The Henson Journals

[100]

Thursday, February 2nd, 1928.

Ten years ago I was consecrated as Bishop of Hereford in Westminster Abbey. I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m.

The recantation of the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich is announced in this morning's papers. He now ranges himself openly with the H. of Commons.

Burkitt writes me a rather aggressive letter enclosing a communication he had received ascribing the reference to Disestablishment as arising from "pique". I wrote to him a mild reply, though indeed I think his article in the Cambridge Review was a base performance.

Lionel and I walked round the Park in the rain, and then I had an interview with Richardson, the assistant Curate of S. Cuthbert's, Darlington. He is 'wearying' to get away from that parish though he has been there little more than six months. He complains that his Vicar is for ever denouncing the Revised Prayer Book; that he (the Vicar) urged the congregation to sign a petition against it; and that he resented his (the Curate's) refusing to sign with the rest. Certainly these Protestants are a fanatical crew, and their Victory in the House of Commons has puffed them up wonderfully.