The Henson Journals

[32]

Tuesday, March 29th, 1927.

I prepared a speech which (if opportunity occur, and need require) may be delivered in answer to the Bp. of N.

An anonymous letter in the Times states that "many hundreds of clergy" in the diocese of Norwich "feel very unhappy indeed" about the Bishop's attitude on P.B. Revision. Yesterday the Bishop addressed a gathering of Nonconformists on the Revision. He was supported by Bp. Knox. The meeting was presided over by Sir Thomas Inskip. This is, I judge, a mistaken move, which will prejudice the Protestant opposition in Churchmen's eyes. There is a good deal of resentment at the notion of the [Sectaries] interfering with our business!

The car took me to the Abbey, where a good muster of bishops from the two provinces were robing in the Jerusalem Chamber [Perkins, the Sacrist, muddled things for me by contradictory instructions.] I read the Gospel and administered the Consecrated Bread. Then we went to the Church House, and the Archbishop introduced the subject in a telling & dignified speech. I lunched at the Deanery. After lunch, the Bishop of Norwich read his speech, of which he gave me a printed copy. It contained so many quotation's [sic] from various pronouncements of mine that I claimed a large share in its composition.

[33]

It was well delivered, and well received. There was, I think, a feeling in the audience that the Bishop was "sticking to his guns". I followed him immediately & spoke for about 25 minutes. The Speech was well listened to, and applauded, but I was not myself satisfied with it. But the Bishops of Chester, Carlisle, Wakefield and Bristol assured me that it was the best speech I had ever made, a judgement which at least indicates that they themselves approved it. Darwell Stone followed me, but was very dull. Then came the Bishop of Oxford who was curiously ineffective. I went off to get tea, and in my absence a vehement attack on the Bishop of Birmingham appears to have been made by a certain Canon Long. The Bishop made a brief & dignified reply. A rambling oration from the Bishop of Exeter didn't contribute much of value: he was followed by the Bishop of Truro, who was speaking well when I came away.

The Evening Standard publishes my article on revision under the rather provocative title "Wire pulling in the Church" which has nothing to do with my contribution.

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