The Henson Journals

[77] [sic]

9th Sunday after Trinity, July 24th, 1921.

The excellent Gray made his appearance at the Castle in good time, & few minutes after 9 a.m., we set out for Sunderland in his car. We arrived in good time at the humble little mission church of St Mary Magdalene. There I celebrated the Holy Communion and preached. After service I was formally welcomed by the Church Council. We lunched with Mr Prideaux, the Vicar, a young man of promise. At 3.30 p.m. I went to S. Stephen's and dedicated War Memorials. Mr Nedwill, the Vicar, had evidently taken great pains with the arrangements. There was a crowded congregation, and admission was by ticket! I don't like this, but it may have been necessary. Gray motored me to South Shields. We dropped Clayton in Sunderland on our way. Hudson Barker gave us tea. He and Gray were fellow–students in Durham. Jones, the curate of St Aidan's came to see me. I like him, & promised to help him to pay the cost of his terms at Durham, if he can manage to get a curacy there. We motored to All Saints, where I dedicated War Memorials, and preached. My staff was carried by a young choirman, whose name was William Reay. He told me that he was a bank–clerk. We motored back to Auckland, recovering Clayton en route, and arrived about 9.30 p.m. I was surprised & delighted by the news that William had succeeded in repairing the car, the missing pieces having arrived at 9.30 a.m. today.