side 1: Bishop Thomas Walsh asks "my dear Husenbeth" to supply Norfolk & Suffolk with the Holy Oils. "The Bishop is dying"
side 2: "Holy Oils for Norfolk & Suffolk" "Second Jubilee pastoral 1826"

"The dire malady, which has spread desolation throughout so many towns and villages of the continent seems to threaten our beloved country with similar calamity" [Cholera].
Signed Thomas, Bishop of Cambysopolis, VAMD
manuscript date Nov 26 - 1831"
addressed: "Rev. F Husenbeth, Cossey Hall, nr Norwich."
manuscript note: "Cholera Pastoral 1831"

"... times of especial exigience - there are days of trial, and gloom, and anxiety, and sad foreboding - when clouds of adversity seem to lower..."
".. a deep laid plot for the extermination of Catholic faith and piety..."
"Some of the fairest portions of Europe are at this moment a prey to civil war, and all its attendant horrors."
"... the Destroying Angel is passing through the earth..."
".. where is Cholera likely to rage more fearfull."
Urges "dear Christians" to pray for three intentions:

1. For God to guide and support the church and Pope Pius IX;
2. For the restoration of peace;
3. That scourges of famine and pestilence be removed.
   dated: feast of St John of Beverley, 1848
   addessed to "The Very Rev. F C Husenbeth / Cossey / Norwich"

Have the goodness to dispense with your fllock, in my name, from the duties of fasting and abstinence, during the privations of the awful scourges of the cholera; and exchange the oratio imperata [illegible] in the mass for one pro vitanda mortalitati until further directions.
Yours ever in Xt.
+Wm Wareing
I extend the above to the Hall.I presume Mr Elves is about I only returned home last evening from Lincolnshire.

Adjustments to the prayers in Mass now that the "raging pestilence of cholera... is now removed from our doors". Fasting and abstinence will now be resumed on the appointed days.

Situation report on the Central District - funding, churches/ missions/ parishes; situation of orphans; orders of religious; nnew cemetary on Birmingham; education and formation of priests; Council of Trent; cholera.

My dear friends,

Over the last five and more years, since my diagnosis with advanced prostrate cancer, I have managed to cope with my developing illness, its ongoing treatment, the general decline in my health, and generally - I think - continued my ministry as best I can. 

We have moved forward and outward together as a diocese, although not all of you may be have been happy with the directions we have taken. I am sorry for any ways I have failed in my ministry during those years. There remain a number of difficulties on my desk which will need to be handled by others. 

In the last few weeks, the cancer has rather quickly taken control. My oncology and palliative care consultants informed me openly and honestly just before Christmas that I now probably have only weeks to live, and I am as prepared for that as I can be, accepting it with faith as a gift of God's grace. 

I have received wonderful care from Dr Adrian Harnett and everyone at the Colney Centre at the Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital, and the local surgery, and I would like to thank them for their dedication which continues. My thanks also to so many people in our team at the White House and across our diocese. 

Rather than resign, I would like to continue among you as your bishop and the father of our diocesan family until this stage of my life ends. I do not know how long that will be. I am most grateful for the ways you have cared for and so prayerfully supported me in recent years. You remain very much in my thoughts and care. As I am sure you understand, I am able to do very little, and will need to rely on others. Please can I ask you to limit any expressions of care to prayer for now, rather than anything else to which I cannot respond. 

As I live now under the shadow of death, my prayer is very much that of St Paul that I may know something of the power of Christ's resurrection and a share in his sufferings, trusting that the Lord is with me. I pray that even now I can joyfully witness something of the good news we are all called to proclaim. 

With my warmest good wishes, my prayers and my love as always 
Yours in Christ, 

• Michael 

Rt Rev Michael Evans Bishop of East Anglia 

Part 1: suspends the need for fasting and abstinence during the "dreadful scourge of Cholera".
Asks [Dr Husenbeth] to communicate this to the priests of Norwich and Mgr Taylor of Thetford. Writing so because of a delay in documents returning from Rome.
Has appealed to the Pope to allow fewer [no?] meetings as most priest live more than 100 miles away and it is not practicable to call meetings in the current circumstances. Despite Monsignor Bernabo refusing to present it to the pope, Bishop Wareing will proceed anyway. Perplexed and distressed by the state of Lord Shrewbury's affairs. Cannot keep borrowing £217 per year to keep missions afloat. "Our poor diocese was never in a more embarrassing and trying position"

With the cessation of Cholera requests the Te Deum to be said or sung after mass. fasting/abstinence duties resume.

Pg1: Writing [to the vicariate?] in the absence of the Bishop. Reminder of the collections for the Diocesan Fund; recommending prayers to be delivered from the scourge of Cholera; Dispensation from Fasting and Abstinence is to cease.
Pg2: prayers in Latin/English

John Morris writes that the Bishop had no sooner returned from London than he received a note from the Cardinal and has immediately gone back to London.
Bishop will give no account of himself, only saying he is better, but he is not allowed ot say Mass or his Office, or to attend to any business whatever. Bishop is silent on the future.
Dr Grant's petition is, in brief, a rehearsal of Bp's sanatoria obtained in 9 June 1859 re VG's faculties with respect to the availability of the Bishop, in this large diocese, to respond to certain situations. Leave had been granted on 1 September 1859 [words as in previous letter]
Does not understand where Hubbersty comes from, thinks he was chaplain to Mr Sparrow in Lancashire, and, is given to the Bishop by Dr Turner.

Informing the clergy that Cardinal Wiseman is seriously ill and request prayers for him.

Plague destroying cattle and the impending scourge of cholera. Requesting that prayers be said and the Rosary. Death of the Secretary of the Work of the Propagation of the Faith.

Suspension of Fasting and Anstinece during Cholera having appeared in some parts of the Diocese.

Cholera and Cattle-plague now gone, authorising the discontinuance of the "Deus Refugium" prayer. Tell the flock that Fasting and Abstinence recommence from the date of this letter.

Cathedral project phases 1-4; Cost £350,000 (equals 100 medium priced cars!); Appeal; Blackfriars Hall in Norwich on 3rd February 1978, Cardinal Hume and other patrons attending; requesting names and addresses of potential donors; hospital for cyst removal on 12 February

Acknowledges the 1992 Ad Limina letter. Mentions an event "yesterday". Been ill for 3 weeks.

Dates for Ad Limina will mean going without Bishop Clark. Hopes that he is recovering as he is stalked by ill health for too long. St Alban's was a great day. Everyone friendly and happy to see they opened their doors to so many local Catholics.

Cannot duck the new Joint Working Group's first plenary [re dates for Ad Limina].
Assures the Cardinal he has been consistently fit until the virus came along - spent a week in "Hope House" in Cambridge and apart from catarrh is back on form.

Heart condition - Fr McCormick was in hospital for a few days following a suspect coronary, which turned out to be an erratic heartbeat.
The Administrator of The Child Protection and Welfare Society requires professional people to be paid at an appropriate level and will incur significant travel and subsistence expenses. He suggests that the Bishop should consider these issues for this post and therefore Fr McCormick submits his resignation being neither trained nor experienced in this subject area. He requests a parochial position instead.
The Bishop will be aware that there is a DHSS (Department of Health and Social Security) investigation into the Society over allegations made against members of staff.