The Henson Journals

[44]

Thursday, April 7th, 1927.

I worked again at the Glasgow Lecture. In the afternoon Ella and I motored to Durham where I attended a meeting of the Maintenance & Training of the Clergy Committee, and afterwards discussed Diocesan Business with my Suffragan. We returned to Auckland by way of Brancepeth where we called on Mrs Crawley, & got a setting of eggs.

Lionel and I motored to Witton Park, and there I confirmed 42 persons. They came from three parishes, viz.

1.	Witton Park	with 2930 inhabitants
2.	Escomb	" 1316 "
3.	Etherley	" 1856 "
–	–	6152

About 120 persons reached the age of 14 last year. Of the 42 whom I confirmed a substantial proportion were adults. Of the 3 incumbents, Birney was a labourer's son, & has never had any formal education at all. Hodgson was at Cambridge, & was a miner's son; Merrefield was at no university. They hardly illustrate the value of an Established Church which provides, for the uplifting of the people, 'a gentleman & a scholar' in every parish! The personal insignificance of the parochial clergy is a heavy drawback to religious work in this diocese. They count for nothing with the people.

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