The Adventures of a Gentleman in Search of the Church of England [By C.A.A. Craven]. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1853 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. AS IT SHOULD BE. The week flew by before we had time hardly to count the hours; Sunday morning came, and I looked forward with as much pleasure to the service as I did with dread to the crowded churches of the metropolis. Mrs. Trueman and her daughters all came down a little smarter than usual, but as gay and lively as ever. There were no gloomy looks, as if Sunday was a penance instead of a day set apart for rest and happiness. "Johnson," said my host, "there's the London paper, do as you think right about reading it. I never open it till after dinner, but then this is a busy day with me." There was no more constraint on Sunday than on a week-day in this happy family. The young ladies went off to the Sunday-school an hour before church, and we followed at the usual time. The vicar walked alone, not from any motive of pride or nonsense of any kind, but probably wishing to have his thoughts undisturbed just before commencing his duty. There was a large stream of people winding along the road which led to the village church. The smart red cloaks of the women, and the dazzling whiteness of the men's smockfrocks shone pleasantly in the sunshine. The merry peal of bells smote invitingly on the ear, and the whole village seemed to me to be going to their simple worship as if they loved their clergyman and he loved them. Lord Lyon's household were always punctual. There was no waiting for the 'Squire, as I have known to be the case in some parishes, for, in the first place, there was no necessity for doing so, and in the next, Horace Trueman would not have waited one minute after the proper time for Royalty itself. Our old friends the House of Peers had the post of honour round the old yew tree in the churchyard, and sat happy and contented every Sun...