The Henson Journals

[173]

5th Sunday after Easter, May 9th, 1920.

A most glorious morning. After breakfast Ella and I walked, (like Nebuchadnezzars in Babylon) exulting in the beauty of the garden. Hereford is seen to perfection on a bright spring day, before the trees are opaque with leaves, & the air sultry with the heat. This is a day of beauty, very rememberable.

I left the Palace at 9 a.m., & motored to Stottesdon, 4 1/2 miles south of Burwarton. The whole route was a feast of natural beauty. I confirmed 29 persons at Mattins, and, after lunching at the Vicarage, dedicated a memorial window at a special service in the afternoon. The parish church of St Mary is a fine building with several features of unusual interest – an elaborately carved late–Norman font, capitals curiously under–cut, and a west door with very curious carving obscured by the tower. Some medieval glass collected from the east window has been brought together & placed in the small window near the font. There is a Jacobean pulpit, and rather fine sedilia, nearly buried by the raising of the chancel floor at a violent restoration. These are deeply scored, the result (as is alleged) of sharpening arrows on the stone. The Vicar of Stottesdon is the Rev. W. Murcott, who has held office since 1894. He was ordained in 1884, and is a well–preserved man rather more than 60 years of age. The living must now be worth nearly £600. Lord Barnard is the patron. After tea at the Vicarage I returned to Hereford arriving about 6.30 p.m. The evening lights were magnificent. Certainly a rural bishop has alleviations and compensations to be set in the scale against his obscure & futile activity.

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