DOCSLIB.ORG

Day 3 IICSA Inquiry Anglican Church Investigation Hearing 25 July 2018

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Day 3 IICSA Inquiry Anglican Church Investigation Hearing 25 July 2018 Day 3 IICSA Inquiry Anglican Church Investigation Hearing 25 July 2018 1 Wednesday, 25 July 2018 1 A. Yes. 2 (10.00 am) 2 Q. In your witness statement at paragraph 1 you describe 3 Welcome and opening remarks by THE CHAIR 3 the role as Secretary for Public Affairs as being 4 THE CHAIR: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Day 3 of 4 essentially the archbishop's most senior adviser on 5 the Peter Ball case study. Today the inquiry will hear 5 things outside of the church? 6 witness evidence from Dr Purkis, from a former police 6 A. Correct. 7 officer and a serving police officer and the Reverend 7 Q. Am I right, broadly speaking, that the Bishop at 8 Dr Ros Hunt. 8 Lambeth, so at that point Bishop John Yates, was the 9 If there are no matters to deal with, Ms Bicarregui, 9 most senior person advising on matters to do with the 10 prior to hearing the witnesses? 10 church, so to do with ecclesiastical matters? 11 MS BICARREGUI: Thank you very much, chair. 11 A. Yes. 12 THE CHAIR: Please proceed. 12 Q. I believe you also worked very closely with 13 MS BICARREGUI: Dr Purkis's statement is in file 6. 13 Lesley Perry, who was the archbishop's press secretary 14 DR ANDREW PURKIS (sworn) 14 at that time? 15 Examination by MS BICARREGUI 15 A. Yes. 16 MS BICARREGUI: Dr Purkis, you should have a bundle of 16 Q. I think, if you look at your witness statement, or you 17 documents in front of you, and behind the first 17 may not need to, at paragraph 15.1, you say that a large 18 tab there should be a copy of your witness statement. 18 part of your role was advising on media coverage and the 19 A. Thank you. 19 public reputation of the mission of the church; is that 20 Q. Have you had a chance to remind yourself of the contents 20 right? 21 of that statement recently? 21 A. Yes. 22 A. Yes. 22 Q. Again, in your witness statement, you clarify that 23 Q. If you were to turn to the back page, which is page 10, 23 Lesley Perry was the key operator with the media, so in 24 you will see that it's dated and signed -- sorry, 24 contact with the media, but you would normally be 25 Dr Purkis. I see you are at the back. It is behind the 25 consulted by her on the wording of important press Page 1 Page 3 1 very first tab 1, at the beginning of the bundle. 1 releases and on media strategy, and certainly in 2 A. Yes. 2 relation to something as controversial as the Peter Ball 3 Q. Although your signature has been redacted -- 3 case; is that right? 4 A. Sorry, I seem to be in the middle of Lord Carey. But 4 A. Yes. 5 I have seen my statement and the redacted signature, and 5 Q. In fact, we know from contemporaneous documents that you 6 I know it is all well. Thank you. 6 helped, to an extent, draft the press releases that were 7 Q. The contents of that statement are still true, to the 7 issued following Peter Ball's resignation and caution 8 best of your knowledge and belief? 8 in March 1993; that's right, isn't it? 9 A. Yes, absolutely. 9 A. Yes. 10 Q. Dr Purkis, we will see how we go. Documents which 10 Q. If we could turn to tab 2 of the bundle, and, Danny, if 11 I refer to will come up on the screen. If at any point 11 we could get up ACE002104. Dr Purkis, the provenance of 12 you want to refer to something in a bundle, just say and 12 this is a little bit shady, shall we say. 13 we will make sure you have the correct bundle. 13 A. Yes. 14 You also say, I think, that you would like this 14 Q. The version that we have got up on screen does have 15 statement to be read in conjunction with the interview 15 a Lambeth Palace stamp on it; the one in the bundle 16 you gave to Dame Moira Gibb; is that right? 16 doesn't. But the inquiry believes that this is the 17 A. Yes, please. 17 press release that was issued when Peter Ball was 18 Q. Dr Purkis, you were the Archbishop of Canterbury's 18 arrested in December 1992. If we could just have a look 19 Secretary for Public Affairs between 1992 and 1998? 19 at that statement, the first paragraph: 20 A. Correct. 20 "It must be emphasised that no charges have been 21 Q. Do you recall when you started in 1992? 