Dean's summary report on Aldeburgh parish. Fr Ben Hammond is happy at Aldeburgh; should address his Sunday schedule; has no financial worries. The house is well decorated and in a good state. Church has new heating being installed. Concern about influx of workers at Sizewell B (last time, for Sizewell A, this resulted in the construction of Leiston Church).
McBride, Edward Rev (1919-2011)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.
Egan, Erkenwald Abbot OSBAbbot 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."
(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.".
(From the French). I see that our mutual decision is good in the eyes of God. The decision of the Sacred Congregation of the Religious confirms ours, which was arrived at in the light of circumstances. I am communicating this to your Lordship...
Nève, Théodore Dom (1879-1963)Account showing list of parish donors to buy the land; the hut (The Bishop); to build & equip. ; amount owing to the builder; extra costs for laying on utilities and equipment, fixing roof and installing fencing.
Debt owed £180
Parish accounts showing income and expenditure for Aldeburgh and Leiston.
Inside front cover - suppliers plate: J C King Ltd, 246-252 St John St, Clerkenwell, London. Item order No 614
Inside back cover - 12/-
Parish accounts showing income and expenditure for Aldeburgh and Leiston.
Bull, Alfred Stephen Rev (-1980)Parish accounts showing income and expenditure for Aldeburgh and Leiston.
Hammond, Leo Andrew Rev (1913-1999)Parish accounts showing income and expenditure for Aldeburgh and Leiston.
Thomson, David C Rev (-1998)Front: Inside front cover and 7 pages: 1 Oct 1947 to August 1948 - subscriptions and expenses
Back: 4 pages - "Bank Account (Current)" - Jan 1948 to Nov 1949 Deposits and payments
Entries manuscript
2 pages per month: income (payments & subscriptions) on left hand side and expenses on right hand side
Entries manuscript
Image, fence in foreground, Aldburgh Church partially built with tower in scaffolding and Nave part constructed.
Image. Tower in scaffolding; view from East
Image. Tower in scaffolding; view down Nave
Internal view towards altar showing nave and chairs – taken from 3 rows back to northern side.
UnknownExternal view of Aldeburgh church, probably shortly after completion.
UnknownInterior decoration schedule for 19 rooms addressing ceiling, walls, windows, doors, skirtings, floors, pipes, radiators.
Wearing & HastingsTreasurer & Secretary for the Aldeburgh parish, Paul McComish, querying signatories for the parish account. Fr Back appointed to the parish and will decide who else is to sign at the first Parish Finance meeting.
Aldeburgh Parish Finance Committee