The Rev. Aylward announced his intentions to take part in local government in November's magazine;

"My first words to you this month will be on a personal matter. The parishioners of Enderby will shortly be meeting to consider the election of nine of their number to act as our 'Parish Council'. I have decided to offer myself as a candidate, independent of either or any political party. No question of general politics can possibly come before the Parish Council, and I, for one, must decline to be in any way responsible for introducing party feeling into this election. I need hardly say that I shall ask no one for a vote, I merely offer my services to the parishioners. As one who has lived ten years amongst you as your vicar, I can claim to know something of your needs and circumstances. The great object of a parish councilor should be, I think, to forward, in every way consistent with reasonable economy, the moral, intellectual, and sanitary well being of the parish he represents. Should you think well to elect me, I should make this my aim and purpose, independent of all political or sectarian considerations."

The vicar added a further note one month later; "This month we appoint our first 'Parish Council'. I much regret that we are not able to do so without a contested election; but this has now become inevitable, I would only express the hope that those who are elected, - whatever their political views - may prove worthy and competent to deal with the important interests which will be committed to their charge."

Strangely, no mention is made of this again until the beginning of 1896, when A Frewen Aylward seems to have been successful.

At the end of 1893, the Rev. Aylward announced that 1894 would be the first full year that he would support the local workhouse;

"I have entered... upon my duties as Chaplain to the Blaby Union Workhouse. As vicar of the parish in which the workhouse is situated, I thought it my duty to offer my services in that capacity to the guardians. With regard to this appointment I would only say, that I trust, - if God gives me health - to be able to carry out the duties it entails upon me, without in any way neglecting the prior claims of my parish."

"Our Annual Choir Concert was held on January 26th, with great success, the room was fuller than I have ever seen it at any previous entertainment: owing of course chiefly to the fact that Mr. Herbert Sims Reeves most kindly came to sing for us again, and also in part no doubt, to the presence of his pupil, our old friend Arthur Mortimer, who shewed by his singing, how much he had profited from the instruction he has received. Mr. Reeves had - as he deserved - an enthusiastic reception, and those who heard him for the first time, will, I am sure, long remember the treat he gave them, especially - if I may mention what struck me most - his splendid ringing of "The Sailor's Grave." I can hardly conceive it possible for beauty of voice and art to be shewn to greater perfection than was shewn by Mr. Reeves in the singing of this song.

On the following Evening, January 27th, our Annual Choir Supper was held. I was glad to be able once more, through the liberality of the ladies of our Congregation, to welcome, not only the Choir, but all the Church Officers, including Churchwardens, Sidesmen, Ringers, &c., to supper on this occasion. Upwards of 70 sat down to a substantial meal, which apparently was much enjoyed, and the tables were graced by the presence of several ladies. After supper, speeches and songs were the order of the day, or rather of the night, and before the company separated Mr. Herbert Sims Reeves came in, having returned specially from Leicester for the purpose (in careful charge of Sergeant Lockton), and was received with three times three and " Musical honors." After he had sung to us, the Choirmaster and other Members of the Choir expressed their gratitude to him for his kindness in singing at their Concert, and a memorable evening terminated with the hearty singing of " God Save the Queen."

The Rev. Aylward used July's letter to look back on 1894's Feast Sunday and to show not a little passion for the schools;

"Our Anniversary Sunday - The Festival of St. John the Baptist, to whose memory our Parish Church is dedicated, and which day' when it fails on a Sunday, should always, I maintain, be the Parish "Feast Sunday" - has passed away. I am thankful to be able to chronicle that both with regard to the number who attended the Services and also in the amount of the collections, there was a considerable advance on the last few years.

At the Eleven a.m. Service, - after a few words on the associations of the day on which, 26 years ago, our beautiful Church was re-opened with voice of prayer and praise - I made an appeal to the Parishioners on behalf of the National Schools of the Parish. I based my appeal, - as I always have done my support of the Schools - on the fact that in our National Schools religious, as well as secular education is given. We give as good secular instruction as is given in any Board School, and religious instruction in addition.

I am not going here into the question of how much we save the rates; I want to say a word on the matter from a higher point of view. In these days of infidelity and anarchy we believe the religious instruction of the young - who in days to come will be the men and women of England - to be a matter of the most vital importance. I noticed in my sermon on Sunday morning two points bearing on this matter, which I would earnestly submit to the consideration of my Nonconformist Parishioners who may be inclined to object to the simple Church teaching given in our Schools :

1.- Do they hate the Church more than they hate atheism and infidelity? Would they sooner their children had no religious teaching than what they receive now? I won't believe it.

