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Aidan Slack, writing from Ushaw College, Durham, hopes to be ordained on Easter Monday. His first Mass will be at Mrs Kenyon's oratory at Gillingham Hall. Hopes to reconcile a lapsed Catholic there and requests faculties for Gillingham.
manuscript annotation: Gave faculties for Gillingham Hall only."

"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"

Headed "Private"; address given as Somerton Hall, near Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk. Discussing the requirements for a mixed marriage with the priests at "The Holy Angels, Norfolk Road, Bayswater" [probably St Mary of the Angels, Moorhouse Road, Bayswater, London]. As resident of the diocese he is asking the bishop to grant a dispensation to allow the marriage to take place at the church mentioned. Both parties are over 70 years old.
Manuscript annotation: "Sent a mixed marriage application form to be filled up [illegible] Fr Thompson July 6/26".

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

Advises Fr Courtney that he needs to contact the Bishop with full details of this mixed marriage and the agreement of the parties to his proposal for regularising it.

Sr Mary Josephine, Great Yarmouth Convent, writing to Bishop regarding the priests the sisters should see for confession at the church.
Manuscript annotation: "Canon Drake / Fr Cornell[?] / Fr G Scott - Norwich; Fr O'Gorman & Ken from [?] Bury St Edmunds."

[undated, unsigned] [very shaky hand] "My Lord, I think you ought to know about Fr Flynn here. He is a very ill man and something ought to be done for him. He only has Mass on Sunday - and these looks as if he might die on the altar. Only last week he was over to take a wedding but went to bed in the hotel at once, too ill to do it. I am only a visitor here and therefore it is not my business but it is very serious I beg to remain one of your Lordships flock."

Working people will get to see a ceremony they have never seen and not likely to see again. Need a supply for Fr Squirrell. Have the four priests required. Will bishop accept hospitality when visiting Beccles? Fr Campbell's letter attached.

Writing from St Joseph's Seminary. Travel arrangements. Expects to travel with John Ketterer with whom he expects to have a life long bond as they are to be ordained together. Has obtained 400 copies of the Ceremony from CTS Liverpool for the congregation's use.

Presbytery bedroom accommodation not ready to receive the bishop. Mr Bunbury happy to look after the Bishop at his house. Arrange for Mass at the convent - the nuns will be delighted. Fr Mason will be sending some of his parishioners for confirmation.

Petition for a dispensation for a marriage on 6 January. As time is short dispensation also from banns. They have signed the promises - was this wrong of me?
manuscript annotation: "dispensation sent Dec 2/24. You are quite right. No banns are allowed in Church for a mixed marriage."

Faculties requested for Fr Chadwick SJ who will act as extraordinary confessor for Christmas.
Expecting to hear about the matrimonial case. But I know Rome is slow.
Manuscript annotation: "Answered. Don't expect anything more from Rome. [?] they won't accept our research into Such's non-baptism, wh I expected. Dec 15/25"

Inviting the Bishop to Beccles - good few children and others to be Confirmed.
manuscript annotation: "No Sunday vacant till August. Cd come for Tuesday June 9 but perhaps that is too early. May 21/25."

Bishop's decision in the "Chapelow-Such" matrimonial case has been passed to the parties - they will continue to live as they have done for the last two years. The woman is anxious for the papers relating to the case. Enclosed [not present] a petition for a mixed marriage, no banns they wish a very quiet wedding. Fr Chadwich SJ coming for Christmas, can he have faculties for confession?

Urgent petition for a mixed marriage (non-Catholic is baptised Church of England). Special license due to family quarrel ("not on account of sin").
manuscript annotation: "Sent. June 10/27"

Saw Mrs Chaderton Johnson in church - she will be comfortable at Mrs Kearns till her new house is ready (same road as Bunbury's).
Thought letter was about matrimonial case. But I know Rome is slow.
Manuscript annotation: "Answered. Rome had sent back 2 questions: 1. Is Such still alive 2. Has he been baptised. Referred them to my papers. Sent info as to 2; 1 I said yes - must await further answer. Oct 28/25"

Making a case for the ordination of Cyril Banham to be held in Beccles rather than the Bishop's preferred place in Norwich. Opportunity to influence the people of Beccles through the ceremony and Bishop's presence and to support two potential boys for priesthood. Fr Campbell can arrange for five priests for certain and with the Bishop's MC that makes six. Enough surely?
manuscript annotation: "Answered. It is all a matter of priests. Norwich has 6 to begin with. But Beccles has the prior claim if you can get the necessary no. of priests. Fr Squirrell is the MC for the diocese in your parts. Get a hold of him & let him tell you how many priests are required. Please don't let Beccles think itself in disgrace! Jan 13/26."

Good news regarding Cyril Banham's ordination. Have written to Fr Squirrell re number of priests required. Requests return of the papers associated with the "Chaplow & Such" case as the woman involved has asked for them. Statistics included [not present] do not include Confirmed - ten from Southwold and one from Lowestoft

Cannot find "George Vanlelle" in registers.
Fr Squirrell's advice - 4 priests enough for an ordination; unless Bishop requires sung Mass - then seven. Usually low Mass in this diocese.
manuscript annotation: "Arrange for Squirrell to come as MC as soon as I have fixed a date; in June I expect sometime Jan 25/26"

Wedding on Easter Sunday in Bungay. Describes the situation. Asks for permission to perform the ceremony himself (an old friend of his) and for the witness to be a non-Catholic. Fr MacGray[?] agrees that he can do this.