The Henson Journals

[49]

Whit–Sunday, May 27th, 1928.

I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8. a.m. The communicants numbered 19 including Elland with his wife & daughter, the 4 Brydens, John, & Major Stafford.

After breakfast I motored to Burnopfield where I preached & celebrated, Linnell read Mattins & assisted at the Holy Communion. There were about fifty communicants. I lunched with Wilson & his wife, and rested afterwards. Then I motored to Sunderland, & had tea with old Pater & his family – a most melancholy group illustrating decrepitude & sanctity in combination! Then I went on to Ryhope where I preached in the parish church. The garrulity of the Vicar increases, & his nerves are unstable. After this, I returned to Auckland. The roads were less crowded with cars than I had expected.

Pater said that a great part of his parish, & also of Jackson's was condemned to demolition as slum property: that this demolition would reduce considerably the number of parishioners: & that his successor would have an uncomfortable time for several years, i.e. until the parish had been rebuilt. The gloom of the Rectory, & the squalor of the streets which surround it are dreadful. The great Hanoverian parish church is a blend of sepulchre & white elephant!!