Responding to a letter of the day before, Fr Purcell declines to have anything to do with the matter. "With deference" he suggests that Trustees make decisions and bear the cost of them in relation to this property. Being asked "To settle it in the interests of the Mission" only means he must bear the cost - he declines. It is not the lease, but the need to assist with repairs. Also suggests that the diocese bears the cost of consulting Mr King.

Reminding Fr Tonks that Mr Skeeles is requesting assistance for repairs, which he says was not in good repair prior to becoming tenants. Fr Purcell does not want the role of landlord - he will accept rent for the benefit of the Mission, but if the diocese should take the rent directly then fine so long as they make up the difference to the Mission. St Ives does not have the surplus to make up such difference; neither should the parish priest have to use his "meagre income" meet such expenses. Fr Purcell then refers the matter back to the owners!

He has read Mr Cotman's letter forwarded to him by Fr Tonks. Fr Purcell details the many problems in the state of repair of the Studio. Consulting Mr Skeeles it is apparent that the water ingress through the roof is very bad and makes the place untenantable in wet weather. It will require more than just replacing the slates. Fr Purcell says "my exemplary predecessors don't seem to have troubled their heads about the property beyond getting the money for them". He is completely ignorant of the terms of the sub-let tenancy and "my exemplary predecessors have not left any statements to guide me". He has just learnt from Mr Cotman that another arrangement had been made for the lease directly with the Trustees, of which Fr Purcell is completely ignorant. He finishes by saying "I am afraid £5 is a material consideration here".

Frederic Cotman, returned last Thursday to find the roof of the Studio so "distressfully", wishes to know who is bound to do the repairs. He does not want the burden of the whole of the outside repairs on his shoulders. Mr Jackaman, his lawyer in Norwich, made a mistake in his transaction with Mr Day who acts for Mrs Smith. Cotman will do his duty but wants fair play. Fr Purcell knows of this case. Cotman cannot stand the expense and asks for an interview with Fr Tonks.

Writing from a Fulham, London address. Studio keys are with Mrs Claude Smith - The Cross (Tailor). Mr Skeeles knows the trouble - he is my neighbour and a builder having a yard at the back. Unable to say when he can get to St Ives to meet Fr Tonks.

Writing from a Fulham, London address. Fr Tonks will agree with him that something needs to be done with the roof of the Studio . It could not have bene in structural repair when he took it over.; quite untenantable. "This is very distressing to me as I have a good deal of work to accoplish in the room." He cannot be expected to bear the burden of repairs.

Progress report on work being done on The Studio. Not yet complete - roof done; painting remains to be done. Builders will get round to it when they can. No rent received from Mr Cotman - can Fr Tonks get it from him?

Writing from the Studio, St Ives. Enclosed a rent cheque for £15. Work done to the room has made him considerably more comfortable. Pleased to see [Fr Tonks?] if he is in the neighbourhood. p.s. "I never can remember the dates for paying such."

Fr Purcell enclosed Mr Skeeles account for the Studio repairs. If everything is in order he'd be pleased to have a cheque, at the convenience of the Finance Committee.
pencil annotation on side 2 listing 5 prices totalling £8.4.6

Requests assistance from the Poor Mission Fund. He has had repairs in both the House (flooring fell in) and the Studio (had to make flooring good for any new tenant). The £35 is beyond his ability to meet; he has not asked for many years; would Canon Tonks put in a good word for him?

Thanks Canon Tonks for putting his application before the Finance board. Mission income is:
Endowment £10.8.9 quarterly = £41 15
Rent studio - £10 per annum = £10
Rent Yard - £5 per annum = £5
Collections / Altar Fund c. 7/- per week = £16 16
Total is £73.11.0 per annum
Studio, let in May to an artist, vacant for many months before that. Describes the rotting floors and ascribes it to the severe flooding of 1912.

John Smith has responded to Fr Nesden regarding those nominated for the Bene Merenti Medal. Thanks for accepting, in principal, the funding for Cathedral repairs. Contact Peter Wilson regarding the re-roofing Fr Nesden has.

Fr Purcell is adamant that the Board of Trustees are not helping his Mission by their propositions. They should tell Mr Skeeles whether or not they are going to support his suggestion. Their inference that Fr Purcell is responsible for the neglect of the properties does not go down well. They can think that if they wish, but whether they are justified to do so is another matter. Fr Purcell states that his knowledge of Mr Pauling is that he would not accuse anyone, openly or covertly, of such neglect. Neither would he think that St Ives is in a position to spend money on repairs. Caustically, Fr Purcell says he might be mistaken that an objective of the Board is to assist Poor Missions ("with barely sufficient income"). Does the board say it is his fault and he must "personally pay the expense?".

Writes to Monsignor (assumed to be Canon Tonks): Has "move in" but still to get order out of chaos. Painters to finish on Wednesday. Needs estimates from Canon to check on the work being done. Furnishing achieved and is fairly comfortable. Asks for advance of £40 to pay the painter who is doing a good job.

Writes to Monsignor (assumed to be Canon Tonks): Estimates for work already done. Describes additional work and work in wake (chimney and guttering made good and watertight). Additional charge of £9 for the greenhouse; painter done an extra small room and other work for free.
Estimate 1 dated 22-4-1938 from F Standley for rewiring of The Elms
Estimate 2 dated 21-4-1938 from FC Forkes for painting , papering and renovations

Ad Clerum had underlined need to obtain permission for spending money. Mgr MacBride was vague about the guidelines. Fr Chapman identifies that a lot of maintenance is required: repainting church, presbytery and cottage; rewiring the cottage; addressing damp in the cottage; Hall needs work to meet Fire Service standards; an elm tree needs removing.
Personal note: keeping fairly well, but, off colour at times and things, at times, get on top of him. Not had a proper holiday - so perhaps it is his own fault.

Chris Toller (of ????) undertook the 5 year review of Wymondham property. Nothing to worry, except to reserve £10,000 for re-roofing the Presbytery in a year or so. They considered future development of the parish in Attleborough, given that the parish has no property there. The old C of E Hall is to come to the market soon, Chris Toller sees this as an opportunity. So Fr Brown is raising it with the Bishop despite his lack of means. Sister Alies is soon to be out of hospital but will not be able to drive and it is thought that having her based in Attleborough would provide someone on the spot would provide support for local people.

The financial state of the Mission is such that it may not be meeting its bills by the end of this quarter. Fr Ketterer provides estimates for repairs: chimney re-pointing, making roof watertight. He asks to send a statement at the end of the month to demonstrate his care.

Valuable & vigorous time on a programme which at first seemed daunting but was fully vindicated. Bishop did visit the whole of the parish. Very much liked what he encountered and thanked Fr Brown and Sister Alies for their time & energy. Attleborough has no immediate answer; building there is still thought of, but the Bishop favours the Methodist Church as a good venue. Suggests Fr Brown should programme in some painting. The hall may still provide adequate service but for how long? Wymondham is a happy and well organised parish.

Church is going to fall down unless remedial steps taken. Report & recommendations from Messrs Pynford who inspected the site at Mr John Cullen's request are being sent to the Bishop. Canon McBride is to be at the Finance Board in September - decision on money?
Manuscript annotation: ""a/d personally? reassurance that FB would discuss the matter - & PW could arrange an interview on site on Friday Sep 18th with Cullen."