Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Sunshine, rain. Very cold. Wrote to Frank. Wrote a note to Henry Bishop offering him the cottage, land, etc at £30 a year, he to find good security and subject to settlement of some small matters. I also wrote to Jewell telling him of my decision.

Hyde went to the gardening lecture last night in the School-room. He reported that there were about 70 present.

I did not go out all day as the weather was inclement and I seemed to have renewed my cold yesterday, for my upper lip was dreadfully swollen this morning.

Mr Elley called this evening about the copying of accounts. He said that there was a story current that Mr Wynne was a day or two ago made bankrupt for £250,000. He says also that F Inns and Annie Lamb are laid up with influenza.

Morning sunshine, rain, snow and sleet by turns. A very bright afternoon. Miss Sarah Harris and Adeline Lamb called for subscription to British & Foreign Bible Society, I told her I preferred in future to give what I could afford through the church collection. I also wrote to Rev W Fisher, 88 Charlotte Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, in answer to his request to have a Bible Society meeting here on Saturday evening April 6 and a sermon in church on the following morning, that Saturday evening meetings are impossible in a scattered parish like this and that April 7 being a Communion Sunday would be unsuitable for a Bible Society’s sermon. I suggested that he should postpone his visit to Sibford till he could come on a Sunday afternoon not (preferably) the first Sunday in the month. I told him also that we were in a very depressed condition here, from various causes.

I walked round “the Elm” and Sibford Ferris this afternoon. It was exceedingly pleasant overhead but very very muddy, and in front of the Vicarage the road is quite like a quagmire.

Dull and raw, with some wind. Ordered new books for Library, and sent cheque for £3.7.2 to Simpkin, Marshall & Co who sent me pro forma invoice.

Funeral of Miss Gibbs of Banbury, formerly of “The Elm” Sibford Ferris. I read in church all the service except the Prayer of Committal and the Benediction prayer. The wind was so high that it blew my surplice and hood over my head as nearly as it could. Mrs Elley called this afternoon and told me that Mr Stewart, the lecturer on gardening, was lodging at her house. Mr Stewart called on me at 6.20 pm. He was evidently much gratified with the reception he had met with in the place. He said there were 70 present on Tuesday night, about 100 on Wednesday. He said he thought the men more than usually intelligent and added that he would probably be here again in the summer. Very showery afternoon and evening.