The Henson Journals

[344]

Friday, September 29th, 1916.

788th day

I finished preparing a sermon for Sunday, and wrote to Ernest. After lunch Ella and I went to Muggleswick. The train carried us as far as Shotley Bridge, and there Mr Ritson met us with the car, and took is to his house on the moors, 850 feet above sea level, hard by the little church of Muggleswick. Here I preached at the Harvest Thanksgiving, repeating the sermon which I had already preached at Haughton–le–Skerne and Beamish. The little church was fairly filled, a congregation of about 70 persons sufficed for the purpose. As this parish adjoins Stanhope, there was a special fitness about the references to Bishop Butler, which my discourse contained. The parson, A. H. Smith, is a rather pompous little man, with a very clerical manner, but he appears to work hard, and to have plenty to do. His small population (362) is scattered over a large area, and served by two churches. The endowment, about £350 net, arises mainly from glebe. One farm is some 15 miles distant. This he desires greatly to sell to the Eccles: Com S. Mr Ritson supports him strongly herein, &, indeed, it seems a reasonable desire. "I like ye well enough as a minister, but I don't like ye as a parson" – was the observation of the wife of one of his glebe–holders; and it is probably a general sentiment. There is an apparent conflict between the character of pastor and landlord which inevitably occasions friction. On the other hand, the severing of a link with the secular life of the parishioners implies a diminution of social importance & the loss of at least the potency of spiritual influence. A very similar case was that of the clergy being Justices of the Peace.

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