The Henson Journals

[113]

Tuesday, January 11th, 1921.

The Miners' Association at Houghton–le–Spring sends me a strongly worded recommendation of the Vicar of Escombe for the vacant Rectory. It is clear to me that the gentleman himself is not far removed from this proceeding. I returned a civil answer saying that I would fully weigh what they said, that the appointment was a very important one, & that I would do my best to find a really suitable man. This ought to show them that I do not intend to be hustled.

Then I replied to the Archbishop of Canterbury, consenting to sit on the Committee for inquiring into the Church property, and taking occasion to lay before his Grace my project for creating a complete Theological Faculty in Durham. I marked the letter "private & confidential".

I motored to Durham, and instituted two new hon: canons, Ellershaw and Loxley. Also I licensed two curates. The, after lunching with Wilson, he and I motored to Whickham in order to inquire into the case of the Vicar of Hedgefield. Colonel Simpson, & the incumbents of Whickham & Ryton met us in Whickham Vicarage, & we discussed the best method of procedure. We finally decided that Hunter, as parish priest of Ryton, shd warn the grocer, to whom the said V. of H. owes a large sum, that he had better get his money. We think that, if the grocer cd be incited to take action, the other creditors wd be quickened into self–disclosure, & a situation might be created in which I could intervene. Clayton arrived to take up his duties as chaplain.

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