Abbot Egan provides information in response to the Bishop's questions.
The Oblates of St Benedict are attached to his Abbey but are not religious in the strict sense of the work. They live and work within the community under a rule drawn up by the Abbot with Bishop Amigo's approval. He provides some history of the group and reports that Mgr Serafini of the Congregation of Religious in Rome supports their intent to become a proper religious group. Abbot Egan says that they a hard working and zealous and will be sorely missed by their Parish Priest. Indeed if he could find room for them in the Abbey then he would snap them up. They have no income except for that derived form the school which has 100 pupils (protestant children from Strood and Chatham). They are mortgaged to £2750 to Fooks & Arnold. Sr Scholastica is very well educated. He recommends them to the Bishop and suggests that a decision to let them go to Aldeburgh will not be regretted.
manuscript annotation: "Answered. Thanks for information."

Bishop Brown confirms the Oblates of St Benedict are under a foundation of Abbot Egan. They will be in dire financial difficulty if they cannot sell their property (school, convent and grounds) according to Philip Fooks of Arnold Fooks & Co. Their problems arise from a new Secondary School opened by nuns at Chatham. Fr Nugent [PP?] thinks well of them.

Sr Scholastica advising the Abbot of progress. The Chatham Sisters may but the property provided the price is right. Fr Davidson has visited and anxious because 1. another buyer exists for the house in Aldeburgh and the Estate Agent has only given him 2 weeks to decide; 2. He may only be able to obtain the rent for the first year. The Estate Agent offered reduced rent if necessary. Asks the Abbot to write to the Bishop soon; she will also write soon.

Has been to Strood to see the sisters at work - impressed by them. The finances depend on the Chatham nuns buying the place as a going concern. He believes they will be successful after the first year. He mentions a "University Pilgrimage" which he thinks won't come off. He encourages the Bishop to visit to show / demonstrate solidarity with him as parish priest.

Letter is about having a foundation at Aldeburgh with the Bishop's permission. Outlines the group's legality, number (5) and current position. The school performance; conversions of pupils / parents / family; finances (may have £350 in hand once deal done with Chatham nuns). Describes Fr Davidson's efforts to bring them to Aldeburgh. Mr Fooks has their interest at heart. Acknowledged that Mother General (Sisters of Mary congregation in Namur) may work to influence the Bishop against their work - this failed with regard to Bishop Amigo. Requests an audience with the Bishop to discuss these matters. Provides copies of the Prospectus, Last Prize Distribution and a 1922 photograph of the pupils [not available]. Suggests that their Aldeburgh Boarding School will be separate from the Day School.

Possible pressure to be brought on the (wealthy) Chatham nuns to buy the property in Strood. Cannot guarantee attendance numbers but the Ursulines (still missed by people here) drew on Saxmundham, Leiston, Thorpe and Orford - so there could be between 20 and 50.

Fr Delaney has had an accident and is in bed. Keep cheque until he is better. "I should be sorry for any act of mine to cause unpleasantness until he is better. We have a new Chemist in town. He and his wife and four children are Catholics."

Mr Took is dealing with the sale and will try to ensure that a fair price is obtained for the Sisters. The property is well placed for developers to use as the town in expanding rapidly and houses are going up quickly. Any move to get them canonically established should wait until the financials are settled appropriately. Any risk in moving to Aldeburgh will soon work out as the Sisters are courageous and work hard. Any further letters should be sent to "Metcalf's Hydro, Richmond Hill, Surrey", as the Abbot is have 3 weeks treatment for his aches and pains.

Thanking the Bishop for his consent to a foundation - providing that the financial future is secured. Sr Scholastica asserting they will take every opportunity to make this a great success.

Appointed as Secretary of the Building Fund for the new Leiston Church. he is requesting an advance of £1,000 to get the project moving. She, and Fr Davidson, have examined the finances and means of raising additional funds and consider that having the church underway will make fund raising easier. The Hut and the site may raise £300; willing to hold a garden fete on her premises. Fr Davidson has worked so hard for the Mission and has ensured that regular services are held in Leiston - whatever the weather - which is appreciated by those coming in from the far flung reaches of the parish.
She had recently returned from Ceylon and is a niece of Canon James Flint of Lynford.
Manuscript annotation: "Wrote. So sorry I have not got the money to advance Mch 25/25."

Apologises for being spiritually misbehaving with discontent and goes on to say ".. I am determined to act as though I was remaining here forever and leave the future in the hands of obedience." Mrs Battams will be writing to request a loan for the Leiston Church Building Fund and is likely to lodge securities for it. Fr Davidson says he will work hard to pay the debt off as rapidly as he did for the Aldeburgh loan.
Manuscript annotation: " Sorry. No money to lend or grant! Mch 25/25."

