The writer is direct by the Board of Trustees to ask for a reply to their letter of 15 December 1909. Fr Purcell is asked what arrangements he has made regarding the properties from which he receives rent. The writer call to Fr Purcell's notice that if the properties are not kept in good repair then "Mr Pauling, the great benefactor of your mission may cease to take further interest in the work at St Ives".
[The letter ends at this point - it is an unsigned draft]

[Not clear who signed the letter - possibly from SJB Cathedral]
Talk and slide presentaion on 10 November in Parish Hall. Will do some publicity at St Georges and Holy Apostles. Stewards help in 1994 - Cardinal and Apostolic Nuncio may attend the Bishop Alan's 25th Anniversary on 14 May 1994, many other clergy expected. Usual stewarding for Holy Week. Considering how to launch a Norwich branch of the Friends.

Bishop has allowed him to see the documents relating to Beccles school. Notes that the school size is not to be reduced. Can Canon Brewer advise Fr Trafford about the vacancy and preparing the old building for its new use. Hesitates to contact Fr Trafford direct as he has not been keeping the Abbot informed, nor does the Abbot wish to interfere with the Parish Priest in his duties.

Abbot Butler thanking Fr Brewer for his help - passed the recent letter on to Fr Innes to note the last three paragraphs.

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.

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."

Cannot be at the induction but Fr Clothier will represent the Abbot. An arrangement between Bishop Smith (and previously with Bishop Clark) meant they supplied the Parish priest for Beccles but for 1996 he was preparing to nominate a monk. However, the Dean indicated a wish in the parish to avoid yet another change. Thus the agreement has been extended for 5 years with Fr Simon being inducted by Bishop Smith.

Temporary arrangement for Beccles. Need to withdraw Fr Michael Clothier from Beccles, earlier than planned, on 1 May. Fr Andrew will go to Beccles until Mgr Hypher can take up the appointment.

Beccles: Happy for this proposal to become a firm arrangement - deal with details later. Note comment that this is still a Downside parish and need to make this clear to avoid a dip in morale. Also, to send in a holiday supply from time to time to help Mgr Hypher.

Bungay: Enquiries have been received about Fr Richard from a Curial Cardinal who may offer him a job in Rome. Suggest Fr Edward Crouzet (55, graduate of Cambridge and Fribourg, linguist, musician, counsellor) who is Chaplain at Cambridge University for 7 years, also, a Downside housemaster for many years.

Offer is generous and will be considered by the Council at the end of this week.

Fr Edward's [surname?] telephone call advised him of the pressure to keep Fr Simon [Blakesley] at Beccles - cf Fr Sketch's "petition" at Deanery meeting - for a number of years yet. When proposing Fr Raphael Appleby (currently in Uganda but will supply to Bungay when Edward is away) to Bungay the Abbot recalled the agreement with Bishop Clark for Downside to take up the mission after three years. However, it seems that the parishioners quite like a secular priest and may prefer a trained priest to a monk out of cloisters. What does the Bishop think? Happy to let the current situation run indefinitely.

Agree with the proposal for Fr Blakesley. Fr Appleby will be going to Great Malvern from Easter 1996. No need to make changes to current arrangements but in due course these should be firmly defined in writing.

Responding to Mrs Kenyon request for a chaplain. Once decided will the Bishop provide faculties?
Abbot Butler writes about the Bergholt-Monica question - the Abbess can progress Sr Monica if she thinks right. Anne Todhunter living in London now - they have taken a house for six months in Lexham Gardens - "Poor Anne! I hope it will work"

Thinks the Roman decision on the Bergholt case is very clever.
The two priests for Gillingham are just the quiet simple types Mrs Kenyon would like to have. Delight to help her out after the many kindnesses by her and the family to me over the years.

Hopes to have Fr Boniface Mackinlay receive Bishop's approval and be sent to Fr Guy at Bungay. But, Fr President is going to Rome on 20th and will discuss the required "H. Sec" approval. Meantime can the Bishop provide approval from Fr Mackinlay as a suitable priest to assist Fr Guy in building a church etc etc at Beccles? If so he will go direct to the Bishop for his Missionary Faculties.

Thanks the Bishop for the permission to appoint a priest to start a new mission at Beccles. Considers the priest should reside in Bungay and will make arrangements with Fr Guy there.

(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...

Thanks for kind wishes on his election to Abbot of Downside. Visited Beccles some weeks ago and much impressed by this beautiful church. Some day it will be a strong centre of religious life in the district.

Given that the bishop has an appreciation of Fr Worswick's work, the Abbot presents him for a permanent appointment to Beccles as parish priest.