21 brought against the bishop, and the allegations made 22 A. I'm sorry, I don't recall exactly. I could look it up, 22 about him are unsubstantiated. Moreover, the bishop has 23 but I don't really remember, sorry. 23 a proven record of outstanding pastoral work, 24 Q. Prior to that job, you had worked in the Civil Service, 24 particularly amongst young people." 25 in the charity sector? 25 Do you see that? The next paragraph goes on to say: Page 2 Page 4 1 (Pages 1 to 4) Epiq Europe Ltd www.epiqglobal.com 8th Floor, 165 Fleet Street (+44)207 4041400 [email protected] London EC4A 2DY Day 3 IICSA Inquiry Anglican Church Investigation Hearing 25 July 2018 1 "The Archbishop of Canterbury has been informed and 1 question: do you recall having any input into the 2 has been in touch with Bishop Peter." 2 drafting of this? 3 Appropriate enquiries will be conducted. Again, the 3 A. I don't. I don't remember being consulted about this 4 last paragraph, just going to that one: 4 one, although it was 24 years ago. 5 "The archbishop has Bishop Peter in his prayers at 5 Q. Indeed. Again, the same question, I suppose: would it 6 this difficult time." 6 be likely -- we know from later documents that 7 Do you see that? 7 Andy Radford and Lesley Perry and yourself were 8 A. Yes. 8 involved, for example, in the March press releases? 9 Q. Do you recall being involved in the drafting of this? 9 A. Yes. 10 A. I don't. 10 Q. Would it be likely that Andy Radford would have spoken 11 Q. Would it be likely that something that was issued from 11 to you or Lesley Perry about this press release? 12 Lambeth Palace, we believe, would have been looked at 12 A. I think -- I suppose it's likely that he spoke at least 13 either by you or by Lesley Perry? 13 to Lesley Perry, but I don't know that. 14 A. Yes, likely. 14 Q. Again, there are no circumstances -- I appreciate that 15 Q. Again, looking at this -- I know we are looking at it 15 you have said innocent until proven guilty, but the 16 with hindsight, Dr Purkis, but what do you think about 16 terms of this, where the focus is on the devastating 17 the way that this is drafted? 17 effect of accusations on the accused, that isn't 18 A. Well, with hindsight, it clearly is a major hostage to 18 something which would in any way be acceptable today, is 19 fortune. I think it reflects the archbishop's view that 19 it? 20 his bishop should be assumed to be innocent unless and 20 A. No, it's very one-sided. 21 until proved otherwise. 21 Q. Even at the time, Dr Purkis, this was an extremely 22 Q. Let's go to the next press release that we have, which 22 unwise message to be sending, wasn't it? 23 is at tab 3 of the bundle. Danny, if we could get up 23 A. Yes, it's a hostage to fortune, I agree. 24 ACE000255. 24 Q. Could we have, Danny, ACE000267 up on screen. This is 25 A. Yes. 25 tab 16 of the bundle. This is a memo which Lesley Perry Page 5 Page 7 1 Q. So this now looks more like a conventional press 1 sent to you, to Bishop John Yates and to the Archbishop 2 release, as you will see. 2 of Canterbury on 6 January. We see that from the first 3 A. Yes. 3 page. Danny, if we could go to page 3, and the top 4 Q. Albeit that it is issued by the Diocese of Gloucester, 4 paragraph of page 3: 5 rather than -- this isn't one that came from 5 "We have all heard rumours of people who have 6 Lambeth Palace directly. 6 written or telephoned here [Lambeth Palace] to describe 7 A. Right. 7 their own experiences with Bishop Peter -- some 8 Q. Again, if we could look at the terms of that press 8 positive, some not. There is a danger that if the 9 release, if we go to, I think -- just to give it some 9 result of this investigation is any permutation of the 10 context, this is a personal message which the Archbishop 10 No 1 scenario ..." 11 of Canterbury wanted to be read out because, of course, 11 We would have to look at the whole thing, but the 12 at this point, the Bishop of Gloucester was absent from 12 number 1 scenario I think is if Bishop Peter Ball is 13 his diocese, and so this was something which was to be 13 exonerated, so there are no charges brought: 14 read in the new year.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Empty Tomb
