I can't quote chapter and verse on this but there were some substantial
debates and discussions in the early years of the Church Assembly (1919 + )
on the poverty in which missioners, scripture readers and the like lived.
Manchester was one of the few dioceses that was making formal pension
provision at that time. Dioceasan magazines might be the thing to look at
for information Manchester had one that runs into the 1920s and so did
Durham. Of course this is just for the C of E.
Jane Knight.
At 14:09 25/04/03 +0100, you wrote:
>I'm writing a piece about a 19th local government officer who lived
>1837-1916. Before he came into government he was a building labourer but
>when he wrote his will in 1870, and whilst still employed as a builder, he
>described himself as a "Scripture Reader".
>
>I had imagined that scripture reading would be something he did voluntarily
>on Sundays but there seems to be more to it than this as some of the letters
>about him at that time (the 1860s), and before he came into local
>government, mentioned his excellent work visiting the poor.
>
>So can anyone tell me if a "Scripture Reader" was more than just a voluntary
>job in the mid 19th century? He was not a well-educated man. Could it have
>been a paid job for a church which entailed parish visits?
>
>Brian Read
J E Knight
14 Windsor Crescent
East Hagbourne
Dicot
OX11 9LY
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