Draft of Swire's letter to Seddon. He told the Bishop when he saw him that Seddon...

Draft of Swire's letter to Seddon.

He told the Bishop when he saw him that Seddon had agreed to put the third portionist's duty in Pontesbury Church against his visitation to Longden Parish. Seddon does not seem to understand that their aim is to get a more workable division "and I do not see that we are any better off if we have Longden and the Oaks and then have a large strip in between us and Cruckton than if we remain as we are and have Asterley as before.

Cruckton is the parish church of the second portion. Asterley is not the parish church of the third portion, "Besides I dont see how it is going to benefit the parishioners in the most populous part viz. Longden, Longden Common and Exford's Green. If we take Cruckton we have the parish church of Longden and Cruckton, both of which require two services a Sunday. You take Asterley which needs one with a very small population. You state that 54 is not enough for taking Asterley and you ask us to take Cruckton and give us nothing - I can't see that you are taking the whole of the third portionist's duty.

What about the Radlith and the Oaks. In your letter to the Bishop you say 'I have undertaken the whole of the sendon portion excepting Cruckton' whereas in your letter to the B of February 13th when we offered to take the same area you described (it as) 'a small portion of the second portion'.

Two sheets.