Vicarage

Minster

Sheppey

7th July 1869

My Lord Archbishop,

I have had a communication from Mr Hilton the Rural Dean asking for my sanction and approval of the scheme of the erection of a New Church at Sheerness; and requesting me as Incumbent of Minster to address Your Grace on the subject.

I can assure your Grace that it is a scheme which I most gladly sanction and must greatly approve of, being fully convinced that it will prove a powerful engine for ameliorating the condition an of over-crowded population, and for bringing back to the Church many who for lack of room, have gradually resorted to Dissenting Chapels.

Nothing, Your Grace would have delighted me more than to have been able to give more than my mere sanction to and approval of, so excellent a Work, but I believe your Grace is aware that in the the Parish of Minster while £1600 a year is paid to the owner of the Gt Tithes, £40 per annum only is paid to me.

I have the honour to be Your Grace's

most dutiful

and very faithful servant

R. C. Willis

Vicarage

Minster

Sheppey

16th Nov 1869

My Lord Archbishop,

A request has been made to me by the Revd Mr Bryant, the Incumbent of the District Church at Sheerness – a request represented to me as emanating from your Grace – that if I would place the disposal of Trinity Church in your Grace's hands, Mr Bryant would be enabled to obtain a remove to his advantage.

I can scarcely believe this has been your Grace's suggestion indeed I have reason to imagine that it has come altogether from another source.

Your Grace is probably aware that the value of the Incumbency of Trinity Church is more than treble that of Minster, seeing that the latter is scarcely worth more than £100 per annum, whereas the former brings in an Income of from £350 to £400, thereby enabling the Incumbent to have the services of a Curate.

I should be exceedingly happy, Your Grace, to benefit a fellow Clergyman but considering the present small Income I derive from my Living, and the labours attending parochial work especially at my advanced age, I do not think I should be justified in giving up the Presentation, which, if a vacancy were to occur, I might be induced to take into my own hands in place of the Mother Church.

I have the honour to be, Your Grace,

Your Grace's

Most obedient

And very faithful servant

R.C. Willis