The Henson Journals

[77]

Advent Sunday, November 29th, 1914.

118th day

Twenty six years ago I was instituted as Vicar in the old parish church at Barking. I celebrated at 8 a.m. in the Cathedral. Three canons and three minor canons, and about 30 communicants. The morning was so wet & stormy that no doubt many were hindered from coming to church.

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The Military Service made a very modest beginning. There were, perhaps, as many as 200 men, certainly not more. However, a beginning was made, & that is something. At 11 a.m. Lillingston preached as canon–in–residence. He has a good presence, and an unusually pleasant voice. He preaches from notes, & keeps well within the four–corners of the Evangelical tradition. After service we walked in the Banks, with Penelope.

At Evensong the congregation seemed to me very scanty. There is little danger of my vanity being fostered by excessive popularity! However, I preached an old sermon on missions for the benefit of the Church Missionary Society. Lord & Lady Londonderry were in church, and came in to tea. They made themselves very agreeable, & went over the house, expressing much interest in it. Lillingston came in also. I thought it a convenient opportunity to introduce him to the great people.

The day culminated in a débacle. When I appeared in the Town Hall at 7.30 p.m. for the 'Sacred Concert', I found nobody there but the performers with the Precentor. About half a dozen men in khaki finally arrived. Col: Blackett was to take the chair, & he appeared in due course. But, of course, it was impossible to go through a programme in these circumstances: & we agreed on a postponement sine die!! After my return to the Deanery, I wrote to the Mayor announcing this decision, and enclosing a cheque for five pounds as my contribution to the 'Soldiers' Recreation Fund'.

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