The Henson Journals

[204]

Friday, March 22nd, 1918.

1327th day

The Great Offensive is reported at last on a front of 50 miles. At least we are assured that the Germans did not possess the advantage of surprise. Both British & French expected the attack. Ella accompanied me in the car to Stowe, a little parish in the Radnorshire hills; here I confirmed 25 persons, including 8 soldiers from the local hospital. The service was very reverent, &, I trust, edifying. There was a magnificent prospect from the Church porch, & this was seen at its best in the superb weather. After tea at the Vicarage, we motored to Knighton, & visited the military hospital, which has been established in the workhouse. Mrs Rogers, the wife of the Squire of Stow [sic], & a cousin of General Allenby, is the Superintendent. We motored home through fair [205] scenery, & admired a magnificent sunset. The car did the distance, over 70 miles without accident. The effect of the open air is to make me woefully sleepy at a scandalously early hour. I suppose one's efficiency does rapidly diminish on the shady side of fifty! Certainly mine does.

[205] [symbol]

To the Rev. Canon Willink, Rector of Birmingham

March 22nd 1918

My dear Canon Willink,

Some while back I promised to preach in Carr's Lane Church on Sunday, the 14th of April next: & I do not propose as Bishop of Hereford to "dishonour the bills" I signed as Dean of Durham. On the contrary I hope that in my new capacity I may be the more able to advance the cause of better relations between the C. of E. & the churches of the English Dispersion. The Bishop of Birmingham, who gives me his "full consent to preach at Carr's Lane", tells me what I did not know, that that church is in your parish.

I write to let you know, therefore, of my approaching visit & to suggest, if your wishes in this matter harmonize so far with my own, that I shd preach in the parish church on the same day, April 14th, in the evening. That wd give me, perhaps, the opportunity of some conference with you on the policy wh. shd be followed in order to establish on a satisfactory basis that interchange of pulpits, for wh. the general conscience is certainly prepared, & wh. ought to be one consequence of the War.

Yours ever sincerely,

H. H. Hereford

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