “Home Farm” Sibford Gower, sent me £1.1. for poor church folk. He used to send every Christmas but had not done so for several years.

Mary Hone, widow, age 82, late of Burdrop died in the Banbury Union Workhouse last Monday and is to be buried at Sibford at 3 pm on Friday next.