"[God] has told you, O mortal what is good. And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Lately, a fascinating book has occupied my nightstand for late night reading before dropping off to sleep: The Diary of a Country Parson, 1758-1802, by James Woodforde (Oxford University Press, 1985). Born in the mid 18th century at Ansford, in Somerset, England, James' father was also a priest, serving as Vicar of the churches at Castle Cary and in the village of Ansford. James received ordination after graduating from New College at Oxford University, and later received the living of the very churches his father served. Parson Woodforde's name might not sound familiar because few people have ever heard it-unless, of course, you have read the diary or about it. Neither does one need to be priest to appreciate the diarist's reflections.
This particular edition is a one-volume compilation edited from the standard five-volume work. The entire diary covers his life from age eighteen - living as a bachelor at Oxford - to a final date within ten weeks of his death at age 62 - forty four years of journal keeping. In it, Fr. Woodforde gives us a unique look at life in Georgian England, and one person's approach to a life of faith lived one day at a time. I find his diary fascinating because of its simplicity. He jots down ordinary things. Yet in his observations we see a saintly quality that speaks to us even to this day. From his original pages of flowing long hand we see the dribs and drabs of an ordinary existence, sometimes plain, sometimes fancy, often funny, gritty or sad. For example,
December 25, 1764
Fifteen poor old people dined here as usual being Xmas Day. We had for dinner to-day a large Rump of Beef of thirty pounds roasted, and three large plum puddings. Fine Beef it was.
January 10, 1765
Mr. Bridges breakfasted with me, and afterward he went home to Wells. I am not sorry for it.
January 16
Papa and Mama returned this afternoon with their maid Elizabeth Clothier, from London, perfectly well and easy! Blessed be God for all great mercies bestowed upon me a miserable and sinful creature…
January 29
Mr. John Penny sent me a small plumb cake and a pair of white gloves this morning, I buried his little maid this afternoon at Cary Church. |
Nothing spectacular here, really; ordinary stuff with a little work thrown in. Yet we begin to sense something we like about this person, and his character, as in these incidents:
April 4, 1765
Gave Betty Crich my old woman's daughter 0.0.6 (sixpence) to get her spinning work done in time, as I had hindered her.
April 7
My Clarke Sam. Hutchins sat up all last night drinking therefore he did not attend at the Holy Sacrament [it being Easter Day] - for which I gave him a severe lecture, and he promised me never to be guilty of the same again, and I hope he will not… |
As you might guess, in a work like this Fr. Woodforde's family occupies many of his reflections-wouldn't it for all of us? His one sibling especially garners much ink:
May 25th
…Brother John dined, breakfasted, and laid here again. After dinner [he] went to a Pony Race and did not return until after ten this evening. I am greatly afraid Jack is rather wild, but I hope not.
July 8th
Brother John breakfasted, dined, and supped and laid here again. Brother John is very indifferent by his being too busy with Girls…
September 20th
Papa and Brother John had some words this evening, but it ended very well between them at last.
November 21st
My brother spent the evening at the Angel [Pub] at Cary and returned very much disguised in liquor, and stayed up late… |
The year 1766 brought the end of a long illness to the Parson's mother…
February 6th
Poor Mama grows weaker and worse daily. The Parsonage is a very melancholy house now indeed.
February 7th
Poor Mama sent for me and Jack this afternoon up into her room and very solemnly took her leave of us; therefore I do not believe that she can exist very long in this world…
February 8th
It pleased Almighty God of his great goodness to take unto himself my dear good mother this morning, about 9 o'clock, out of this sinful world and deliver her out of her miseries. She went out of the world as easy as it was possible for anyone. I hope that she is now eternally happy in everlasting glory…
O Lord Almighty send help from Thy Holy Place to my dear father, and to all my mother's dear relations, to withstand so great a shock, and to live and dye so easy as she did… |
His mother was buried in the vault of the chancel at Ansford Church, "very decently and well" he notes. She left her entire estate to the diarist and his sister and brother.
Some of the entries in the Diary speak to human or historical interests:
October 3rd, 1762
We had news today of the Havannah, the Principal Port in the Island of Cuba in the West Indies, being taken by the English.
May 5th, 1763
This is the Thanksgiving day for the late Peace between France, Spain and England.
Sept. 29th, 1766
We had a Pine Apple after dinner [at Justice Creeds], the first I ever saw or tasted.
November 3rd, 1776
This morning about 11 o'clock Dr. Thorne of Mattishall came to my house and inoculated my two servants… Pray God my people and all others in the Small Pox may do well, several Houses have got the Small Pox in Weston. O Lord, send thy blessing of health on them all.
May 9th, 1768
I never saw a Peacock spread his tail before this day at Justice Creeds and most Noble it is - How wonderful are Thy Works O God in every Being. |
Many entries speak of Parson Woodforde's life of prayer and worship as a village priest:
October 18th, 1766
I entirely forgot that this was St. Luke's Day, and therefore did not read prayers at [Castle] Cary, which I should have done otherwise. As it was not done willfully, I hope God will forgive it.
