Bishop advises that deeds for presbytery (Normanhurst plots 34 & 35?) are with Withams. As is the separate deed for church plot. Good idea to have a church hall, but, all costs, etc. must go through Finance Board, which meets on 26 February. Bishop is at the Convent in Ipswich and could deal with the matter himself if it is urgent. Does Fr Jolly know anything about Mrs Spencer of Thoringham, Saxmundham? May have lunch there and might meet Fr Jolly there too.
Bishop's OfficeFr Back has been in hospital for 3 days with pancreatitis. Description of his condition and stay in hospital. Sees in his diary that he has been out to 40 meals since just before Christmas! Situation report about the Parish: re-heating done; repair programme for presbytery (no longer up for sale); site at Leiston; more children at liturgy; 2 receptions for Eater; assemblies at school; contacting B&Bs and hotels; expects to be chaplain to the Mayor; coach booked for Chrism Mass. Forward look to exchange with priest in London; Verona for a week; first Communions and then Aldeburgh Festival.
Back, Christopher G E Rev (-2014)Wants to buy a plot of land, but need the Diocese to advance the money. Looking to the future of Leiston - presently unsatisfactory being out of the way on an unadopted road. No news about another room being built on the side of the presbytery - could put an elderly priest there to help in the exhausting, and unsatisfactory, work running Aldebergh-Leiston parish.
Manuscript Annotation: "Plot of land. 60'x250'(frontage 60') opposite Rly. Station belong to Warlock. Price £100 but [?] probably a reasonable price as they have no more use for it. Thought project of room to be at Ald. was to find funds[?]. Better find out what they mean of 'a reasonable price'. Oct 20/28."
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".
Mrs Simpson's illness (thickening of cardiac arteries) means she needs medication after 12. Asks for a dispensation for her. ("Incidentally she is leaving all her property to the church"). Asking for permission to raise £1500 against the presbytery to finish the church.
Davidson, Charles Madgwick Rev DD BASends 10/- for the Simpson dispensation. Asks for leave to borrow £500 against the security of the house next door (worth £1500) to build a permanent sacristy and undertake certain interior decoration. This scheme is small and unpretentious; another matter to finish the Church.
Davidson, Charles Madgwick Rev DD BAPresbytery nearly finished and expects to be in residence by next Monday. Cost was £2750 with Hasting's fee is 10%. £600 in Leiston a/c; with sale of old church he can meet the balance from the Aldeburgh a/c. Sale of the plot of land in Leiston for £560. Argent has matter in hand and deposit paid. New rite going well in the parish.
Cdr P Kerr-Smiley, of Rendham near Saxmundham has given a font. Simple traditional design and looks well at rear of side chapel. Mrs Rawlings has also given a new sanctuary carpet
List of contents of Aldeburgh Presbytery
Page 1: signed "David Bagstaff 5-10-90"
Page 1: Heading: "Personal Property of Mrs Doreen W Makowski"
Page 1 Manuscript note: "6.10 Items marked 'left' were the property of Mrs [Doreen W] Makowski but she gave them to the parish or left them here."
Page 2: Heading: "Property of the Parish"
Page 2: Manuscript annotation: "plus items marked 'left' on Mrs Makowski's inventory" [page 1]
Page 3: Headed "Personal Property of Fr Hammond"
List of contents of Presbytery.
Church possesses everything necessary. Likewise Leiston.
Leiston Building Fund £183
"The house is in a good state of repair, has just been painted outside ad a new shed erected. A little distempering is needed in the pantry. Otherwise the inside is in excellent order."
Receipt of letter with £75 cheque for deposit on The Presbytery, Aldeburgh
signed over 1 Penny-halfpenny & 1 halfpenny stamps
Asking whether any restriction on the land since Fr Jolly wishes to erect a temporary wooden parish room. Jackaman see that a house "Crockerhill" adjoins the presbytery land in names of Canons Marshall and Cosser.
Jackaman & SonsNeed to have form of consent signed to enable Mr Knowles not to erect a fence where the wall of his house acts as the boundary.
Jackaman & SonsDeed of Grant to enable Messrs. Knowles to lay a sewer along the passage way. To be kept with other Deeds.
Jackaman & SonsVisit to Aldeburgh/Leiston by Financial administrator. Fr Hammond & Treasurer John Lanning were present.
Survey indicates the presbytery needs up to £30,000 spending on it. It suggests the existing presbytery be sold (£95,000) and anew one built between presbytery and church. Fr Dick Wilson has been consulted and suggested that new windows are installed, wiring surveyed, leave sites as is for now. Fr Hammond wishes to remain in current presbytery bit will do the Bishop's bidding.
Catholic National Insurance Trust Ltd - Diocese of Northampton - Policy 1500 - Sheet 6 - Aldeburgh
Confirmation of insurance cover increased amount of £6,500.
Chased up Reades; understand they have now started to deal with outstanding matters. The estimate for boiler chimney, reforming steps and re-decoration chimney breast. Failure due to poor state of chimney stack and not their work. Have agreed to do the work for £50 - recommend it as a fair extra.
Wearing & HastingsPoints raised in conversation:
- £400 due to Reades
- Certificate of practical completion issued
- Steps at new entrance - leave for now until experience shows whether they really need alteration
- decoration in Housekeeper's quarters - leave until properly dried out following the basin leak
- Window foam strip to be dealt with
- similarly the bath cold tap.
- Basin in Housekeeper's ground floor room may prove difficult to get waste away - estimate of cost £35 to £45
Chased up Reades to do decoration in Housekeeper's sitting room. Reviewed accounts but £3,100 is the figure being reached. This has been discussed with the Bishop who was not surprised at the extra costs arising out of repairing old buildings and emphasised that Fr Reeman had not authorised extras beyond the budget of £2,850. Some help might be forthcoming form the Diocese. Exceeding the budget is not your fault. I, as the architect, must shoulder the responsibility.
Wearing & HastingsArchitect writing to the builder to confirm works satisfactory and the start of a period for defects liability to July 16 1965
Wearing & Hastings