2.- There are some who say religious teaching is only for Sunday Schools. This outrageous claim is not worthy of a Christian people. It is just on a par with saying that religion is only for Sundays! Besides, I have this fact to submit to those who reason thus. I have made as careful a calculation as possible into the numbers attending the Sunday Schools in the Parish, and I find that there are about 80 children who attend no Sunday School at all and who would therefore get no systematic religious teaching at all, if it were not for our Day Schools! I commend this fact to the consideration of all pious Parishioners.

At the Flower Service, at 2.15 p.m., the Church was crowded in every corner, and a beautiful lot of Flowers were offered by the children to Almighty God, and afterwards sent to the Leicester Infirmary and other similar Institutions.

At 3.30 p.m., between 80 and 90 men assembled for a short Service with an address by the Rev. P. J. Bowers, Rector of Market Bosworth, who also preached to an overflowing congregation at night. I am sure all who heard Mr. Bowers will re-echo the wish I expressed to him, that he would soon come and preach to us again. The collections during the day on behalf of the National Schools amounted to Eight Pounds Five Shillings."

The 1890s Enderby Feast Sundays at the Church appear to have followed the same pattern, each year, according to the magazines we now have.

The Church schools treated the most regularly attending children to a seaside trip; "On Monday 30th, a party from Enderby, numbering nearly 90, and consisting of the children in the Day Schools who had won prizes for regular attendance, the Teachers, and a few friends, paid a visit to Skegness. We left Enderby at 7.0 am, Leicester at 8.20, and after a pleasant journey through interesting country, giving us a magnificent view - amongst other things - of lordly Belvoir Castle, and the splendid tower of Boston Parish Church, we reached our destination at 11.30. Here the sands, and the pier, and the sea, furnished enjoyment for the party till 6.30pm, when we started to return home. Leicester was reached around 10.0, and Enderby about 11.0, and all seemed to thoroughly satisfied with the days pleasure."

An annual act of Christian charity was noted by the vicar each year in the January edition of the magazine. 1894 was no exception;

"I was glad to be able to arrange again this Christmas for the distribution of eleven tons of coal to the widows and sick of the parish. The coal is subscribed for by the ladies of our parish church congregation, - past or present, - including Mrs. Drummond and Mrs. Ramsay, who never forget us. Through the kindness of Mr. Gilbert and Mr. H. Hewitt, I was able to have the coal delivered in bags, whereby much trouble was saved the old people."

The Church continued to give coal to the widows and sick of Enderby until 1927 when the Rev. Hibbert announced that were not enough subscriptions to continue. You can read that sad announcement by clicking the button below;

Each year the magazine provided a free portrait of someone linked to the Church. In 1894 it was the patrons of the Church, as the vicar explained in January's letter; "This number of your magazine will be doubly welcome, in that it brings you a portrait of two of the best friends of our Church and Parish, who, I know, are held in honor and respect by all classes among us. I need not tell you how deep an interest Captain and Mrs. Drummond take in all that concerns our village, and how much they do for its welfare. I feel that in wishing them and their family "A HAPPY NEW YEAR", I am echoing the feeling of all the parishioners."

The Rev. Aylward celebrated the success of the Annual Parish Tea in November magazines;"Our annual 'parish tea and entertainment' was held, as usual, on the first Monday in November. On that occasion, so far as the numbers attending is concerned, we certainly established a 'record!'. Between four and five hundred sat down to tea; and yet the splendid resources of Mr. Battersby and his staff of willing workers, - whose untiring exertions no words can sufficiently acknowledge, - though severely taxed, were fully equal to the occasion.

Then, at seven o'clock, came the entertainment; and what entertainment! and what an audience! Mr. Battersby and Miss. Atcheson had been hard at work for some weeks training the children - old and young - in all sorts of exercises, dances, dialogues and songs. The results delighted the crowded audience; the last scene, entitled 'The Autumn Queen', being, perhaps, the most admired.

In addition to the children's' performances, we had speeches from the churchwardens; music, vocal and instrumental, from the veteran Sims - I beg pardon, William Gamble, from Mrs. Cooper, Miss, Battersby, Miss Lockton, Messrs. F. Spence, A. Stevens, John Young, and our popular organist, Mr. Sparrow, who most kindly came over from Leicester to help us on the occasion. The profits from the evening will amount to upwards of fourteen pounds. I cannot sufficiently thank all who in any way contributed to making the year's 'Tea and Entertainment', on behalf of our Sunday schools, the most successful we have ever had."