November 10th
I read Prayers, Preached, Churched a Woman, and christened two children by the name of Christopher and John this afternoon at Weston Church. A large congregation at Church… All People were pleased with the Alteration at the Church. This afternoon was the first time of my using the Reading Desk and Pulpit, since its being removed, and also of a new Common Prayer Book in my Desk. I can be heard much better than where it was, and easier…
December 13th, 1776
This day being appointed a Fast on our Majesty's arms against the rebel Americans, I went to church this morning and read the prayers appointed for the same. I had as full a congregation present as I have in an afternoon on a Sunday, very few that did not come… |
And in between the ordinary stuff, much like the stuff that which fills all our lives - you know, day to day living and all that - we find some real gems:
February 17th
As I returned from Church [it being Ash Wednesday] I went into Ansford Inn and read the Commendatory Prayer to poor Mrs. Perry, who was just departing this life and who died just as I had finished. She went off extremely easy, without any visible emotion at all. I hope she has gone to unspeakable joys of Eternity. Lord, make us wise to consider our latter end and live good lives…
April 14th
…I went over to Cary [Church] this night after eleven o'clock and privately baptized a child born this day and very dangerously ill and in convulsions, by name of George, of [the] Perry's, a Mason and poor man in South Cary. Never did I any ecclesiastical duty with more pleasure, as it gave such great satisfaction to its parents, and that they were so good and charitably disposed to have it done. The poor innocent Babe was taken with a violent fit, immediately after I had named it, and I really thought was dead; but it pleased God to restore it again, which was undoubtedly a blessing from Heaven for their goodness. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, in whose hearts are thy ways! Great is Thy Mercy O Lord God of Hosts!
April 15th
The poor little Infant which I privately baptized last night departed this world this afternoon. |
The Parson has even given us some of his very honest and private thoughts:
February 5th, 1769
From henceforth O Lord give me grace to walk in thy ways more circumspectly than I have done lately.
May 22nd, 1774
Have been very naughty to-day, did not go to either Ansford or Cary Church… have Mercy on me O Lord a miserable, vile sinner, and pardon my failings. |
Sprinkled between regular accountings of meals eaten, where and with whom, games of Whist played (including the score and the money won or lost on wagers), and the many listings of ports, wines, and beer purchased or made (and consumed), we see little, stark entries that speak to us of the Parson's heart:
February 4th
To a poor old Man that plays on the Dulcimer gave
0. 0. 6.
February 14th
This being Valentine Day I gave to 52 children of this parish, as usual, 1 penny each…
March 21st
The poor Woman whom I sent some Veal to Sunday died yesterday morning - She eat nothing afterwards till she died, But she did eat hearty of the Veal I sent her…
May 26th
I buried poor Joe Adcocks wife this evening aged 43. Pray God comfort for the poor Man in his distress, he having buried, his Father and Mother and Wife within 6 weeks.
December 25th
I dined today being Christmas Day at 1 o'clock and the following poor old [People] dined here also, viz. Thomas Cary, Thomas Dicker, Thomas Cushing, Richard Buck, Thomas Carr, and James Smith, my clerk. After they had dined I gave to each one Shilling… Pray God! ever continue to me the Power of doing good… |
One thing you will not find in the diary is any profound musings on God, the ultimate meaning of life, the Four Spiritual Laws, or anything obviously written with intent to be read by others for spiritual edification. We have here only a life to read, by dribs and drabs. We always give others our life to read.
"What does the Lord require of you," says the Prophet Micah, "but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" We see in the diary that Parson Woodforde tried to do just that-He truly loved God, and demonstrated that love by loving his neighbor as himself, amidst the routine of his daily life.
Far too often we fool ourselves into believing that living a holy life requires something that we have not got - James Woodforde's diary proves that is not so. God simply expects our faithful effort, and equips us with the abilities to help us accomplish it. The Prophet Micah and the Country Parson remind us that the Lord has already given us what it takes to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with God. We only have to believe it and do it.
On February 13th, 2002 (just ten days away), all of us will enter the Holy Season of Lent. This annual six weeks provides us the opportunity to focus on how we, personally, live out our faith, how we love God by loving our neighbor and ourselves. Recognizing that none of us ever gets it perfectly, every day, every month of every year, let us, rather, consider living just one day faithfully. Let us wake each day and resolve to do better, for that day. And then do it again, the next day. We can do anything for just a day.
Like Parson Woodforde, this Lenten season let us admit our shortcomings to God; let us strive to practice humility and generosity toward others; let us learn to enjoy God's blessings on us in this life.
For all we have is this life, not some other life that hasn't arrived yet. This is not a "practice life" for some other life we wish we had. This is the life that God has given us, with all of its dribs and drabs of ordinariness and holiness combined, like water in the wine. This is the stuff of baptized existence - humanness mixed with godliness, lived (as we can only live it) day by day. This is the life that we allow others to read.
The Country Parson himself does the Prophet Micah proud when he bids us to remember:
| "Pray God! ever continue to [us] the Power of doing good…"
"Lord, make us wise to consider our latter end and live good lives." |
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Rev'd Timothy M. Dombek
ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH
301 Piney Mountain Road
Greenville, SC 29609-3035
(864) 244-6358
stjamesrector@mindspring.com
Copyright © 2002 Timothy M. Dombek All Rights Reserved.
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