Reference
AU10/102/4/6
Title
Typewritten Letter
Date free text
26 December 1950
Production date
From: 1950 To: 1950
Scope and Content
"113 Queens Road, Richmond, Surrey.
Dear Miss Ira-Smith,
On behalf of all of us, I thank you for the parcel, the cards and the Christmas greetings. We had one of the birds for our Christmas dinner last night, and it was perfect!
We heard on Christmas Eve, in a letter from Newby Stanbridge, of the death of Gertrude Barton. It was a surprise, as we had had news in another letter (from the Valders I think) that Emily was very ill, but no mention of Gertrude. I expect there will be a big turnout at the funeral! I am afraid I cannot share in the veneration accorded to her by most of the people of Ampthill. But perhaps I ought not to say any more than that, now she has gone to the next stage of her life. What a clear-out there has been in Church Street of recent years! When one thinks of it, practically every house has been touched by death or departure.
We have had several letters from Ampthill this Christmas ... some from people who have not written before (though they sent Christmas cards). They all say the same thing: that the church has gone down steadily since 1947, and now is going rapidly. They all think Waddy is more suited to the mission field than an English parish. They all long for the services of old. They say that Sunday morning communicants have dropped as low as 12 at 8a.m. I must say that surprises me, as I don't think there were ever less than 30 in my day, and usually more like 50 to 60. And yet, when Waddy was instituted at Ampthill, the Bishop said "There is need for a great deal of missionary work in Ampthill" (implying I thought that there had not been much done in the past), and this is the result of three years!
We all send our love.
Yours sincerely,
John Hillam"
Level of description
item