The Parish Clerk   By: Peter H. Ditchfield (1854-1930)

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 "