The Henson Journals

[167]

17th Sunday after Trinity, September 18th, 1921.

I attended the Holy Communion in the chapel at 8 a.m. but did not celebrate or communicate. Clayton was the celebrant. After breakfast I motored into Durham, and there I instituted Mr Morris to the vicarage of St Oswald's. The electrical machinery of the organ went wrong, but the unaccompanied singing of the choir was very good. There was a smaller congregation than I had expected. In my sermon I took occasion to speak about the Cambridge Conference. After service I lunched with Mrs Ritson. Then we motored to Langley Moor, where I preached at a "united service" of churchfolks & sectaries in the Church Hall. There was a crowded attendance, and the service seemed to be sincere. After tea with the Vicar of Esh, I preached at Evensong in the little parish church which was filled to its utmost capacity. The congregation was very attentive. It included William, whose honest fresh country–face with its pleasant boyish good–humour looked very attractive amid the pallid & rather unfriendly countenances of the miners. He is much taller & stouter than most of them so that he was the more conspicuous. After service I returned to the Castle, arriving about 8.30 p.m. The roads are in a terrible state, & the 'wear & tear' of the motor must be extreme. Possibly we have been spoiled by the excellent roads of southern & central England, but certainly it is the case that both William and I think the Durham roads have deteriorated grievously during our absence.