Chapter I: Front Matter

THE PARISH CLERK

BY

P.H. DITCHFIELD

M.A., F.S.A.

WITH THIRTY-ONE ILLUSTRATIONS

_First Published in 1907_.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. OLD-TIME CHOIRS AND PARSONS 1

II. THE ANTIQUITY AND CONTINUITY OF THE OFFICE OF CLERK 16

III. THE MEDIÆVAL CLERK 31

IV. HIS DUTIES OF READING AND SINGING 48

V. THE CLERK IN LITERATURE 63

VI. CLERKS TOO CLERICAL--SMUGGLING DAYS AND SMUGGLING WAYS 79

VII. THE CLERK IN EPITAPH 90

VIII. THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF PARISH CLERKS 104

IX. THE CLERKS OF LONDON: THEIR DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES 115

X. CLERKENWELL AND CLERKS' PLAYS 130

XI. THE CLERKS AND THE PARISH REGISTERS 140

XII. THE CLERK AS A POET 154

XIII. THE CLERK GIVING OUT NOTICES 169

XIV. SLEEPY CHURCH AND SLEEPY CLERKS 179

XV. THE CLERK IN ART 195

XVI. WOMEN AS PARISH CLERKS 201

XVII. SOME YORKSHIRE CLERKS 206

XVIII. AN OLD CHESHIRE CLERK AND SOME OTHER WORTHIES 225

XIX. THE CLERK AND THE LAW 245

XX. RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD CLERKS AND THEIR WAYS 255

XXI. CURIOUS STORIES 306

XXII. LONGEVITY AND HEREDITY--THE DEACON-CLERKS OF BARNSTAPLE 318

XXIII. CONCLUSION 333

INDEX 335

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

THE PARISH CLERK. By Thomas Gainsborough, R.A. _Frontispiece_
_From the original in the National Gallery_

PAGE

THE VILLAGE CHOIR. By Thomas Webster 8
_From the original in the Victoria and Albert Museum_

THE MEDIÆVAL CLERK: THE CLERK IN PROCESSION 18
_From old engravings_

THE CLERK BEARING HOLY WATER AND ASPERGING THE COOK, AND OTHERS 28 _From old engravings_

THE OLD CHURCH-HOUSES AT HURST AND UFFINGTON, BERKS 42
_By permission of Messrs. G.J. Palmer and Sons_

THE CLERK AND PRIEST VISITING THE SICK AND ADMINISTERING THE LAST SACRAMENT 46 _By permission of the S.P.C.K._

OLD BECKENHAM CHURCH. By David Cox 60
_From the drawing at the Tate Gallery_

OLD SCARLETT 98
_From_ "_The Book of Days_"
_By permission of Messrs. W. and R. Chambers, Ltd_.

ENTRANCE TO THE HALL OF THE COMPANY OF PARISH CLERKS. 104

THE MASTER'S CHAIR AT THE PARISH CLERKS' HALL 106

PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM ROPER, SON-IN-LAW AND BIOGRAPHER OF
SIR THOMAS MORE, BENEFACTOR OF THE CLERKS' COMPANY 110

THE GRANT OF ARMS TO THE COMPANY OF PARISH CLERKS 111

STAINED GLASS WINDOW AT THE HALL OF THE PARISH CLERKS' COMPANY, SHOWING PORTRAITS OF JOHN CLARKE AND STEPHEN PENCKHURST 112

A PAGE OF THE BEDE ROLL OF THE PARISH CLERKS' COMPANY. 114

THE ORGAN AT THE PARISH CLERKS' HALL 121

A PAGE OF AN EARLY BILL OF MORTALITY PRESERVED AT THE HALL OF THE PARISH CLERKS' COMPANY 122

INTERIOR OF THE HALL OF THE PARISH CLERKS' COMPANY 126

PORTRAIT OF JOHN CLARKE, PARISH CLERK OF THE CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL, CORNHILL 128

OLD MAP OF CLERKENWELL 130

A MYSTERY PLAY AT CHESTER 132
_From a print after a painting by T. Uwins_

THE DESCENT INTO HELL 136
_From William Hone's "Ancient Mysteries_"

THE SLEEPING CONGREGATION. By W. Hogarth 182
_From an engraving at the British Museum_

THE CLERK ATTENDING THE PRIEST AT HOLY BAPTISM 196
_By permission of the S.P.C.K._

THE DUTIES OF A CLERK AT A DEATH AND FUNERAL 198
_By permission of the S.P.C.K._

THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. By W. P. Frith 199
_From a photograph by Messrs. W.A. Mansell and Co_.

PORTRAIT OF RICHARD HUST, THE RESTORER OF THE CLERKS'
ALMSHOUSES 200

THE CHURCH OF ST. MARGARET, WESTMINSTER 210
_After an engraving from a photograph by Messrs.
W.A. Mansell and Co_.

WILLIAM HINTON, A WILTSHIRE WORTHY. Drawn by the Rev.
Julian Charles Young 239
_By permission of Messrs. Macmillan and Co_.

SUNDAY MORNING. By John Absolon 270
_From a photograph by Messrs. W.A. Mansell and Co_.

THE PARISH CLERK OF QUEDGELEY 280
_By permission of Miss Isabel Barnett_

JAMES CARNE, PARISH CLERK OF ST. COLUMB MINOR, CORNWALL,
THE OLDEST LIVING CLERK 320
_From a photograph by Mr. R.P. Griffith, Newquay_