The Henson Journals

[45]

6th Sunday after Trinity, July 3rd, 1921.

Clayton and I left the Castle at 9 a.m., and motored to Monkwearmouth by way of Chester–le–Street and Washington, avoiding thus the infamous main road. We arrived in good time for the service at 10.30 a.m. It was a choral celebration, preceded by the dedication of a tablet set up by some parishioners to the memory of their parents. I celebrated and preached. There was a large congregation, including a good number of Freemasons, with whom I shook hands after the service. There were no less than 125 communicants, and, for the first time in my life, I had to re–consecrate twice. Everything was very reverent, & I was better pleased than I had dared to hope I should be. I lunched with Canon Sykes, and at 3 p.m. dedicated War Memorials in St Ignatius, & preached again. There was a great congregation, & an immense throng outside the church. At Evensong, the church was thronged, many standing throughout. I preached for the third time, being much disturbed by a coughing female. After service we motored back to the Castle, arriving about 10 p.m. It is difficult to appraise justly the value of crowded churches, but certainly I find it difficult to attach no importance to the apparently eager congregations which I have addressed today. The Church appears to be far stronger in the ship–building centres than in the mining districts. Sunderland & Hartlepool are the most "churchy" places in the diocese