The Henson Journals

[141]

Tuesday, April 15th, 1919.

Ella and Elizabeth accompanied me in the car. We started at 10 a.m., and arrived in Bredwardine in good time for the Confirmation at 11 a.m. There were 21 candidates, of whom but 4 were from the parish itself. After lunching at the Vicarage we motored to Presteigne, going out of our way at Kington & travelling about 10 miles superfluously, but arriving in time for the Confirmation at 3.30 p.m. I confirmed 55 candidates in the parish church, which is large and interesting. The persistent coughing of the congregation & some of the candidates disturbed me grievously. There has been much influenza in the parish.

The Rector of Presteigne is the Rev. H. L. Kewley, who was appointed as long ago as 1898, after serving as curate in the parish for four years. Thus for a whole quarter of a century he has worked in the place, and from his 1705 parishioners he expects between 200 and 300 to communicate at Easter! This seems rather disappointing. He told me there was much dissent in Presteigne, and that the War had greatly injured his work.The returned soldiers had altogether lost the habit of church–going. He spoke in a disheartened way, which rather distressed me, but the endowment is no less than £923 and he could hardly be moved.

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