The Henson Journals

[179]

Wednesday, March 21st, 1928.

I received from old Mr Ferens a cheque for £500 for the Castle Fund.

The morning was wasted on the Conference Address. After lunch Lionel and I motored to Ryhope where I confirmed about 130 persons in the parish church. The disproportion in numbers between the sexes was distressing. After having tea with the Vicar, & resting at the Vicarage, we went on to Sunderland, where I confirmed about 140 persons in S. Mark's Millfield. The numbers of the sexes were nearly equal. The church was crowded with a very attentive congregation, and the whole service pleased me. Evidently the Vicar, the Revd T. Romans, whom I appointed in 1922, is making good.

The Archbishop telegraphed an invitation to stay at Lambeth for the Convocation, but I replied that I was much pressed with Confirmations, & did not intend to be present in Convocation.

Bishop Chandler, an extreme Anglo–Catholick, has a letter in the Times strongly supporting Frere, and suggesting that the re–revised Prayer Book should be withdrawn. I should not be at all surprised if that suggestion were extensively endorsed.