Not In Essex

I recently edited my last church magazine after six years in the role. I included these two snippets which I came across. They don’t relate to Essex nor, I believe, are a true reflection of the subject. I think!

Concerning Churchwardens

I do not recommend any of my readers to become churchwardens. You become a sort of acting aide-de-camp to the parson, liable to be called out on duty at a moment’s notice. No; a young man might with some advantage to others a credit to himself take upon himself the office of Parish Councillor, Poor Law Guardian, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, High Sheriff, or even Public Hangman; but save, oh, save us from being churchwardens! To be obliged to attend those terrible institutions called “vestry meetings” and to receive each year an examination paper from the archdeacon of the diocese propounding such questions as, “Do you attend church regularly? If not, why not?” etc, etc, is the natural destiny of the churchwarden, and is more than human nature can stand: in short, my advice to those thinking of becoming churchwardens is “Don’t,” with a very big D.

Village Choirs

The village choirs do very well as long as their organist or vicar is not too ambitious in his choice of music. There is a fatal tendency in many places to do away with the old hymns, which every one has known as a boy, and substitute the very inferior modern ones now being found in our books. This is a great mistake, if I may say so. A man is far more likely to sing, and feel deeply when he is singing, those simple words and notes he learnt long ago in the nursery at home. And there is nothing finer in the world than some of our old English hymns.

The country organist, however, imagines that it is his duty to be always teaching his choir some new and difficult tune; the result in nine cases out of ten being “murder” and a rapid falling off of the congregation.