The Life of Charlotte Brontë — Volume 1Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
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The Life of Charlotte Brontë — Volume 1
Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855; Novelists, English -- 19th century -- Biography
Although I have dwelt on the exceptional traits in the characteristics of
these stalwart West-Ridingers, such as they were in the first quarter of
this century, if not a few years later, I have little doubt that in the
everyday life of the people so independent, wilful, and full of grim
humour, there would be much found even at present that would shock those
accustomed only to the local manners of the south; and, in return, I
suspect the shrewd, sagacious, energetic Yorkshireman would hold such
"foreigners" in no small contempt.
I have said, it is most probable that where Haworth Church now stands,
there was once an ancient "field-kirk," or oratory. It occupied the
third or lowest class of ecclesiastical structures, according to the
Saxon law, and had no right of sepulture, or administration of
sacraments. It was so called because it was built without enclosure, and
open to the adjoining fields or moors. The founder, according to the
laws of Edgar, was bound, without subtracting from his tithes, to
maintain the ministering priest out of the remaining nine parts of his
income. After the Reformation, the right of choosing their clergyman, at
any of those chapels of ease which had formerly been field-kirks, was
vested in the freeholders and trustees, subject to the approval of the
vicar of the parish. But owing to some negligence, this right has been
lost to the freeholders and trustees at Haworth, ever since the days of
Archbishop Sharp; and the power of choosing a minister has lapsed into
the hands of the Vicar of Bradford. So runs the account, according to
one authority.
Mr. Bronte says,--"This living has for its patrons the Vicar of Bradford
and certain trustees. My predecessor took the living with the consent of
the Vicar of Bradford, but in opposition to the trustees; in consequence
of which he was so opposed that, after only three weeks' possession, he
was compelled to resign." A Yorkshire gentleman, who has kindly sent me
some additional information on this subject since the second edition of
my work was published, write, thus:--
"The sole right of presentation to the incumbency of Haworth is vested
in the Vicar of Bradford. He only can present. The funds, however,
from which the clergyman's stipend mainly proceeds, are vested in the
hands of trustees, who have the power to withhold them, if a nominee
is sent of whom they disapprove. On the decease of Mr. Charnock, the
Vicar first tendered the preferment to Mr. Bronte, and he went over to
his expected cure. He was told that towards himself they had no
personal objection; but as a nominee of the Vicar he would not be
received. He therefore retired, with the declaration that if he could
not come with the approval of the parish, his ministry could not be
useful. Upon this the attempt was made to introduce Mr. Redhead.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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