The Victorian Parson

by Barry Turner, Richard Chartres (Foreword)

The Victorian parson is an unsung hero. Legend and literature portray him as a buffoon or a charlatan; at best, he is the bearer of a thin veneer of piety as a cover for hypocrisy, and it is true that stories of louche, lazy or plain loony vicars are easy to come by.However, amid the unprecedented technological and commercial turmoil of the nineteenth century, the Church moved to the centre of the nation’s affairs and took on new and important responsibilities. Campaigning for new schools, healthier living conditions and providing humanitarian values, the vicar became the champion for the lower classes despite remote and hostile communities, churches that were barely fit for purpose and uncooperative local landowners. With a wealth of diary entries and other first-hand accounts, this beautifully written history sees society from the viewpoint of the parson at the centre of his community – a community in the throes of economic, spiritual, architectural, social and scientific revolution.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2016

About the author

Barry Turner has been a full-time writer for 30 years. He has worked as a journalist and broadcaster in the field of politics, biography, travel and education, and is the author of over 20 books. He is a regular contributor to The Times as a book reviewer and serializer, and is the editor of the annuals The Writer's Handbook and The Screenwriter's Handbook.

Reviews

[Mick Finlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book!

[Adrian Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

More a selection of anecdotes which some may enjoy.