The Henson Journals

[93]

Friday, July 19th, 1918.

1446th day

My infirmities grow upon me, so that work is impossible. I crawl through the indispensable things, and attempt nothing else. We motored to Ledbury, and lunched with Lord Biddulph who lives in a large timbered house, of which a considerable portion runs back to 1590. Prince Rupert slept there during the Civil War, when Ledbury was the scene of a smart skirmish. There was a garden party in aid of the Church Army Hut Fund. The meeting was incommoded by rain. I made a speech, & was followed by Claud Lighton. Over £25 was collected. On our way home we called at Tarrington Vicarage, and had tea with Mr Green–Price, the Rector, & his wife. This is a pretty parish with an attractive & well–kept Church, dedicated to S. Philip & S. James. The Vicar told me that among his 476 parishioners there are no dissenters. He bewailed his ill–success in getting his parishioners to receive the Holy Communion, though they attended church well. He had arranged a choral Celebration on the 1st Sunday of the month at 10 a.m., which he hoped might tend to increase the number of communicants. On the whole I was favourably impressed by this clergyman. We called also at the Rectory, Stoke Edith, but the Onslows were not at home. After dinner Dr Pattison came & inspected my state. He injected carbolic acid into the boil on my neck, & gave me various instructions. But my condition was woefully uncomfortable, & I decided to adopt the Leech's counsel to cancel my engagements in London next week.

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