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)Image caption: [crossed out: "Monastere et Pensionnat de Religieuses Ursulines"] manuscript: "Institution St Alyre" a Clermont-Ferrand.
[Original manuscript in French.]
Given to understand that your Lordship will lay the first stone for the Catholic Church in Aldeburgh on 16 July. We thank God and are grateful to you for all the interest you have in the small mission in which we have worked so much. Enclosed is a cheque for £10 and apologies for the small sum, but cannot afford more. Allow me to remind you what was agreed with his Lordship Mgr Keating. 1st - that a small plaque of stone or metal will commemorate the stay of the Ursulines in this place; 2nd - Each year 4 masses will be said for the 4 religious who lay in the vault. You may find these conditions in the papers of the Aldeburgh Mission.
Manuscript annotation: "Answered. Thanks, very much. Do not know whether I can fix the Masses on the Parish [indecipherable] as there is no money to cover this. Will look up the agreement when I find it. (Mentioned it to Archbishop Keating in my Letter)."
Bishop has not signed the Deed of Conveyance - returned for signature, otherwise cannot proceed.
Bertram R YorkeDisposition of deed, etc. is a matter for Fr Delaney and Canon Tonks to sort out. Fiance is nothing to do with Mr Yorke. Fr Delaney bought the 4 plots and the presbytery in his own name. They were conveyed to the Bishop and others; however, the plots were no longer needed once a new site was found. The same process has happened for this site - acquired by Fr Delaney, subsequently to be conveyed to the Bishop and others. Fr Delaney has deposited the deeds with the bank and paid a deposit because he was concerned not to lose the site. Sort it out between you and send on the deeds for the plots to settle with Mr Reade - it being a small matter but it is hindering things.
Bertram R YorkeReceived the conveyance document. Enclosed deed relates to Fr Delaney selling surplus plots to Mr Reade . They are not needed as a new plot has been bought for the Church. Arrange for the document to be signed by the Bishop and returned.
Bertram R YorkeBishop 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.
Brown, William Francis Rev (1862-1951)"There being at Lodi young Lady who was baptize at Aldburgh on Sea by Protestant and she desiring now to become a christian, I pray you to relate me what protestant sect there is in that City for know the validity of the Baptism."
Manuscript annotation: Answered: Our practice [?] is to Baptize "sub consitione" all converts from Protestantism as we are never sure of the validity. [?] [?]. Dec 3/30"
Letter of Introduction [not present] for Mgr Redmond, Vice Rector of English College in Rome, to make arrangements to meet the Holy Father. 2 suggested paragraphs for inclusion in her Will to assign a sum to the RC Diocese within which Aldeburgh is situated. £10 to the Sick Clergy Fund will ensure a Mass is said for her by every priest in the Diocese on her death.
Cary-Elwes, Dudley Charles Rev (1868-1932)Contents from front:
1926-1930 – 2 pages of historical notes
1906 Statistics;
1907 Statistics, Bishop Riddell made first visitation & confirmation of 8 (23 April 1907);
1908 Statistics, Bishop Keating visitation & confirmation of 6;
1909 Statistics;
1910 Statistics; Bishop’s 2nd visitation& vows of Sister Mary of Sacred Heart
1911 Statistics; Bishop’s visitation – 15 for confirmation; two postulants receive the habit
1912 Statistics; collections
1913 Statistics; collections
1914 Statistics; collections; 42 Belgium refugees
1915 Statistics; collections; Bishop visit 25 for confirmation (19 were Belgian Children)
1916 Statistics; collections arrival of Fr Delaney, departure of Fr Coltee
1917 Statistics; collections; Bishop visit Sept 26; average military attendance at Mass 53
1918 Statistics; collections; average military attendance at Mass 56
1919 Statistics; collections
1920 Statistics; collections
1921 Statistics
1922 Statistics; collections
1923-1964 diary of events
Contents from Back (inverted): First Communion lists for 1907/1908/1909/1911/1912/1913 in manuscript
Receipt for cheque (£11.1.3) received regarding supply work done by Fr H Irwin at Aldeburgh. The account includes 10/- a week for the housekeeper.
Peacock, Augustine Peter Rev (1864-1956)Fr Basil Mawson OSB is visiting - may he hear confessions and say Mass? Fr Annotrony[?] plans leave - will you grant permission for this? Fr Donovan was in Dublin and went to a convent to say Mass. The Superioress said that a priest, on sick leave and from Northampton Diocese, was also saying Mass - he was Fr Delaney, however, he has left the place suddenly.
Peacock, Augustine Peter Rev (1864-1956)How do things stand with reference to deeds in Aldeburgh? Has one to sell four plots to Mr W C Reade. The other for the church site is held in a bank without being signed by any of the trustees (Bishop, Peacock, Parker, Delaney). This should have been done before the transaction went to the Bank. How are we to know what has been purchased if we do not see the documents? We have no title to the property?
Tonks, Joseph Rev (1863-1943)Will look up the matter when in Aldeburgh next week. He recalls two cheques, £100 and £10. The second was dishonoured as the Sisters had closed their bank account when leaving Aldeburgh. The £100 was sent to the solicitor, Yorke, to pay for the first site for the church.
Tonks, Joseph Rev (1863-1943)Has Fr Delaney instructed Mr Yorke to prepare the deed of purchase for the new plot? Promised to do this last week. Lists names of trustees. "Hoping you are progressing rapidly towards a complete recovery."
Tonks, Joseph Rev (1863-1943)Enclosing the deed for signature and return. Requesting the deed conveyancing the new purchase to be sent to the Bishop and co-Trustees.
Tonks, Joseph Rev (1863-1943)Mr Yorke has revealed that the deed for the Church is in Fr Delaney's name and held by the bank. Bishop cannot be asked to sign the deed of sale for the four plots without receiving this deed. Is Fr Delaney going to transfer the deeds as requested? Hope you are making a rapid progress towards complete recovery.
Tonks, Joseph Rev (1863-1943)Leiston debt is £115, advice sent by Canon Tonks. Offers a number of options to deal with the debt - e.g. his own life policy. Wants to clear as much of the debt as possible so as not to encumber the next priest into Aldeburgh. Parishioners have given £10 for Masses to be said. Building fund stands at £194. The Conference suggestion is for St Peter to be the saint to whom the church is dedicated. FR Davidson continues in manuscript on side 2 to say that he has no obligation to leave the money to his family, they will get his capital anyway.
Manuscript annotation: "Leave old debts alone. [?] at A. & L. pro [?]. If you are minded to be generous I'd prefer it to go towards building question for the time being. Make a list of those who leave £10 or [?][?], say Mass yourself. Don't be frightened. Don't fall into panic or be moved to sentiment!"