The Henson Journals

[231]

Saturday, November 6th, 1926.

I wrote a cheque for the half–year's rates, which have again increased substantially. The rates on Auckland Castle have risen from £227.14.2 in 1925 to £343.1.6 in 1926: an increase of no less than £115.17.2 in the year. This is the cost to me of feeding the miners. Then I sent copies of "The Bishoprick" to Mitchell, Sir George King, Sir Edward Clarke, Sir Lewis Dibden and the Dean of Exeter. Then I sent back to Mrs Kitson Clark the typed MS. of a children's Christmas Play which she had sent me for criticism.

I took the Chancellor & Ernest into Durham, where we lunched in the Common room of the Castle. Sykes, Wynne–Willson, Shaddick, and Fuller lunched with us. Then we went to the Chapter House for the Diocesan Conference, which was fairly well attended. I delivered a very brief Presidential Address, & then Dowdall introduced a discussion on the Report of the Ecclesiastical Courts Commission. He spoke at excessive length, and was, I thought, extremely confused, prosy, and pompous. There was a short and mainly futile discussion, and then I summed up and dismissed the Assembly. Then I went to my rooms in the Castle, & received a deputation from West Boldon, which urged the immediate formation of a new parish. I listened with politeness, and replied with caution. Then I "collected" Ernest and the Chancellor, and returned to Auckland. George Craik arrived for the week–end.

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