The Henson Journals

[21]

2nd Sunday in Advent, December 9th, 1928.

A hard frost binds the world, & strikes a chill into one's very bones.

I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m. We numbered seven communicants.

Ell and I motored to Darlington, where I preached in Holy Trinity, the 90th anniversary of the consecration of the Church by Bishop Maltby being observed. I was interested in the congregation, which was almost entirely composed of women and old men. Young men, & men under fifty, were very few. There was, to be sure, a large choir of 12 men & 22 boys. Now the Vicar, Canon Cosgrave, is a hard–working, able & sincere "Anglo–Catholick", rather bigoted than extreme. There is something in the "make–up" of English people which makes them "jibe" at Anglo–Catholicism. We had lunch with Miss Forster. There came to lunch Major the Hon. Thomas Chaloner, the heir of Lord Gisborugh, & his wife. After lunch we motored to the Manor House, Eryholme, and had tea with Sir Guy and Lady Wrightson. Then we returned to Auckland.

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