VICAR PAID ANNUITY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 451, 7 June 1937, Page 5

VICAR PAID ANNUITY

UPKEEP OF DONKEY Promise By Ethelred The Unready London, May 8. The rector of Pinhoe, a Devon village, is expected to visit his parishioners on a donkey. At least the Ecclesiastical Commissioners pay him 16s each year for the animal’s upkeep. This old Devon.custom dates back to the year 1001. In that year, when the Danes were attacking at Pinhoe, the parish priest mounted an ass and fetched a fresh supply of arrows from Exeter. This gave the English the victory. The annuity has been paid ever since as a 'token of gratitude originally promised by the King, Ethelred the UnreSdy. The Rev Oliver Puckridge, the present rector, said: “When I came to the parish in 1909, I had a pet donkey named Michael, who died after several years of faithful service. Then I bought another, but it bolted and kicked my trap to bits. I wu 4 thankful to -sell it.”