The Henson Journals

[93]

Monday, January 27th, 1930.

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We all motored to Durham in order to lunch at the Deanery, & attend the Commemoration of Founders & Benefactors in the Cathedral. There was a fair muster of hon: Canons, but the congregation seemed to me smaller than heretofore. The preacher was the Bishop of Middleton, Dr Parsons, an old Dunelmian. He is not an impressive preaching [sic], having a dull depressing voice, & a lifeless delivery. His sermon was not a great performance, either in substance or in form. He gave us some guide–book stuff about Cardinal Langley, and served it up with a few thread–bare platitudes. We had tea in the Deanery, & returned to Auckland.

There are evident signs of perturbation in the Protestant camp at the prospect of a debate on 'Church and State' in the Church Assembly. Lord Cushendon is reported to be denouncing the Bishops and threatening a Disestablishment which would make them really subject to the Laity: & Sir Charles Marston sends round a pamphlet, plentifully larded with quotations from the Bishop of Durham, which leads to the heartening conclusion that we want "more Establishment"!!

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