A Compendium of Diverse Eccentrics, Pirates, Prelates and Adventurers; All Anglican, Some Even Practising.
Fergus Butler-Gallie
Oneworld Publications 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book. I have read some of the Revd Fergus Butler-Gallie’s articles in the Church Times and he is a witty, perceptive writer who writes with a twang. So, this book of funny stories of clergy from history should be uninterrupted light relief. Unfortunately, in some of the stories I had a nagging doubt that the individual described was not simply an eccentric or a rogue, but may have been mentally unwell. And, as my grandmother’s generation used to say, it’s wicked to mock the afflicted.
With that reservation aside, here are some snippets.
The Reverend James Stainer Clarke (1767-1834):
“he fancied himself as something of a polymath. Unfortunately, he turned out to be useless at almost everything.” (Page 150).
The Reverend Bruce Cornford (1867-1940):
“His clerical career didn’t have the most auspicious of beginnings. Having just been made a Deacon, Cornford was sent to serve his curacy in Portsmouth. The vicar who was meant to be training him was laid-back, when he wasn’t away on holiday. After being left alone to run the parish for a prolonged period while the incumbent was on the continent, Cornford finally cracked and, in protest at these regular absences, put his superior’s house on the market. When the Vicar was glancing over the English newspapers some time later, he happened to notice a sizeable Portsmouth residence up for sale. His interest piqued, he read on, only to realise to his horror that it was his own house that was being flogged to the highest bidder. The ‘all enquiries to Rev. Bruce Cornford’ part of the advert rather gave the game away – the Vicar cut short his jaunt and Cornford got the sack.” (Pages 152-153).
At the back of the book is a glossary of terms, including:
“Parish […] the parish will often have at least one (often crumbling) building as well as a myriad of committees and associated organisations whose purpose is to make life easier for the incumbent by bombarding them with requests, complaints and demands.” (Page 174).
“Rector […] minister who spends a couple of years inflicting their poor taste and interminable sermons on another parish before moving on, allowing the laity to clear up the mess and then continue in their habits as if nothing had happened.” (Page 175).
Adrian Vincent
October 2022