The Henson Journals

[75]

St Andrew's Day, November 30th, 1923.

A hard frost, a clear sky, snow covering the land. I motored to Newcastle, and presided over a meeting of the Governors ^[of Barnard Castle School]^ in the Station Hotel. There were explosive materials enough, but no explosion! After lunching with my colleagues, I returned to the Castle. The Bishop–designate of Winchester arrived in good time for the Festival service in St Andrew's. I went with him, and we presented a union of magnates, rarely if ever before presented to the public view. His sermon was mainly a missionary address, composed of episodes from his recent tour in India. He certainly has great fluency, & the congregation was evidently interested: but I did not detect any signs of thought, and he speaks too fast. After service we returned to the Castle for dinner, & were joined by the Vicar and his wife. Before going to bed, I had some talk with him about Farnham and Winchester. He is going into residence almost immediately & expresses himself very properly about the monstrous proposal to vacate the Castle & break up the diocese. The Dean of W. had been known to him as one of his Archdeacons at Peterboro, where, on account of his valetudinarian habits, he was known as Miss Hutton.

The newspapers report the death of old Mrs Dicey in her 86th year. "Then is their life but labour & sorrow". How fully did this poor lady illustrate the Psalmist's text!

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