The Henson Journals
Sun 3 May 1931
Volume 52, Page 183
[183]
4th Sunday after Easter, May 3rd, 1931.
I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m. Charles & and two Brydens were among the communicants.
Ella accompanied me to Murton where I preached to a crowded congregation of miners assembled for the annual "Band Service". Several bands attended, and accompanied the hymns. Instead of an anthem there was a performance of the Bands. I preached from 1. Peter I. 3. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." The men listened very attentively, and were, I allow myself to think, impressed.
The population of the parish exceeds 11,000, of whom not less than 3000 were are men above 18. There were, perhaps, as many as 300 in church. Nine– tenths of the industrial population has no other contact with the Church of England than is implied in baptism, marriage, and burial. The statistics show that to that extent 70% of the Nation is Anglican. What is the religious value of this connexion it is impossible to determine, but we must make the most of it.