20th January, 1944.
Vicarage Cottage, Hartlip.

My dear Friends,

One of the first things for which we all ought to thank God is the restoration to health of our Prime Minister. The whole country feels that once again the captain is on the bridge, directing everything connected with this war, and the vital issues of the peace which will follow. How true it is that when people and things are taken from us, even if only for a short time, we begin to realise their great value. Let us remember our duty to uphold our Prime Minister in our prayers, and all the leaders who are in such responsible positions, that God will guide them and direct their minds in the great decisions and plans which they must make. How necessary it is, for example, to remember the Minister of Reconstruction in our prayers, for it is most essential that in all his thoughts he is given guidance and inspiration from the Creator of all things, and he who spends his time creating needs the assistance of the Master Creator.

I hope that all of you who read these letters of mine in the Magazine will regard them as being personally to you. This is the only way in which I can keep in touch with you all, as my time is fully occupied with the business of running the two parishes and calling on those whom it is essential to visit. Unfortunately, it is impossible to do a great deal of visiting, and so I must limit my time to essential work and duties, but if you are one on whom I have not called or seen, please regard this as my letter to you.

We are fortunate this winter regarding the weather, for as yet we have experienced very little hard frost or hard weather. It has so far been a repetition of last year in that it has been very mild. The longer hours of daylight encourage us that the winter cannot be very long, and spring will come in due course as the forerunner of summer, which we all love so much, with its warmth, long hours, and many attractions.

I should like to make a short comment upon the excellent performance of "Ali Baba" at Hartlip, Village Hall. The performance would be a credit to any theatrical society, and when one knows the difficulties under which it was produced it is all the more credit to the producer and performers, especially the pianist. I would like to congratulate them all, and hope that they will accept this personally.

Some of you will have noticed two new Cypress trees in Newington Churchyard, for which we thank Mr. H. Grensted. I should be grateful if those who have graves in the Churchyard would kindly keep them tidy, or arrange with me for the caretaker to keep them tidy at a small fee. I should like to inform those who have graves kept in order that it would help us if all the fees were paid at the beginning of the current year. It is extremely difficult to keep such a large area as it should be kept without the co-operation of others, especially in these days. Nevertheless, we want to have a tidy surround to such a noble Church in which many find peace, quiet, and the presence of God, to sustain and help them on their way.

The Confirmation this year will be in Stockbury Parish Church, and, owing to the fact that it will be rather earlier in the year, I should like to receive the names as soon as possible of any who are considering such an important step in their spiritual life. I should at the same time like to remind all those who are confirmed of their duty to attend the service of Holy Communion regularly; only in this way can we receive spiritual help to strengthen us in our daily life.

You will, I am sure, be very sorry to hear that Mr. Burley is again unwell. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

May God bless and strengthen you all.

Your very sincerely,

J. W. NEILSON.