The Henson Journals

[131]

Advent Sunday, November 30th, 1902.

Fourteen years ago on this day I was publicly instituted in Barking Church to the charge of that great parish. Bishop Blomfield who instituted me is dead; & the friends who then supported me are widely scattered. Of the enthusiasm which then filled me nothing remains but a mocking memory. Of pastoral purpose there survives but little.

I notice on turning to my diary that on the following Monday, December 3rd 1888, I preached for the first time in Westminster Abbey.

The weather was hateful: steady rain with high enfeebling temperature. Congregation at Mattins abnormally small. Beeching came to lunch.

At Evensong the congregation, by its smallness, certified the wretchedness of the weather. After Evensong there was a short intercession service for Foreign Missions.

[132]

To Mr A. Routledge, Coombe Lodge, Combe Lane, Wimbledon.

December 2nd 1902.

Dear Sir,

It has been brought to my notice that you have made the acquaintance of Harold Knowling, the solo boy in S. Margaret's Church, Westminster, & have been in the practice of seeing him frequently, & making him presents. I feel that I ought to tell you that the choirboys are forbidden to accept the invitations & gifts of strangers, & I have, accordingly, warned Knowling that in his case that rule cannot be broken.

Believe me,

faithfully yrs

H. Hensley Henson

[133]

I addressed the following to Mr Vacher, of Chudleigh, Surbiton Hill.

December 2nd 1902

Dear Mr Vacher,

It will give me much pleasure to grant my sanction to your placing a brass to your Father in S. Margaret's Church. He bears a name justly regarded in the parish, & the perpetuation of his name on the Church walls will be welcome. You will understand that I have to be very watchful as to the introduction of monuments into S. Margaret's, as well because of the great importance of that historic Church, as because persons with no claim at all, either public or local, desire sometimes to set up memorials there. In the case of the brasses set up by Mr Lavie & Mr Hora, I had to settle the question of the Fee to be charged for brasses, & I propose to adopt the same scale as was in their cases, accepted i.e. six guineas for residents & twelve guineas for non-residents. The fee is substantial in order to discourage frivolous applications, but is not wholly arbitrary, being twice the Fees customary for monuments in the Churchyard, when that was in use. I shall, therefore, have to ask you [134] (1) to pay a Fee of twelve guineas, (2) to submit to me the exact size of the brass, & the proposed inscription, (3) to meet me in the Church & choose a site for its erection. I think that is all that needs to be said.

Believe me,

sincerely yours,

H. Hensley Henson.

E. F. Vacher, Esq.

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Issues and controversies: grooming of choir boys