1877 LIS ESCOP 425 Coleridge, a nephew of the poet's; then by Prebendary G. J. Cornish the friend of Keble, and later, together with a Canonry at Exeter, by Dr Harold Browne, late Bishop of Winchester. A fund had been raised to provide a suitable residence for the Bishop: this was placed at my father's disposal, and he added largely to the house: he built two wings, converting the stables into kitchens, and adding a convenient library. The former kitchen he converted into a small private chapel in the most ingenious way; adding a small screen of carved deal, and a tiny but sweet-toned organ. Even with these additions the house is hardly of adequate size, as the contributions never reached the amount projected. He built new stables, made a new drive, and rechristened the house Lis Escop, "Bishop's Court" in Cornish. There were plans, of which memoranda are preserved among the Cathedral muniments, for yet further and desirable enlargement. But the present Bishop resides elsewhere. No sweeter place could well be imagined than Lis Escop. In the soft air trees and shrubs grew with great luxuriance. Camellias flowered and Hydrangeas grew richly out of doors. No severity of winter ever emptied the beds of flowers. The windows commanded a wide view down the green valley in which Truro lies; the spire of St Mary's, soon to be replaced by the new Cathedral, rose from the grey slate roofs amid the smoke of the little city. The valley was crowned by the high airy viaduct of the Great Western Railway, and below lay the wide tidal creek that runs up with its great mud-flats among the steep wooded hills from Falmouth harbour, closed by an elbow of the hills, and looking like an inland lake from Kenwyn. Close behind the house was the ancient Church of Kenwyn, conspicuous with its four grey pinnacles. The Church precinct is entered through a quaint lych-gate with a school-room over it; near the porch you descend by steps to the clear spring known as St Kenwyn's well, the scene of many a primitive Baptism. The Rev. J. A. Reeve, afterwards Vicar of Addington-now Rector of Lambethwas appointed curate. He was even then a dear and valued friend of my father's, and his proximity was a great delight. The Bishop was consecrated at St Paul's Cathedral on St Mark's Day, April 25, 1877, by Archbishop Tait and an unusually large number of assistant Bishops; he was “presented" to the Archbishop by the Bishops of Lincoln and Exeter-a strange sight. Canon Lightfoot preached a memorable sermon, in a voice broken with emotion, bidding the friend of his boyhood and youth God-speed. "The Consecration of Dr Benson as the first Bishop of Truro," says the biographer of Dean Church, was one of the first occasions in St Paul's when a great religious ceremony was carried out, with all the order and beauty of a perfected musical service. To the Dean, as the following letter shows, it was further marked by the step which had been made in a private friendship.” To the Bishop of Truro. DEANERY, ST PAUL'S, 16 May, 1877. MY DEAR BISHOP OF TRURO, It is difficult to answer fittingly a letter like yours. But you will take the will for the deed, and believe that with the humility with which I ought, I do most heartily respond to its undeserved and overflowing kindness. It is a long time since such a passage as that connected with your Consecration has happened in my life. I had no right to such happiness, in seeing you and knowing you, and in such a bright unclouded day as that when we were allowed to welcome you, and when I was allowed to take leave of you and wish you God-speed on your great undertaking. St Paul's, I think, was worthy to be the scene of such a beginning, and of the remarkable company assembled |