Summary
Gwynne makes several references to the decentralization scheme for control of chaplains that he had created. In general, it appeared to be working well. His references to Easter devotions are of interest. Normally considered a Low Church bishop he appears to suggest that his preparations included auricular confession. At the end of the month he paid another visit to the WO, partly to ensure that the arrangements for the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury were in place.
1 AprilWalker who had been home to be trained as a Staff Chaplain to Day* of the 3rd Army rode in the car with me as far as S. Pol on my way to Gosnay (en Artois) where I confirmed 170 of the 55th Division in a large barn. I had not time to see the Divisional General so came away after tea and did not get back at S. Omer until 9.30
2 AprilCelebrated Holy Communion in the small church at 7.30 and as all GHQ except ourselves have moved only two besides ourselves were present. At 9.30 I preached to the Artists in the Monro Institute and worked in the office. After lunch I motored to Hazebrouck for a confirmation – walked out with Griffiths and held a service in the Town Hall at 6.30. Milner and Charles of the Glasgow Highlanders dined with me.
3 April
Drury* moved my office today from the lower part of the square of the Salle de Musique. I worked there until 1 and was driven to the new office after a good walk in the Clairmarais woods. It was a glorious spring day and everything in bursting into new life.
4 April
The new decentralization is beginning to work and the S. Chaplains of Armies are functioning and so fewer papers have come through this office the last few days. I motored to my old Division in the afternoon and held a confirmation in the Reformed Evangelique Church at Bruay. Some the confirmees were my old lads from the Oxfords and Bucks.
5 April
Interviewed (by an interpreter) the landlady of a house with a view to taking new rooms. This present arrangement is very expensive and our new cook a robber.
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- Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2019