Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Dull and cold. Visited school and taught.

Mr George Hall called on me there and said he was very sorry he had lost or mislaid the Loggin Rent-roll for 1895, and said also that he would willingly pay for copies whatever Miller and Abbotts charged.

Visited Mrs Turner and saw her and Mrs Fox.

Visited Harriet Sabin and saw her son William who arrived at Banbury last evening and came out with his Aunt the carrier. He looks very ill.

My synopsis of Pleasant Holidays was returned this morning from Mr Edward Arnold publisher, 37 bedofrd Street. Strand.

Visited Widow Hannah Lamb and Miss Dix. Also Mr Moore, but could not make anyone hear at the latter’s house.

Cold and dull. Very high wind. I started to drive Bell and Rosa to Brailes to see Sophie and Maud Smith but the wind was so high and cold that we went only as far as Sibford Heath and turning back drove home by Pig & Whistle arriving at 4 pm.

Sexagesima Sunday. Fine. But there were only 110 persons at church this morning. There were probably nearly 200 in the afternoon but I did not count them.

I told Charles Barnes, the Clerk and Sexton that he must not remove earth from the churchyard. It was quite contrary to law and might bring him into great trouble if he did it. He said it was done everywhere else, or what was to be done with surplus earth and stones from the graves? I told him that stones might be picked up by hand and removed from the churchyard if necessary. I told him of the trouble at Chew Magna 30 years ago. He received what I said with his usual want of the grace of meekness.

I baptized Richard John, son of John and Emily West and Minnie Jane, daughter of George and Eliza Ann Dyer.