VICAR PAID ANNUITY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 452, 8 June 1937, Page 7

VICAR PAID ANNUITY

UPKEEP OF DONKEY i Promise By Ethelred The Unready London, May *B. The rector of Pinhoe, a Devon villUge, is expected to visit his parishioners on a donkey. At least the Ecclesiastical Commissioners pay him IBs' each year for ths- animal’s upkeep. This old Devon custom dates back 'to the year 1001. In that year, when the Dunes 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 grati-tiid'a- originally promised by the King, Ethelred i the Unready. The Rev Oliver Puckridgc, the precent rector, said: ‘•When I came to the.parish in 190!), I had a pet donkey named Michael, who died alter sev- ■ era! years of faithful service. Then -11 bought another, but .it lioltcd and [kicked my trap to bits. I thankI ful to sell it.”