There was once a rule that a candidate for holy orders must, at the time of his ordination, be able to handle the communion vessels property. This person probably had either a birth defect involving fused or missing fingers, or had some of his fingers broken and not set properly.
This article seems to imply something similar still in existence http://www.catholicapologetics.info/catholicteaching/vocations/priest.htm (don't know how authoritative the site is though)
Luckily our Church only goes back 170 years, so we can be economical with the size of Vicar's board, the Church Warden's board however has pride of place with gilt edging and gold lettering and is dusted daily.
This post still makes me smile particularly the comments of 'No idea what happened here' and 'Wonder which family were Lords of the Manor!' Can we have more in this vein please?
So true - we have but one name on our board with 'rev' before it - guess in who's time the board went up?
but rather more weirdly - in Charles Darwin's time (I'm Vicar of Downe) the vicar then was (Rev!) John Broadie-Innes - who, you might say... as well you might - right, bearing in mind this is deepest Kent - turns out that when he retired, he took over the family estate in the Highlands of Scotland.... and became my (great)grandparents landlord!
In the village where I grew up one of the previous incumbents was 'ejected for popish innovations' and as a young boy who enjoyed his James Bond films it always made me think of the Aston Martin DB5...
Love the Chumbawamba reference.
ReplyDeleteNathan Jones has been gone too long
ReplyDeleteAnd he never wrote me, he never called!
DeleteThe list of Rectors of St Mary, Baconsthorpe, Holt, N Norfolk has:
ReplyDelete1482 - William [H]apton “He had the Pope’s dispensation that though his fingers were crooked he might take all orders”.
Verb. sap.
There was once a rule that a candidate for holy orders must, at the time of his ordination, be able to handle the communion vessels property. This person probably had either a birth defect involving fused or missing fingers, or had some of his fingers broken and not set properly.
DeleteThis article seems to imply something similar still in existence http://www.catholicapologetics.info/catholicteaching/vocations/priest.htm (don't know how authoritative the site is though)
DeleteLuckily our Church only goes back 170 years, so we can be economical with the size of Vicar's board, the Church Warden's board however has pride of place with gilt edging and gold lettering and is dusted daily.
ReplyDeleteThis post still makes me smile particularly the comments of 'No idea what happened here' and 'Wonder which family were Lords of the Manor!' Can we have more in this vein please?
ReplyDeleteSo true - we have but one name on our board with 'rev' before it - guess in who's time the board went up?
ReplyDeletebut rather more weirdly - in Charles Darwin's time (I'm Vicar of Downe) the vicar then was (Rev!) John Broadie-Innes - who, you might say... as well you might - right, bearing in mind this is deepest Kent - turns out that when he retired, he took over the family estate in the Highlands of Scotland.... and became my (great)grandparents landlord!
....and we're now on our last space (I'm the last!) does that mean I've got to stay for ever?
ReplyDeleteIn the village where I grew up one of the previous incumbents was 'ejected for popish innovations' and as a young boy who enjoyed his James Bond films it always made me think of the Aston Martin DB5...
ReplyDelete