The Henson Journals

[217]

Christmas Day, Thursday December 25th, 1930.

I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m. We numbered 18: the two married Brydens brought their wives, Elland, Asthton, Alexander, Leng, and John together with Harold Bryden & his sister were there, and also Mrs. Smith, Irene, and Florrie The British legion band came to play carols at 9 a.m. I gave them £1.

Charles celebrated at Eldon: & we both went there for the 10.30 a.m., when he read mattins and preached, and I celebrated. The service was hearty & reverent. The "north–end" position was rather trying, & the chill and dirt of the squalid church very much so: but I was pleased with the behaviour of the communicants, & noted with satisfaction a number of young men, among them.

The churchwardens are very gloomy about their new Vicar, who is to be instituted on Janry 8th: I could not offer them much comfort.

Leaving Ella at home, we all motored to Durham, where we attended Evensong in the Cathedral, and afterwards had tea with the Bishop of Jarrow & Mrs. Knight. They told us of the sudden collapse of the roof of the Bishop's Study, which might have done him to death.

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