From GDP/30 WK WK (born 1932) grew up in Hampshire. He kept a diary from the age of nine, in which he recorded the daily happenings in his life. Here, he describes the dire predictions of a fortune-teller. 28 April 1950 Went to Young Conservatives this evening. A quarterly business meeting, very badly run. Got into conversation afterwards with a chap who turned out to be a palm reader. I am to be a bachelor, and to die about 30 of a serious illness. What rot these folk talk – he said I was nervous. [N.B. the diarist married in [...]

21 March From GDP/32 Anonymous This anonymous diary was kept by someone resident in London between 1735 and 1736. It records the religious services attended by its author. Most of these took place at the non-conformist chapel in Ropemaker’s Alley, Moorfields (which later moved to Aldermanbury Postern). In this entry, the author gives a brief description of a sermon preached by Peter Goodwin, the congregation’s minister between 1730 and 1747, on a text taken from Ephesians ch. 2 v. 8. Mr. Goodwin at Ropem’rs ally Even 21st Mar 1735[/6]: 2 Eph 8: For by Grace are ye saved thro faith [...]

2 March From GDP/28 Ida May Berry Ida May Berry (1884-1959) lived in West Didsbury, near Manchester when she wrote this diary. She was heavily involved in her local Methodist chapel, and attended many meetings there. 2 March 1905 We went to the Devotional. Mr. Saunders gave a beautiful paper on “suffering” we did enjoy the meeting.

The Oldest Diary in the Collection Thanks to a chance acquisition, the collection of the Great Diary Project now covers a period of almost 300 years. In a recent donation to Bishopgate Institute, we discovered a pair of small, unprepossessing volumes, which contain an account of someone’s religious activities in the years 1735 and 1736. In minute handwriting, the writer documents a number of sermons he or she attended during those years. Meticulously recorded for each sermon are the date, location, preacher, text(s), and arguments. Most of the sermons were preached by Peter Goodwin, minister at the non-conformist chapel at [...]

30 January From GDP/29 DS DS was born in Cardiff in 1918. During the Second World War she served in the forces. She kept a diary for a short while during the War. In this excerpt, she receives a proposal. 30 January 1944 B came home Cycled to Penarth, then had tea at home. He proposed to me.