    content regulars Vol 24 No 299 April 2021 6 gHOSTLy cOunSEL 3 LEAD STORy 20 views, reviews & previews AnDy HAWES A Missioner to the catholic on the importance of the church Movement BOOkS: Christopher Smith on Philip North introduces this Wagner 14 LOST SuffOLk cHuRcHES Jack Allen on Disability in important role Medieval Christianity EDITORIAL 18 Benji Tyler on Being Yourself BISHOPS Of THE SOcIETy 35 4 We need to talk about Andy Hawes on Chroni - safeguarding cles from a Monastery A P RIEST 17 APRIL DIARy raises some important issues 27 In it from the start urifer emerges 5 The Empty Tomb ALAn THuRLOW in March’s New Directions 19 THE WAy WE LIvE nOW JOHn TWISLETOn cHRISTOPHER SMITH considers the Resurrection 29 An earthly story reflects on story and faith 7 The Journal of Record DEnIS DESERT explores the parable 25 BOOk Of THE MOnTH WILLIAM DAvAgE MIcHAEL LAngRISH writes for New Directions 29 Psachal Joy, Reveal Today on Benedict XVI An Easter Hymn 8 It’s a Sin 33 fAITH Of OuR fATHERS EDWARD DOWLER 30 Poor fred…Really? ARTHuR MIDDLETOn reviews the important series Ann gEORgE on Dogma, Devotion and Life travels with her brother 9 from the Archives 34 TOucHIng PLAcE We look back over 300 editions of 31 England’s Saint Holy Trinity, Bosbury Herefordshire New Directions JOHn gAyfORD 12 Learning to Ride Bicycles at champions Edward the Confessor Pusey House 35 The fulham Holy Week JAck nIcHOLSOn festival writes from Oxford 20 Still no exhibitions OWEn HIggS looks at mission E R The East End of St Mary's E G V Willesden (Photo by Fr A O Christopher Phillips SSC) M I C Easter Chicks knitted by the outreach team at Articles are published in New Directions because they are thought likely to be of interest to St Saviour's Eastbourne, they will be distributed to readers.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecclesiology in the Church of England: an Historical and Theological Examination of the Role of Ecclesiology in the Church of England Since the Second World War
    Durham E-Theses Ecclesiology in the Church of England: an historical and theological examination of the role of ecclesiology in the church of England since the second world war Bagshaw, Paul How to cite: Bagshaw, Paul (2000) Ecclesiology in the Church of England: an historical and theological examination of the role of ecclesiology in the church of England since the second world war, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4258/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Ecclesiology in the Church of England: an historical and theological examination of the role of ecclesiology in the Church of England since the Second World War The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should i)C published in any form, including; Electronic and the Internet, without the author's prior written consent.
    [Show full text]
  • 63199 Exeter Register 2005
    EXETER COLLEGE ASSOCIATION Register 2005 Contents From the Rector 3 From the President of the MCR 6 From the President of the JCR 10 Harry Radford by Jim Hiddleston 14 Exeter College Chapel 2004-2005 by Mark Birch. 15 Nearly a Hundred Years Ago: Seen in the Eastern Twilight 18 Exeter College in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography by John Maddicott 20 Undergraduate Life in the 1930s, with contributions by Leslie Le Quesne, Walter Luttrell, Eric Kemp and Hugh Eccles 28 Early Days by Michael Dryland 37 A Freshman Forty Years Ago by Graham Chainey 39 The Tutor’s Art, with contributions by Ben Morrison, John Brown, Michael Hart and Faramerz Dabhoiwala 45 College Notes and Queries 52 Corresponding Internationally by Martin Sieff 55 West Mercia Blues: Policing Highs and Lows by Sarah Fuller 58 On the Trail of Gilbert Scott: from Exeter to the East End by Andrew Wilson 60 The Governing Body 64 Honours and Appointments 65 Publications 66 Class Lists in Honour Schools 2005 68 Graduate Degrees 71 College and University Prizes 72 Graduate Freshers 73 Undergraduate Freshers 74 Deaths 78 Marriages 80 Births 80 Notices 81 1 Contributors Mark Birch is the College Chaplain. He was formerly a practising vet. Graham Chainey read English and is the author of A Literary History of Cambridge (Cambridge University Press, 1995). Michael Dryland was a Choral Exhibitioner and read English and then Jurisprudence after leaving the Navy. He was formerly Master of the Company of Merchant Taylors of York and senior partner in a York law practice. Hugh Eccles read Engineering.
