Transcript

of

The Close of S. Andrews

Devon & Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. VII, (1912-1913), Exeter: James G. Commin. 1913, p 108.

by

T. Cann Hughes & Eds.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The satire in question undoubtedly relates to the furore generated by Bishop Philpott’s sacking of the Chapel of St Andrew’s curate. The 19th Century was a time of much ecclesiastical debate, which often raged between the Evangelicals and the Tractarians. Bishop Phillpotts of Exeter tended towards a middle path between the two, with a leaning towards the high church. When the evangelically minded Rev. Hibbert Newton was appointed to the Curacy of St Thomas and Exwick in 1850, he immediately came under suspicion. In January 1852, the Reverend was examined by the Bishop and found to be unsound on the doctrine of baptismal regeneration, and sacked from ministering in his parish. Exwick Chapel was closed for two Sundays after the judgment was served, much to the annoyance of the local parishioners. On the 18th January 1852, the parishioners published a declaration that "... they will not see a Christian and Protestant Minister suspended thus in a moment from stipend as well as duty, because he preaches the truth of the Gospel, as he finds it set forth in Holy Scripture, and in conformity with the Articles of the Church of England." They opened a subscription to raise a year's stipend for the Reverend, which received donations from W H Howard, the Vicar of St Thomas, Robert Maunder the owner of the woollen mill, John Rew, John Dinham, Thomas Latimer and many others; the notice listed more than £27 of subscriptions towards the £120 stipend of the hapless Rev., Newton. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Note 76. "THE CLOSE OF S. ANDREWS."  Who was the author of this satirical sketch of Exeter Life, published in 1870? Forty years having elapsed since it was issued, one may now ask if any of your readers can supply the names of the originals of the fictitious characters named in the tale?

                                                                         T.  CANN HUGHES

[In a copy of this work, which can be seen in the Exeter Public Library, the authorship has been assigned to a Miss Bridges or Bridge, of Exeter. Canon Atherington, p. 3, is identified as Chancellor Harrington ; Archdeacon Elliott, p. 3, as Woolcombe; Mr. Strong, p. 7, as Mr. Force; Mr. --- , p. 13, as Mr. Rashdale ; B--- Chapel, p. 13, as Bedford Chapel ; Canon Butler, p. 14, as Canon Cook; the Bishop of S. Andrew's, p. 19, as Bishop Philpotts; Lady Adelaide Travers, p. 21, as the Hon. Miss Lascelles; Mr. Hursdon, p. 61, as Mr. Fursdon; Sir John Plennaway, p. 88, as Sir John Kennaway.

These identifications are pencilled in the margins in an unknown hand, and are given for what they are worth and without any suggestion as to their correctness. - EDS.]