The Henson Journals

[34]

Tuesday, May 15th, 1928.

[']Our English Churches, in spite of all ravages, contain probably twice as much medieval stained glass as there is in all the churches of Italy; & I am told that Spain is not much better in that respect.[']

Coulton. Art & the Reformation. p450

The chapter 'Renaissance & Destruction' in Coulton's book contains much information which to me was both astonishing & novel. I had not realized the shameless Vandalism of the Middle Ages, nor the extent of the destruction wrought by the Renaissance on classical and medieval monuments.

Jame & Maimie left after breakfast. I frittered away the morning very uselessly: in the afternoon I walked round the Park with George Nimmins, & later took him with me to Roker, where I confirmed 79 persons.

The newspapers publish a correspondence between the Bishop of London, & 'Jix', in which, of course, the latter scores. Bishop Knox has a correspondence with the Bishop of St Alban's, and makes him look very foolish. Certainly 'the stars in their courses' are fighting against us!