    [Show full text]
  • Returned 2 Sender Page 11
    The Church Union together TPRHODUECE DV BYO THEI CCHUERC HO UNFION CATHOLIC ANGLICANS SUMMER 2015 Glastonbury Reflection Returned 2 Sender Page 11 It was to see the world that I left Australia seven days before my twentieth birthday. Somehow England was in my blood before I even arrived. I won a Temperance Exam when I was 9 and as well as signing the pledge I won the prize of a picture book of London which I treasured and still have. My journey to the priesthood had begun in my teenage years, but was confirmed by the experience of rubbing shoulders with Londoners the Church was serving but who were quite far from commitment. I went to ACCM but as a candidate for the diocese of Melbourne. The Archbishop there allowed me Where 2 to train at Cuddesdon but expected me to return to serve. I refused. Worship The late seventies and eighties were heady see pages 12 -15 days. The first Loughborough Conference, Catholic Renewal, ARCIC statements, thousands at ‘The National’, the Pope’s visit and that ubiquitous poster of ++Runcie and John Paul 2 walking together found in the porch of every self respecting parish of the Catholic tradition! I think we really thought that some form of unity was around the corner. We allowed ourselves to forget that the Anglican Communion does not have any effective mechanism or means of making such decisions, and that most Anglicans are happy protestants! I think they were kinder days by and large, but maybe we were like Noah’s children, refusing to see the signs.
    [Show full text]
  • George Bell Case Review
    A REVIEW BY THE BELL SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TREATMENT BY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND OF THE LATE BISHOP OF CHICHESTER, GEORGE BELL The Purpose of this Review: 1. The purpose of this Review is to examine the process leading up to the release by the Church of England’s Media Centre of its statement on 22nd October 2015 (“the October Statement”) and the events which followed in the hope that no further steps will be taken to remove Bishop Bell’s name from public memorials until a proper enquiry has taken place into the allegations against him. The members of the Bell Support Group responsible for this document believe that natural justice and the damage done to the Bishop’s good name by the October Statement cry out for such an enquiry. The Reputation of Bishop Bell until 22nd October 2015: 2. The reputation of George Bell, Bishop of Chichester from 1929 to 1958 could hardly be better described than it is on the memorial plaque in the Cathedral: “A TRUE PASTOR POET AND PATRON OF THE ARTS CHAMPION OF THE OPPRESSED AND TIRELESS WORKER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY”. 3. Until the October Statement Bishop Bell’s reputation was close to saintly. It was certainly quite unsullied: he is commemorated in the Church’s liturgical calendar on 3rd October and Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford has an altar dedicated to him. Following the Statement the wording of the Memorial in Chichester Cathedral has been described by the Diocese as “problematic”, and it seems likely that at some stage in the future a proposal may be made to remove the late Bishop’s name from the Calendar.
    [Show full text]
  • Bishop George Bell Compendium
    THE BISHOP BELL CONTROVERSY A COMPENDIUM OF SELECTED SOURCES COVERING THE PERIOD 22 OCTOBER 2015 - 21 JUNE 2016 Prepared for general use by Andrew Chandler June 2016 ON 22 OCTOBER 2015 the Media Centre of the Church of England released a statement relating to allegations of sexual abuse made against the former Bishop of Chichester, George Bell (1883- 1958). This was immediately given extensive treatment by three newspapers: the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph and the Times. This collection provides a picture of how the controversy emerged and developed in the public sphere in the following months. It shows how the debate has become a national one and how, in the eyes of many of the participants, it has come to raise fundamental questions about the practices of the Church of England in an important area of public justice today. The selected sources are presented in full. 2 CONTENTS 1 Press Release issued by the Church of 12 Statement issued by the Bishop of England Media Centre, 22 October 2015 Chichester 3 February 2016 PAGE 27 PAGE 4 13 Statement issued to all staff and students 2 ‘Revered Bishop Bell was a Paedophile – at the University of Chichester, 3 February Church of England’, article in the Daily 2016 PAGE 28 Telegraph, 22 October 2015 PAGE 5 14 Statement issued by the Bishop of 3 ‘The Rule of the Lynch Mob’, article in Durham after the House of Lords debate the Church of England Newspaper, 28 PAGE 28 October 2015 PAGE 7 15 ‘Child abuse claims: why due process 4 ‘The Church of England’s shameful and a fair hearing matter’, article
    [Show full text]
  • The Bishop of Chichester Has Issued a Formal Apology Following the Settlement of a Legal Civil Claim Regarding Sexual Abuse Against the Right
    The Bishop of Chichester has issued a formal apology following the settlement of a legal civil claim regarding sexual abuse against the Right Reverend George Bell, who was Bishop of Chichester from 1929 until his death on 3rd October 1958. The allegations against Bell date from the late 1940s and early 1950s and concern allegations of sexual offences against an individual who was at the time a young child. Following settlement of the claim the serving Bishop of Chichester, the Right Reverend Dr. Martin Warner, wrote to the survivor formally apologising and expressing his "deep sorrow" acknowledging that "the abuse of children is a criminal act and a devastating betrayal of trust that should never occur in any situation, particularly the church." Bishop Warner paid tribute to the survivor's courage in coming forward to report the abuse and notes that "along with my colleagues throughout the church, I am committed to ensuring that the past is handled with honesty and transparency." Tracey Emmott, the solicitor for the survivor, today issued the following statement on behalf of her client: "The new culture of openness in the Church of England is genuinely refreshing and seems to represent a proper recognition of the dark secrets of its past, many of which may still not have come to light. While my client is glad this case is over, they remain bitter that their 1995 complaint was not properly listened to or dealt with until my client made contact with Archbishop Justin Welby's office in 2013. That failure to respond properly was very damaging, and combined with the abuse that was suffered has had a profound effect on my client's life.