The vicar very rarely mentioned his family in the magazine. A tiny glimpse of his family came at the very end of May's letter; "I should like, before I close, to express my gratitude for the many kind enquiries made for my boy during his late illness, and thankfulness to Almighty God for his recovery."

October's magazine noted the arrival of typhoid fever (an infectious bacterial fever with red spots on the chest and abdomen accompanied by severe intestinal irritation, sometimes causing death) in Enderby;

"I must close with a sadder subject, the deplorable outbreak of Typhoid Fever in our village. There is not the slightest cause for anything approaching a panic, but every cause for extra care in matters of cleanliness and sanitation, and in the following the printed recommendation circulated in the parish, to boil all drinking water. Two or three of the cases have, alas, proved fatal, and I do not doubt that the mortality would have been still greater, had it not been for the fever hospital, where the patients receive the benefit of skillful nursing and medical attendance, in large and airy rooms. I have been visiting my parishioners in this institution regularly for the last few weeks, and I often find myself saying after one of my visits (having seen the watchful nursing and the many comforts which they enjoy), "Thank God for the Fever Hospital"! but I trust that in God's mercy the need for it may soon pass."

In November, the vicar returned to the subject;

"One word on a sadder subject. The fever outbreak continues with unabated severity in the village. O, I am grieved to have to report another fatal case. The spread of the disease is probably due to the fact that, owing to the hospital being full, many cases have had to be nursed in their own homes. As I write the new accommodation at the hospital is almost ready, and when that is the case I would earnestly counsel friends of the patients to arrange for their removal there, not only for the patient's sake, but also for the sake of the community. I can testify from personal knowledge - as also can many others who have been lately discharged cured from the hospital - that the patients receive every possible care and attention there from Dr. Berridge, and devoted nurses, - Miss Jacques and her assistants - to whom I consider the parish owns a deep debt of gratitude. I should include with them nurse Osbourne, who is residing in the village temporarily, to assist in nursing patients in their own homes.

While on this subject I may say that the local 'Sanitary Committee' have recognised the responsibility which this outbreak has thrown upon them, and have consulted a high authority on the question of the drainage and water supply of Enderby. I feel sure that the whole parish will support the committee in their action, even if it leads - as it probably must - to very considerable outlay and expense. The health of the village must be the first consideration."

The Rev. Aylward's friend gave Enderby a quick visit; "Our harvest thanksgiving services were held, as announced, on September 19th and 22nd, and were made memorable by the presence among us of the Bishop of Trinidad. His Lordship most kindly preached on both accessions, and few who heard him will, I fancy, soon forget the beautiful sermons on 'The external and inward expression of gratitude in worship'.

The Bishop gave an address to the men on the afternoon of Sunday, September 22nd, when his subject was 'the history and character of Jonathan', whom he set forth as an example to men in the following points, fearlessness, gentleness, self sacrifice, loyalty and filial affection. I am sure that non who heard this address, but must have been stirred up with the earnest desire to become, by God's grace, more like Jonathan in these respects, and so to approach somewhat more closely to the One Perfect Example, the Man Jesus Christ.

The offertories at the Harvest Festival were as follows:- Sept. 19th for Royal Agricultural Benevolent Association £3/7/0, - Sept. 22nd 11am Bishop of Trinidad's Diocesan Fund £3/15/0, - Sept. 22nd 6.30pm and Church Expenses £5/0/6. Total offertories of Harvest Festival £12/2/6."

An international visit by royalty to Enderby is a very rare thing, but in September the vicar gave only one paragraph to such an event;

"Wednesday, Sept. 25th, was an interesting day for Enderby. The three Bechuanaland Chiefs, Khama, Sebele, and Bathoen paid us a visit, chiefly for the purpose of seeing the family home of Miss Alice Young, who is working as a missionary in Khama's territory. Great interest was naturally shown in their visit by the parishioners, who gave them a hearty welcome."

