The Henson Journals

[153]

Monday, April 26th, 1920.

A most glorious morning. The birds sang divinely as I dressed, transforming the tiresome process into a high liturgy! Who would leave the country for the city on such a day as this? Yet such is the necessity under which I live. Against my will, with the clear knowledge that the object of my journey is for all good intents & purposes quite fertile, I yield to the mechanical pressure of office, & attend Convocation!

The All Souls tumbler, with its inscription, arrived, & was duly presented to my Godson. Then I wrote some necessary letters, and tidied up my study.

I left Hereford by 12.50 p.m. and travelled to London. At Paddington I hired a taxi, & drove to Fulham, dropping my robe–bag at the Church House on the way. The taxi–driver charged me 8/– !

The Bishop's niece had married earlier in the day, & I came in to the relics of the Feast! After tea I walked across to Fulham Vicarage, and had a long talk with Gerald, who looks very ill. He seems to be getting on admirably in his parish.

In the train I read through the Life of Bishop Bedell by his son, edited by old John E. B. Mayor. It is a fascinating account of a genuinely good man. He was born in 1571 and died in 1641. He was so forward a pupil that he was sent to Cambridge in his 11th year, but not to his advantage, for "the first four years (as himself was wont to say) he lost, only keeping pace with the rest of his years."

[154]

April 26th 1920.

Dear Mr Knapp,

Grave complaints have come to me with respect to the irregular conduct of the services in Pixley Church. It is alleged that on April 11th "the door–key was mislaid & in consequence no service was held there"; & that this is not a solitary instance of neglect.

You will, I am sure, understand that these are grave matters, and raise large issues.

I shall be glad to know what you have to say in explanation.

Believe me, Yours v. faithfully

H. H. Hereford

The Rev. A. H. Knapp,

This person holds the two livings of Pixley and Aylton. Pixley has a population of 108 persons, and an income of £ 154. Aylton has 95 parishioners, & £ 149 for endowment. Thus the united parishes have 203 parishioners, and £ 303 income. He was ordained in Hereford in 1884, and become Rector of Pixley in 1894, have [sic] been previously curate there for 4 years. He has thus resided in that little parish for 30 years: & must now be a man about 60 years old – too young for hope, too old for change. But what can I do? He is not likely to be influenced by admonitions, & the machinery of the law, cumbrous & costly, is hardly worth setting in motion.

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