The Henson Journals

[82]

2nd Sunday in Advent, December 9th, 1923.

It is not without a melancholy significance that the consecration of St George's, Boldon, yesterday was the first function of the kind that I have been called upon to perform during an episcopate of nearly six years. In Bishop Lightfoot's time the consecrations of new churches happened every year. But then the men and the money were available. Now –!

I left the Castle at 9.10 a.m. and motored to Sunderland, picking up Wilson in Durham on the way. In the parish church I collated Wynne Willson to the Rectory, preached, & celebrated the Holy Communion. Save for the coughing of the school children, who ought not to have been present, I was pleased with the service. Both the newly elected members for Sunderland were present. I lunched at the Rectory, and then motored to Seaham Harbour where I preached to a congregation of Freemasons in the parish church, and afterwards had tea with the Vicar. Dillon, Lord Londonderry's agent, was there with his wife & daughter, all mightily chagrined at the result of the election in their division, for which Sydney Webbe has been again returned. Then I motored back to Auckland going by way of Eppleton, in order to leave Clayton there as he had undertaken to preach in the parish church. I reached the castle at twenty minutes before seven o'clock. The weather was bright but bitterly cold.

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