The Henson Journals

[668]

Palm Sunday, April 16th, 1916.

622nd day

Bright but still curiously cold. I received the Holy Communion at 8 a.m. The Precentor celebrated. At Mattins Knowling preached an admirable sermon. The Liége Dolphins came to lunch, and stayed until Evensong. I preached the final sermon of my course on Christian Liberty. There was but a petty attendance. Bishop Quirk came in at tea–time to see the Caröes. We had some talk about the Tower, & concluded that we had best postpone everything until after the War. I wrote to Carissima: & walked with Caröe. After dinner we made a circle round the drawing–room fire, and talked until bed–time. In no respect does the smallness of Durham appear more evident than in the absence of employment on Sunday evening. There is really nothing to be done with the Cathedral then, for the little city is full, over–full, of parish churches, & Dissenting Bethels. These are said to be fairly well attended in the evening, though on any showing the majority of Dunelmians are habitual Sabbath–breakers.

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Caröe suggests that the figures should be placed in the Neville Screen as a War–memorial to the Durham troops. In the centre would be St Mary with the Crowned Christ in her arms: on either side, S. Cuthbert & S. Oswald: & then the patron saints of the Allied Nations – S. George, S. Denis, S. Andrew, S. Peter, S. Gudula, & S. Saba. In the four upper niches, the 4 archangels would be placed: & the smaller niches would provide accommodation for the 12 apostles. Caröe reckons that the cost would not exceed £3000, and says that he could find a sculptor thoroughly competent to do the work thoroughly. The project has much in its favour. It would be central & splendid. It would be a record of the great crisis, & form an excellent lesson–book for teaching future generations of visitors to the Cathedral. Both the Bishop of Jarrow and I were attracted by it.

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