The Henson Journals

[233]

Monday, December 2nd, 1912.

I granted an interview to the 'Westminster Gazette' representative Mr Whitehorne. The subject was limited to the matter of Ecclesiastical Union in America.

Raleigh came to see me.

After dinner Archdeacon Watkins came to see us. He was most kind & communicative. He appeared to be greatly surprized when I mentioned the fact (as I supposed) that the Decanal income had been reduced to £2000, by the loss of the Chancellorship. He said that he felt sure that this was not the case. The late Dean had at one time described his official income as consisting of two factors, £2000 for the Deanery, £1000 for the Chancellorship: but that he (Watkins) being then Treasurer of the Dean & Chapter had pointed out to him the effect of such a view on the pension of a retiring Dean: whereupon Kitchin had abandoned his theory, & described his income in "Crockford" as £3000 for the Deanery. The Archdeacon declared himself "morally certain" that no change in the income had been made. I devoutly hope that he is not mistaken. But I do certainly remember some statement in the "Times" in which the opposite was affirmed.

[234]

On Tuesday, the 3rd December 1912, Ella & I travelled to Durham in order to take a preliminary view of our future home. The weather was abominable, passing from frosty fog to frosty rain. We arrived in a down–pour, & were in time for Evensong in the Cathedral. The service was comfortable & suggestive.

We then went into the Deanery, which was in the melancholy disarray which attends a sale of furniture. A local agent named Rushworth, who had been commended to us by the Archdeacon as honest, attended us, & received instruction as to some purchases we desired to make.

I saw Mr Bailey, the assistant–Treasurer, & learned to my infinite relief that the recent act which separates the Chancellorship from the Deanery does not affect the Decanal income, which remains at £3000. This information was the more welcome since my brief survey of the house had convinced me that it wd be impossible to live in it on less. After dinner some of the neighbours came in to see me. Bishop Nixon, & Cruikshank of the canons, the Precentor (Culley) who is also the Organist, & some others.

The next day, Wednesday, we again visited the Deanery: then went over the Cathedral with the Archdeacon: lunched with Cruikshank: saw Canon Knowling & some more of the neighbours: visited the Castle under Dr Gee's guidance: & returned to Westminster where we arrived about 11 p.m.

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