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The Rector Complains

EXTRACTS FROM THE BARWICK PARISH MAGAZINE.


Barwicker No.37 March 1995


July 1904.

"A practice has grown up in late years of throwing things called 'confetti' at a newly married couple. Whether there is any sensible meaning in it we do not pretend to know, but it is a practice which must not be introduced into the precincts of the Church. A great litter has at times been made in the Churchyard in this way, and it is almost impossible to sweep up these little paper discs, but on one occasion they have been thrown in the Church itself. This cannot be allowed. Nothing at all must on any account be thrown in the Church, and no 'confetti' in the Churchyard. It would be most unpleasant to have to spoil the gaiety of a wedding party by interfering to stop this, and it is hoped that our parishioners will all recognise that it is one of the things that must not be."

September 1905.

"It has in recent years become a practice amongst men and women to go in public with their heads uncovered. This may be from a mere passing fancy on the part of some, or a following of fashion, or from an idea that it is healthy, and so far it is at least harmless to other people. But there is a point where it becomes wrong. Our Church is left open every day in the year from morning until evening: we are glad that any people passing through the village should be able to go in, and we believe the fact that Barwick Church is always open is now well known and well appreciated. But we must protest against hatless women coming in. A man with his hat on would naturally be asked to remove it or leave the Church, a woman without a hat must likewise be asked to cover her head with a scarf or something, or leave the church. It is as irreverent for a woman to enter God's House with head uncovered as it is for a man to enter covered.

It may be thought that it is useless to write here what refers only to people who do not live here and do not see these pages. But it does not refer only to strangers passing through the Village. From time to time one has seen women run into the Church, when there has been a wedding or a funeral, without hat or bonnet, and where it has been possible to do so quietly they have been told of their error. There was a time when these offenders were always uneducated, but now we see people whose attire in other respects leads one to think them more or less educated. It must be clearly understood that this is wrong, and, in future, a woman with head uncovered in Church will be told of it as plainly as a man who should be wearing his hat there."


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