SEVENTY-THREE YEARS OF CHURCH WORK

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 332, 26 January 1909, Page 4

SEVENTY-THREE YEARS OF CHURCH WORK

ENGLAND'S OLDEST CLERGYMAN. UNDER FINE MO.N'AUtTIS. After seventy-three years of faithful service to the Church, the Itev.W. 11. Egerton. who for sixty-two years has hail charge of the parish of YVhitechurch. Shropshire, retired at the end ol December.

Mr Egerton must surely be the oldest preacher in the Church of England, lie was ordained iu 1835, and went lo Whiteehurch in February, ISIIi.

Though he is now in his ninety-eighth vear, lie takes the keenest interest i.i all'airs of his parish and the world generally, and read the lessons in church as recently as Xovemby 2'Jtli. On every .side are heard expressions of ailed ion for the aged rector. To the people of Whitcc-hurch the place will not seem the same when he retires, for he has entered into the very lire of the place. The babies lie has held hi his arms at the foul have come to him later on to he married, have brought children and grandchildren to him lo be christened, anil have been laid toresl by him in the little Cod's acre under I he shadow of the old church and the old trees.

" I have seen many changes, of cours.-. In- told n Lloyd's News interviewer." but they're all for- the belter. Church life is more real anil more earnesl. Men and women are no longer looked upon as au eccentricity. The world is bellethan I found it.

■' I'vi! seen moil coins' anil go. I've lived under live Sovereigns, served under seven Bishops of Lichfield, a'ad have liml iilmnst countless curates under me. Twenty-three, of lliem lire still living. I was born Xovenilier mil. ISII, ill Millpus. in the vorv room the grcai nnd good Bishop Ifelic- iirst saw the light. ■•Hint night, 1 have lienrd my mother -mv. was bright noonday liy the memorable eoniet of 1811. The peace rejoicing after Waterloo, eelelnated ahoiil a vear after the great liallle. are my earliest recollections. At Malpns tallies fur feasting were laid the full length.if the avenue trees that lead from the r>'.I,.rv intherliiircli.an.l probably I markI'd chielly the good tilings given to in.-. "(If course, uiv earlv days were sp"ul ill the last of the old coaching years, and I remember the interest with which a little steamboat was tried on the .Mersey at Liverpool and Manchester, w.ien Stephenson accomplished a great engineering feat by laying the track over Chat .Moss."

The hardship of travelling lo niid f'.'om school on top of a coach in mid-winler is among Mr Egcrtim's painful memories, hut he candidly admits that this might have been avoided. His parents gave him money for inside fares, but by travelling outside something was saved towards pocket-money. This suggests Pit-ken's novels, as also does his memory of having twice a term to march up to the master's desk in the school room to receive a dose of treacle and jalap. Sometimes he can almost forget that we are in the days of police, and in fancy hoars the cry "Half-past three ami froslv morning" from the watchman,or ■• Old' Charley," as with rattle and horn lantern he made liis rounds.

Comparing Church life and work of

those years with to-day, Mr Egerton said: "Pruralites were not iincoinnion, and thus we had non residence, and inellicicnt work, bill the great revival eanie, and now we have reside.it clergymen everywhere, and for the most part earnest, devoted men, with churches free and open, a seemly ritual, daily prayer, and weekly communion. This is a great improvement on the days of the portwine itnd limiting parson. "Sixty years ago whitewash was the chief church decoration, and high pews with moth-eaten curtains nearly filled (lie buildings. These were let or'sold to the well-to-do. and the poor had In be content wilh a few narrow benches near the door. A deal-table with a niotli«iten baize covering served for Holy Coiuuniuioii. which was only administered four times a year.

" In many churches the stone font was Ihe receptacle for such rubbish as candles, and the then indispensable tinderbox. The services were long and dreary, but few a:id far between, the church doors being dosed from Sunday to Sunday. The air was that of a eharnel house, anil the surplices became damp and mouldy.

"There was plenty of music, for the violin, bassoon, and a big black instrument coiled like a serpent, were all in use. The 'dog wliipper's seat was liehow the pulpit, and I remember how that ollicer was the terror of children who st 1 iu the aisle lo be catechised during Lent.

"It's a wrench to leave, the old rectory where I've been all these years," he said, -but I shall still be here to look at the church and the people and to take an interest in all that makes for their well-being."