Canon J. O. Stephens

In recent articles we have seen that John Otter Stephens was an exceptional Rector of Blankney Parish, from 1879 to 1903. In 1898 he organised a trip to Paris for the choir, one of three trips abroad that he organised. The following is the itinerary, reported in the local press, and issued by the Rector, on 4 June, for the forthcoming trip scheduled for 20 June 1898. The itinerary shows the exceptional organisational skills of the Rector. The footnote that follows the itinerary also shows his immense generosity.

The choir will leave Blankney Station by the express stopping at 2.40 p.m. on Monday June 20th, for Liverpool Street, Station, arriving at 6.20. The luggage will be taken at once direct to the Holborn Viaduct Station, of the London, Chatham and Dover line. The choir will start from this station at 9 p.m. This will give the choir a short time in London to spend time as they like, providing they are at the Holborn Viaduct Station at 8.45 p.m. Punctually.
Arriving at Dover at 11 p.m. they will go on board the Mail Packet for Calais at once, due there at 12.30, and will reach Paris at 5.30 a.m. An omnibus will be at the station to take the party to the hotel St Jame's at d'Albany in the Rue de Rivoli and the Rue S.Honore, where they will stay till Friday.

After breakfast at 9 o'clock they will visit the Galleries of the Louvre. About 1 o'clock a brake will be in readiness at the Louvre to take them to The Palais de Justice, the Conciergerie, the St Chapelle and the cathedral. They will return by the Place de la Bastille and the Boulevards in time for Dinner at the Cafe Americaine on the Boulevard des Capucines at 6 o'clock.

On Wednesday after breakfast the Palais Royal and the Madelaine will be visited. About 1 o'clock a brake will take them by the Place de la Concorde to the Invalides, the Champs Elysees, the Tracadero, the Bois de Boulogne and the Cafe de la Cascade, returning in time for Dinner and the Grand Opera.

On Thursday morning there will be a trip on the River Seine, and a visit to Versailles, returning in time for Dinner at the Restaurant d'Alcazar at 7.45.

On Friday the choir will leave the Hotel at 8 o'clock p.m. for the Nord Station, leaving there at 9 p.m. and arriving in London at the Holborn Viaduct at 5.40 a.m.

Each member will have to pay for his own wine or beer.

John O. Stephens
Rector
Blankney Rectory
June 4th 1898

The Paris trip was organized by the Rector and each week a small amount was paid into the holiday fund by the members of the choir. The funds subscribed by each member were however largely augmented by the Rector. The Paris trip was the third foreign holiday arranged by the Rector. Two previous visits had been arranged to Belgium in 1896 and 1897.