The Henson Journals

[193]

18th Sunday after Trinity, October 7th, 1917.

1161th day

There was a sudden change in the weather early this morning, and, when I went to the Cathedral at 8 a.m. rain mingled with sleet was falling. When, after the celebration, we returned to the Deanery, it was snowing hard! An early winter is probably unfavourable to our military plans, though it saves Russia from the possibility of invasion. Poole brought a message from Budworth that the School would not come to the Cathedral on account of the inclement weather! So I had to preach my Eton sermon, which had been selected for the special benefit of the Boys, to a handful of women and 10 elderly men! Byron Dolphin came to lunch. He is much cast down at the smallness of the audience at his lecture last night, but the spectacle of the empty cathedral this morning rebuked the exorbitance of his expectations. An old clergyman, named Young, who had been commended to us by Lady Lawrence, came to lunch. He too was amazed at the smallness of the Cathedral congregation. It was very mortifying to the Dean's importance, & the Preacher's vanity!!! Perhaps these experiences are best regarded as disciplinary or purgatorial. We motored to Houghton–le–Spring calling at Ramside on the way, where we had some talk with the Pembertons. Houghton–le–Spring, the parish of Bernard Gilpin, whose tomb is a conspicuous feature in the large parish–church of St Michael, is one of the most famous, & perhaps the best endowed parish in the county. It has been greatly reduced in area by the formation of new parishes, but still contains no less than 9000 parishioners. The Rectory, built in 1667 is a commodious house standing in 7 acres, mostly garden. The people are almost entirely miners: there are many Dissenters; and the Roman Catholics are numerous. The Rector, Adamson, an elderly & depressed man with a weak manner & a venerable beard, spoke in a hopeless way of place & people. There was a crowded church, and I preached about the War. We returned to the Deanery immediately after the service.

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