Norfolk Pilgrim

  The 1851 Religious Census -  measured bums on seats.  i) The Parish of Horstead -  with a gracious Rectory, extensive walled gardens and a late medieval tithe barn was a good living .  Forming part of the endowment that established King's College Cambridge, it provided a comfortable post for former fellows.  It was a rule in the university, not repealed until 1877,  that fellows were required to be Church of England clergy and unmarried. For colleges to have a number of g ood livings to which fellows could retire and continue their studies in relative comfort was the norm.   Since the 16th C Horstead had been combined with the neighbouring parish of Coltishall  Often served by a curate, the tithes from the parish went into the college's coffers.   On the 30th May 1851, from a total village population of 595, church attendance had been 50 in the morning and 70 in the afternoon.  In addition there had been 60 Sunday Schol...

A Wobbly  Three-Legged Stool Leg 1 - The Recent Past Through Rose Coloured Spectacles  In living memory,  each of the churches in our rural group of parishes had competent organists,  robed choirs and their own vicar!  At Harvest Festival there were displays of produce, flowers everywhere. The flowers and decorations at Easter and Christmas were lavish and the pews were full! Leg 2 -  The Medieval Church (as imagined since the Victorian restorations*)  The churches were full and thriving! Leg 3  -  The Present Reality 150 years on from the Victorian restorations,  usual Sunday attendance is less than 2% of the population. The weight of Church structures - both buildings and organisational structures - are becoming too heavy for the remnant to carry. Wobbly? I'd say! Time to take bearings!  *  So widespread were the restoration/remodelling of church buildings in 19th C - placing organ and choir stalls in the chancel with the al...