Encloses a draft letter to the nuns who are unable to obtain a loan for £250. Fr Davidson still wants them to come but not if they add to the burden of debt he already carries. Will proceed is the Bishop wishes it and thinks it will be good for a likely success of their work.
Manuscript annotation: "Answered. Wind up! But a bit brutal? They know my condition to come with no bigger debt than £1000. I am not to be financially responsible. Fooks has not come up to their expectations apparently! May 5/25."

Not addressed or signed but referred to in Fr David's letter of 2-5-1925 to Bishop.
Fr Davidson very concerned that the Nuns may go bankrupt and leave him with the debt. He says his letter s written in the spirit of common sense. The lease for Eton House is not yet signed and he does not feel inclined to raise the rent of £110 (a very large sum) if they cannot raise the £500 to move and get the school started.

Persuaded a friend in London to lend £250 at 5%, Abbot Egan to guarantee the interest. Mr Fookes [sic] a hard and immovable man. The current tenant at Eton House, Mrs Galsworthy has offered the first quarter's rent for the sisters to set up school; eager to see the nuns here because she wants to send her daughter to the school. Invites the Bishop for a Confirmation in August. Requested faculties for Fr Hogan SJ (at St Edmunds) who is visiting for 10 days. Asks for approval to attend a retreat at Parkminster.
Manuscript annotation: "Yes to all. May 11/25."

Thanks Bishop for £5 cheque. Fr Pearce (chaplain to Convent at Redhill) will stay for a week then onto Woodbridge - faculties for him in case he is required for confessions? Ten shields for the reredos, to be painted by Leach of Cambridge:
Four on top and sides - Bishop's, Cardinal's, Pope's, Davidson Arms
Six round the throne - Our Lady, St Peter, St Benedict, Oblates of our Lady of Peace, 2 left for future benefactors.
When Bishop is in Woodbridge could he visit for a night? Fr Davidson and the Sisters would be pleased to see him. New things to show him even if only for an hour.
Manuscript p.s. "Faculties also required for Fr Fabian who gives the Retreat here July 23 - 27"
Manuscript annotation: "All faculties granted as desired. 2. Want to see how I can manage Aldeburgh this time - Oh for an aeroplane. 3. Arms. What has the Cardinal to do with it? Yes you can put his up if you wish! Thanks for looking after the church for Jim Mullett. July 13/25. "

Parishioner [unnamed] "is going off her head". Asks leave to carry on in Presbytery if she locks up the chapel (to keep out the nuns from Northampton). If her cash goes elsewhere then it really does not matter. Other parishioners will be pleased to return the presbytery. The Baptist minister's daughter said she wished to become a Catholic.
Manuscript annotation "Answered".

(French manuscript) Abbot Neve has pleasure in telling the Bishop that the Prioress of the Bethany Monastery [Priory?] agrees to send a professed religious to Aldeburgh with a view to a foundation there. She will not be able to come before 8 December. The Prioress will send details to the Superior of the Oblates of Aldeburgh. The nun must contact Rome to obtain canonical direction for the new congregation - this will not happen until next Spring. After that they will come under the Bishops control. Finishes by saying he will be in England at the end of October and will try to meet the Bishop.
Manuscript annotation "Wrote [undecipherable]. Away till Nov. 10 home till 17th Nov. Oct. 28/26.".

Bishop gives permission to have a Holy Hour at both Aldeburgh and Leiston once a month. He hopes that much good fruit will come from it.

Bishop would like to know who is using his name in such a manner. He denies ever having mentioned Mrs Parnell other than to ensure F Delaney could understood her better than the foreigners [sic] who preceded him. Suggests that her writing to delay the cheque shows a concern fro Fr Delaney. Hence she should take the cheque herself and talk to Fr Delaney and commiserate with him on his accident, otherwise reconciliation will be more difficult.

The Cardinal, a patron of the nuns [Serafini?], is visiting Woodbridge and lunching at Aldeburgh. Can the Bishop attend for lunch on 24th? heard from Canon Tonks. Does not need funds raised from sale of land; considers the house is sufficient and needs a little work. Hence the request for a mortgage of £100 to enable him to address the house and grounds.
Manuscript annotation: "Answered. Sorry cannot come to lunch on 24th. You must do the honours for the Card. If you can do without more money then I shall be grateful. The money for sale of old [indecipherable] , Normanhurst land go towards purchase of Normanhurst; U.S. Maryland[?] goes towards old liabilities. Fr Long will be no good to you for a long time."