Sunday 6 December 2020

Naughty vicar back in his church

It doesn't look like many of the regulars at the Barley Mow were also members of the rector's congregation. Because no adults turned up to the first Sunday service after he was found guilty.

What interest me is: did the rector continue to hang around in pubs? I mean, he might as well, already having been found guilty.

"Boy Was Rector's 'Congregation'
Rev Hugo Dominique De La Mothe, rector of Dogmersfield (Hants), conducted his morning service yesterday to empty pews.

A reporter found 13-year-old John Pullinger was the only member of the congregation when tho service began. Halfway through the service two girls with their hair tied in pink and blue ribbons entered with a child just toddling. 

Four choir boys in plum-coloured surplices, the organist, and organ-blower, 11-year-old David Hutchins, completed the congregation 

The rector, who did not preach, read one lesson from the fifth chapter of Isaiah, the eleventh verse of which reads "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink, that continue until night till wine inflame them." 

The rector has been found guilty by a consistory court of the Winchester Diocese on charges drunkenness, resorting taverns and and now awaiting the decision the Bishop of Winchester.
Dundee Courier - Monday 11 December 1944, page 3.

It seems a bit odd that unaccompanied children should have turned up. I can't quite get my head around that. Perhaps they were dead religious?

It's an intriguing bit of scripture the rector chose to read, What did he mean by it? Was he taking the piss? Afterwards the rector said he would continue his services until he received the Bishop of Winchester's decision following the Consistory Court findings.
Daily Herald - Monday 11 December 1944, page 3."Afterwards the rector said he would continue his services until he received the Bishop of Winchester's decision following the Consistory Court findings."
Daily Herald - Monday 11 December 1944, page 3.

Next time we'll discover which sentence the bishop announced.

No comments: