St Aidan's Coll.
Nov 1, 1889.
My dear mother,
News, news, lots of news.
I have been offered a curacy!!
This morning I had a letter from a clergyman in Birmingham asking me if I would like to come there. He had heard of me through Mr Webster, formerly of the Church Army.
He has a parish of 6,000 inhabitants, in the very centre of the town, has a large church, well-attended, and a mission church holding 300 or 400 people. And he has asked me to come and see himself and the parish.
I have written to say that I should be pleased to see him at the end of this term, as I am on my way home.
Since commencing to write this letter I have received another one from Mr Webster (F.S. Webster was killed by a motor omnibus in London, Jan 2, 1920.) in which he tells me that the vicar in question is a very good man, and a hard worker, and that he has a full church of working and middle class people. He also says that he will be very pleased to get me near him, as the parish adjoins his own.
18 Yew Tree Road
Edgbaston
Nov 18 1889
My dear Mr Watton
I am very glad to have the opportunity of expressing my high appreciation of the true godliness of Mr W.H. Parsons and his general fitness for the work of the ministry. I had the responsibility of directing his studies over two years ago and was struck by his remarkable insight into Scripture truth and his power of presenting it to others in a clear and forcible manner. At the same time he displayed much Christian courage, true zeal and a beautiful humility under peculiarly difficult circumstances.
I am delighted to find that he has gained distinctions at St Aidan's and am confident that he will prove a most able and truly spiritual help meet for you in the ministry.
Yours very sincerely,
F.S. Webster.
18 Yew Tree Road
Edgbaston
Oct 31 1889
My dear Parsons
I am glad to say I have met with a first rate opening for you as curate. The Rev T. Watton of St Jude's B'ham is as good a Vicar as could be had, he is thoroughly evangelical a very hard worker and has a full church of working and middle class people. He wants a man at Xmas but I believe will wait for you till Trinity.
His parish adjoins mine so it will be very nice to have you there. Mr Watton is the local secretary of the Church Pastoral Aid and of the Church Defence Societies and is one of the most beloved clergy in B'ham. He is going to write to you I believe tonight.
Yours very sincerely
F.S. Webster.
Mr Watton (for that is his name) wants a man at Christmas, but is willing to wait for me till Trinity. The whole thing seems like the working of Providence. I am very excited tonight, and cannot do any work.
More news.
I am going to Barrow tomorrow to stay till Monday. On Sunday night Mr Henderson is going to read prayers in the Mission Room, and I am to preach. They have printed bills to that effect. I had such a kind letter from Johnson who is now the secretary of the Mission Room committee. He is so glad to know that I am going to pay them a visit, and it was he who had the bills printed. He expects a crowded house on Sunday night.
Mr Henderson was here on Wednesday. I am going to stay at the Vicarage, and shall talk over the Birmingham affair with him.
And now I want to ask you all to pray about it. It seems like a direct call from God. I have not sought it for myself, but it has been offered me, and I want to feel in all that I undertake that I am being guided aright.
And now farewell. I hope to be able to tell you more in a few days.
With fond love to
I remain, my dear mother,
Your affectionate son.
St Aidan's Coll.
Nov. 6th 1889
My dear mother,
Please thank Joe for his letter and say that I shall not be able to write to him at present as I am very busy.
well, I went to Barrow on Sunday, and I may say that I never enjoyed a visit so much in all my life. Mr Henderson made me feel quite at home, and I had a very hearty welcome from everyone, rich and poor alike. We had 130 people at the service on Sunday night. Mr Henderson read prayers and I preached. He wore his surplice and I wore my college gown. I talked over the curacy business with him. He advised me not to be in a hurry to accept anything. It would not do for me to go to Barrow as a curate, but he said that if he left Barrow and took another living and wanted a curate, nobody else should have me.
Altogether I had a most enjoyable time.
I may tell you that it is probable that there will be a lady come to take up residence at the Vicarage as Mrs Henderson before very long. He told me this in confidence, though nothing is actually settled yet.
Now about the Birmingham matter. I have heard from the Vicar in question again, and he is anxious for an interview at once, so I am going down to Birmingham next week. I feel sure that it is a very good opening, and so the Principal thinks. The stipend he offers is very good, and from all I can gather with regard to the Vicar and the parish I think it is just such a place as I would like. I do not want you to spread this news just yet, because it may all end in nothing. However I am going to see him on Thursday next week, and after that I will let you know the result of the interview.
For myself I hope that I shall get the curacy. I am sure you will remember me at the Throne of Grace next week. Pray that I may have wisdom and discretion given me to act aright in the matter. So much depends on my first curacy.
Miss Jimingham sent me a very nice present of two volumes last week. I have also just got the books I ordered with the Prize money. I am getting quite a good library.
And now I must close. The time is going very rapidly, and in a few weeks I shall (D.V.) be home again.
With fond love to all etc.
St Aidan's Coll.
Nov. 25. 89.
My dear Mother,
I have more important news.
I have written to the Bishop of Worcester about my ordination, and he has consented to allow me to sit for his examination at Lent, so that if I pass then, I shall be ordained 3 months sooner than I expected. He has also engaged to take me without the Cambridge Examination. The fellows here tell me that I must have been born with a silver spoon.
The reason that I am going up for ordination sooner is that the Vicar at Birmingham is losing his present curate at Xmas and wants to get help before Trinity. Of course he could have got plenty of men at once, but Mr Webster so strongly recommended me that he is willing to wait for me. However, he prevailed upon the Bishop to ordain me at Lent. It is a very great relief to escape the terrible Cambridge Exam. I shall have to work almost night and day now for the Bishop's Exam; so I hope that when I come home I shall be able to have quiet, and plenty of time to myself.
I shall probably come back and stay a fortnight with Dodge. I should do more work that way, I mean just before the beginning of next term.
We have finished lectures this term, and the exams begin next week.
The Principal has gone today to see the Archbishop of Canterbury (Benson) about the Sydney Bishopric. It is not yet decided about his going to Australia. It is a great worry to him being kept so long in suspense.
Hoping you are all well, and with fond love to all,
I remain
Your affectionate son.
Hartlebury,
Kidderminster
Nov 21 1889
My Dear Sir
I am willing to admit you as a candidate for Holy Orders next Lent, on the nomination of Mr Watton, without the certificate of having passed the Cambridge Preliminary Examination.
Yours faithfully
H Worcester
Mr W. H. Parsons
The following is from a portion of a letter, undated but evidently written soon after ordination.