The Henson Journals
Sun 3 February 1907 to Tue 12 February 1907
Volume 16, Pages 179 to 180
[179]
Sexagesima, February 3rd, 1907.
The weather continues bitterly cold. Knox celebrated at 8 a.m., and I served. There were but 18 communicants, the smallest number on the 1st Sunday in the month I can recall. There was but a modest congregation at 11 a.m. when I preached on "Christian Fraternity", and made appeal for the Jamaica Church Fund. I celebrated the Communion; there were 73 communicants, including Lady Frances Balfour and Signorina Castelvecchio.
In the Evening the congregation was by no means large; and the coughing was distinctly aggressive: but the collection was better than I ventured to expect. The total amount raked together during the day exceeded £48.0.0.
[180]
On Saturday, the 9th of February 1907 my wife and I went to Canterbury on a short visit to Archdeacon Spooner. I preached in the Cathedral on Quinquagesima at Evensong. There was a large congregation. On Monday, the 11th, we returned to town: & I attended the Chapter Meeting.
The Dean very civilly asked us to tea, and we had a pleasant half–hour in his company. He showed us the fine series of Decanal portraits.
I made a rough pencil sketch of the Orlando Gibbons monument for the Chapter Meeting tomorrow.
On the platform I was addressed by a stout gentleman, who announced himself as Atlay, who once was known to me at Oxford – 23 years ago. Even with this announcement I recognized him with difficulty.
The Chapter Meeting on Monday, Feb. 11th, was mainly concerned with the fabric; and we had another interesting evidence of the impracticableness of our architect, Prof. Lethaby.
On Tuesday, Feb. 12th, the young man, Nairne, came to say that his wife was dead. I promised to read the service in S. Margaret's at 10 a.m.
The King opened Parlt in State: but the rain spoiled the show.