The Henson Journals

[157]

Thursday, February 25th, 1915.

We went to town on the 25th of February and there remained until Friday the 5th of March. First, we stayed with the Ellisons in 5 Vicarage Gate, Kensington. I preached at the midday service in St Michael's, Cornhill, on Friday the 26th Feb. The congregation consisted of 140 persons, mostly city–men. The church is acoustically very bad.

Westminster Abbey.

On Saturday, the 27th, we transferred ourselves for the week–end to Westminster, where we were the guests of Canon & Mrs Charles. I preached in the Abbey on Sunday morning. There was a considerable congregation, but not nearly so considerable as I expected. I preached from the words, 'Apart from the shedding of blood [^there^] is no remission', and pleaded the cause of Belgium. On Monday we moved to the Deanery of St Paul's.

Birmingham.

On Tuesday, I went to Birmingham, and made a speech in the Town Hall in support of the 'Church Pastoral Aid Society'. The night was wet: there was a formidable rival in the shape of a Lantern Lecture on Belgium: the meeting in the Town Hall was neither large nor enthusiastic.

I stayed the night with Canon Willink, whom I found more interesting than I had expected, and returned to London on the morning of Wednesday.

Violet Carruthers (née Markham) came to tea. On Thursday we lunched with Mrs Murray & her daughters: & dined with Lady Chelmsford. On Friday, we returned to Durham. The same day there arrived Watson & his wife from Oxford, & Max Dennistoun. During my absence the late Mayor (Charles Caldcleugh) died suddenly to my great regret. He was an exceedingly kind, trustworthy, & competent man, & I had found him very serviceable as a means of communication with the townsfolk.

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