DECLINING YEARS (1873-1893) 281 



sure that your pastor has never abridged one hour 

 of his labour amongst you for the subjects which 

 he has studied so well and so devotedly. I am sure 

 that nothing which he says in this place will be 

 weakened because he takes a great interest in the 

 works of God's creation, and I am sure that his in- 

 terest in the souls of those to whom he ministers is 

 none the less that he has spared a thought for the 

 migratory birds which sometimes pass over this 

 part of the country. I am reminded of the words 

 of one of our poets, who says 



' He prayeth well who loveth well 

 Both bird and man and beast.' " 



The general effect of the work of restoration was 

 highly approved of, all the old and interesting 

 features of the fabric being carefully preserved 

 where possible, thus connecting in itself the pre- 

 sent with the centuries long past, and preaching a 

 silent but still forcible sermon in stone. 



The restoration of the church renewed in him a 

 desire for a rearrangement of a portion of the parish. 

 The little hamlet and chapelry of Thorpe-en-le-Street, 

 situated some three miles distant, had from time im- 

 memorial been served by the rectors of Nunburn- 

 holme. The chapel itself had fallen into decay 

 generations ago, and no services had been held 

 there since ; the population, too, was exceedingly 

 small, the whole township consisting of a couple 

 of farms with their dependencies. For years Mr. 

 Morris had wished for a new parish to be formed 



