Christ's College : Charles Lesingham Smith (1806-1878) Diaries for 1873 and 1874

Smith, Charles Lesingham, 1806-1878

Christ's College

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Not much is known about Charles Lesingham Smith’s parentage or early life. He was born in Gloucestershire in 1806 and was admitted to Christ’s College in 1825 to study mathematics. After taking his B.A. as 5th Wrangler in 1829, and his M.A. in 1832, he remained at the College as a Fellow till 1839. In April of that year he was presented by the College to the living of Little Canfield in Essex, and remained there for the rest of his life.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>He appears to have been very happy and integrated into local life at Little Canfield. In 1870 he published a small volume of poems entitled <i>Home Recollections and Village Scenes</i>, in which he writes affectionately of the village church, feast and school, and even his neighbour’s dog! He built a new rectory, which from illustrations appears to be a very large house for a single man and his three domestic servants. He also restored the church at his own expense, in recognition of which he was presented in 1858, by his parishioners and friends, with a magnificent silver salver. This was given to Christ’s College in 2008 by his great-great niece.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>It was not till 1870 that he began to keep a daily diary, but the three volumes that we have at Christ’s (for 1870, 1873 and 1874; that for 1870 has not yet been digitised) make delightful reading. In them he writes about family, his neighbours and visitors, his reading material, letters received (sometimes transcribed in full), sermon subjects, church furnishings, world events, and nature.</p>