The Henson Journals

[83]

Wednesday, December 24th, 1919.

The Bishop of Bristol writes to inquire about the Rev. C. C. Randle, who is seeking an exchange. I wrote to him a candid and discriminating account of the Vicar of Stratton Grandison with Ashperton.

Then I gave Ella the money for Christmas Boxes to the Household. Lilley came in to discuss various matters in his archdeaconry. He undertook to write to the Lord Chancellor's Secretary with reference to the appointment of a successor to the egregious Nelson in the vicarage of Leominster. I wrote to Mr Hamilton, the Patron of Silvington asking him to offer that tiny parish to the Vicar of the adjacent parish of Cleeford St Mary.

After lunch Ernest and I walked for about an hour, & then attended Evensong in the cathedral & listened to the carol singing. The 'Hereford Times' contains a full report of my chancellor's decision on the Tenbury faculty. He decides that the Crucifix is illegal. He depends largely on the judgements of Lord Penzance, a circumstance which will not commend his verdict to the acceptance of High Churchmen who regard Lord Penzance as the very embodiment of the State's illegitimate authority over the Church.

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