The Henson Journals

[71]

Tuesday, December 16th, 1919.

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Immediately after breakfast I motored with Jack Boden to Stoke St Milburgh, and there confirmed 39 candidates. The church is a simple but dignified building with a fine timber roof erected in 1707, and an unusually commodious early English font which the present Vicar found in his garden, & restored to the church. After lunch with the Vicar (Rev. H. J. C. Burton) we motored to Clee St Margaret, where I was shown by the Vicar (Rev. A. J. Knapton) another most interesting church. We then visited the Heath Chapel, a fascinating little Norman church, with a large font of a primitive fashion, square pews, faded frescoes, Laudian Table and rails, & Norman iron–work on the door. We had tea with Mrs Knapton, whose two sons were presented to me, one an undergraduate of Trinity, Cambridge, the other a student at an agricultural college. On our return journey, we had a puncture at Ludlow, & did not reach the Palace before 6.30 p.m.

The Enabling Bill passed last night. The Archbishop of Canterbury referred to me as 'the most rigorous, persistent, & eloquent of the critics', and spoke of my 'characteristic public spirit'. Lord Haldane said 'he agreed with the Bishop of Hereford'!

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