For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart"
So now we are at the "it wasn't my fault" stage of the proceedings. The reply to Drew's last letter on page 5 is reproduced below. For those of you who are not familiar with Salisbury in general and the Cathedral in particular a small map can be opened as you should take note of the addresses in the letter. The address of the Board - Church House; and in the last paragraph - The Close. Now these places are within 500 yards (460 metres) of each other. Further Canon Dale, the Secretary of the Board must have known Archdeacon Okes Parish very well. They must have served on other committes together, quite apart from the fact that they must have both attended services in the Cathedral. So why did not Canon Dale walk over to the Close and have a word with the Archdeacon? For so important a matter as a gift of valuable land it was surely worth the effort? Again the we have the Devil with his correct administrative procedure and, of course, protocol.
 | SALISBURY DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE
CHURCH HOUSE, SALISBURY 24th December 1929.
Dear Sir, Site for new Church at Dudsbury. I have to thank you for your letter of the 21st inst.
The correspondence between yourself and this office to which you refer must I think have been handed to our solicitor to deal with. I was away from the office for a long time early in the year through illness. I cannot trace the correspondence as being filed here. I will however take the matter up with Mr. Symonds as soon as he returns from abroad in a fortnight or 3 weeks time. My Board accepts the mere legal ownership of property conveyed to them for Ecclesiastical purposes, but undertakes no liabilities in regard to such property and have no funds from which to defray such liablities. these are the concern of those who apply to the Board to accept the trust. In the event of difficulty in meeting the legal expenses of a proposed conveyance, I would suggest that Archdeacon Okes Parish of The Close, Salisbury, might be communicated with with a view to help being given from the South East Dorset Churches Fund. Yours faithfully P J Dale Canon Secretary & Treasurer |
Just to be mischievous, if the Board has no funds why is Canon Dale a Treasurer? After Christmas Canon Dale writes again :
 Hover mouse on picture for transcript |
 Hover mouse on picture for transcript> |
The final paragraph of Canon Dale's letter of the 13 January 1930 seems to indicate that communication of some kind has taken place and that the Archdeacon has been able to reassure Drew regarding the payment of the solicitors costs, somehow. There is no written evidence as to what may have transpired but from the superior position of hindsight a terrible misjudgement is being made. Just as it seems there is progress at last, the Devil up to his mischief again.
And so it was that Colonels Drew's letter dated 16 January arrived in Salisbury on the 17th and on that day Canon Dale wrote
:
"With reference to your letter of the 16th inst.
There would be no objection to Mr. Symonds, the Board's solicitor, preparing the draft Conveyance on behalf of your Parochial Church Council, and I have asked him to kindly put himself into communication with Lord Wimborne's Agent with this end in view"
and the 17 January 1930 being a Friday, Colonel Drew either did not receive it until the Tuesday or did not reply until then, so on the 21 January 1930 he wrote :
"I am obliged to you for your letter of 17th inst.
Our Church Council meets on the 30th of this month, and on obtaining their authority (concerning which I anticipate no difficulty) I will write to Mr Symonds
Yours faithfully....etc"
So it is plain sailing from now on, isn't it. See you on page 7
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