One of the photos, taken at the time, is shown below with 'King Khama' in the centre;

Politics returned to Enderby in July as another election took place. The vicar wanted to say a few words about one issue and to call for clarity and courtesy in the 'fight', as he believed that the last election (in 1892) had brought disgrace to the village;

"Before the month closes, the country will be in the throes of a 'General Election'. There is one question - to my mind, of surpassing importance - which the electors will be asked to consider, and that is the question of 'the disestablishment and disendowment of the Church of Wales'. I believe there are many who, in this matter, will put Church and religion before party, and who will declare by their votes, that it neither right nor wise to take from a Church, which has existed in this country for longer than either parliament or the throne, the property which has been given her by private benefactors during the past centuries, for the service of God.

I have only one other word to say regarding the coming election, and that is to appeal to both parties in the village to see that in the heat of strife, they do not lose sight of the claims of charity and courtesy. Every man has a right to his own opinion, no man has a right to abuse another for differing from him. At the last election words were spoken and things were done which were nothing less than a disgrace to our village, or at all events to those who said them and did them.

Once more I appeal to all who read these lines to use their influence in every way they can, to provide that this coming election is fought with charity and courtesy on both sides. And may God defend the Right!"

Considering the vicar's hopes to be on the Parish Council in the previous year, one may suspect not a little interest in politics himself.

The Church was raising money for the Church school again; ""The performances of Messrs. Battersby and Sparrow's Operetta Company, on February 25th and 26th, was in every way a great success. Both performers and audience seemed to enjoy the entertainment immensely; Mr. Sparrow's Orchestra played better than ever, and Mr. Battersby's marshaling of his large company was, as usual, masterly. Moreover, the room was crowded on both evenings, and the handsome sum of £14 was realised for the new school porch."

The vicar started February's letter with the weather;"The opening of the year 1895 will be memorable for the severity of the weather. Owing to this, and other causes, there is, I am sorry to say, a very considerable amount of distress in the village. I earnestly hope that the weather may soon change, and work commence again." (Indicating that the quarries had closed and workers' families had no money).

"Meanwhile a committee is sitting nightly at 'Gable Cottage', to dispense relief to the neediest cases. As I write subscriptions to the amount of about £10 have been received for the purpose, including one of £5 from Captain and Mrs. Drummond. The smallest sums will be gratefully received for the purpose by the treasurer, Miss Nellie Barber. Mr. Alfred Carter is kindly acting as secretary to the committee."

The vicar returns to the troubles in March's magazine;

"Though the winter can hardly be said to have entirely left us, yet the extraordinary severity of the weather has abated, and made a return to work at the quarries possible. The boot trade is also somewhat brisker than it has been, and the acute distress which has existed in the parish, has, I believe, now passed away. One lesson at least, I trust, will have been left behind it, namely: to take more care of the earnings when work is good; if this had been more generally done the distress would not have been so acute as it undoubtedly has been.

I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my deep gratitude to all who in any way assisted, whether as subscribers or committee, who assisted me in the organising and dispensing of the relief, and especially to the Secretary, Mr. Alfred Carter, whose unwearied exertions in the matter are beyond all praise. Speaking roughly, about £52 was subscribed for purposes of relief, and about £48 expended. During the three weeks, something like 1000 tickets for food were issued to 180 families, besides soup which was given to some 500 children and adults. The balance of the fund - unless some other other urgent need arises - has been put aside for the purpose of purchasing coal at Christmas.

IThe Rev. Aylward was passionate about the 'voluntary' church schools that were run by Enderby Parish Church. July's letter included a mention of 1895's Feast Sunday during which the vicar pleaded the case for voluntary schools in terms of saving the ratepayers a fortune;

"On June 30th - our "Feast Sunday" - the annual collections were made, as usual, on behalf of the National Schools. The offertories amounted to £7:10. A most interesting sermon, on the subject of 'The Value and Necessity of Religion' was preached in the evening, by the Rev. W. Langley, Rector of Narborough.

In the morning I appealed for support for the schools, on the ground of the immense importance of the daily religious instruction therein given. In our National Schools, religious teaching must be given, in 'Board Schools' it may or may not. At the same time - I gave figures with regard to 'voluntary' and 'board' schools, which I will repeat here; I fancy they will surprise many who see them for the first time. The number of 'voluntary' schools in England and Wales today is 14,673; 'board' schools 4,904.

Accommodation for children - Voluntary schools 3,654,000, Board 2,108,000.

Another fact - If voluntary schools now in existence had to be replaced by board schools, the cost of the rates would be 50 million pounds! Is this not a strong argument - from the point of view of their own pockets - for the ratepayers to support the voluntary schools!"