    [Show full text]
  • Eric Kemp: a Life Remembered
    (2010) 12 Ecc LJ 127 # Ecclesiastical Law Society doi:10.1017/S0956618X0999072X ERIC KEMP: A LIFE REMEMBERED C HRISTOPHER H ILL Chairman, Ecclesiastical Law Society Bishop of Guildford The President, a co-founder of the Ecclesiastical Law Society, died peacefully in Chichester – his See from 1974 to 2001 – on Saturday 28 November 2009, the eve of Advent Sunday. He had borne increasing blindness in recent years, but on considering relinquishing the Presidency two years ago was delighted to be told of the Society’s extreme reluctance to accept his resignation. I first worked with Eric Kemp at his consecration in Southwark Cathedral as Bishop of Chichester in 1974, where as a Lambeth apparatchik I was organising the protocols for his Old Catholic co-consecrator; then for many years under his chairmanship of the Faith and Order Advisory Group of the Church of England, following a distinguished but ultimately unsuccessful championing of Anglican Methodist reconciliation as the Anglican Co-Chairman of the Anglican- Methodist Unity Commission. But for the Society, Eric Kemp’s contribution to the revival of the study and practice of Canon Law within the Church of England must be his greatest achievement: as Tutor and Chaplain at Exeter College, Oxford, as Dean of Worcester, and as Chief Pastor of the Diocese of Chichester. In 1948 he pub- lished Canonization and Authority in the Western Church, followed by An Introduction to Canon Law in the Church of England in 1957. His Bampton Lectures of 1960, Counsel and Consent, which helped him to gain an Oxford DD on publication the following year, traced the elusive history of Convocation.
    [Show full text]
  • Bishop George Bell the Independent Review by Lord Carlile of Berriew
    Bishop George Bell The Independent Review By Lord Carlile of Berriew, CBE, Q.C. Published: 15 December 2017 1 Contents [A] Introduction Page 3 [B] Summary of conclusions, lessons learned and 5 recommendations [C] Terms of Reference 9 [D] Methodology, approach and legal issues 11 [E] The allegations and the known facts. Progress prior 15 to September 2012 [F] The progress of the case from September 2012 24 [G] The Core Group meetings, with Reviewer’s 35 comments [H] Subsequent investigation for the purposes of this 54 review [I] The apology and media statement 59 [J] Views of Core Group members as expresses to this 63 review [K] Conclusions from Core Group records and 64 meetings with reviewer [L] Was the settlement with full publicity appropriate? 66 [M] Later meetings including members of the Core 69 Group [N] The Henriques Report on Operation Midland 70 [O] House of Lords debate 30 June 2016 71 [P] Meeting between Carol and The Bishop of 72 Chichester [Q] Lessons Learned and changes already made by the 73 Church 2 [A] INTRODUCTION 1. In November 2016 I was asked to conduct a Review into the way the Church of England dealt with a complaint of sexual abuse made by a woman known as ‘Carol’ against the late Bishop Bell. 2. A year earlier, on the 17 September 2015, the Bishop of Chichester had issued an apology to Carol. This was followed by a public statement made by the Church of England 1. In the same period, the Church paid her damages of £16,800 and £15,000 legal costs.
    [Show full text]
  • ELJ Volume 6 Issue 28 Cover and Front Matter
    Issue No 28 6 Ecc LJ Volume 6 ECCLESIASTICAL LAW JOURNAL January 2001 Richard Hooker and the European Ius Commune Professor Richard Helmholz Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 The Revd David Parrott Re-ordering Historic Churches Chancellor Sheila Cameron QC Goring revisited: George Bell, the Artist Hans Feibusch, and Art in Church Professor Paul Foster How we got to where we are: the Development of the Clergyman's Role Bishop Anthony Russell Dignity at Work The Revd Stephen Trott (Forjull list of contents, see back cover) The Journal of the Ecclesiastical Law Society Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.226, on 25 Sep 2021 at 13:14:47, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956618X0000418X ECCLESIASTICA] tfV JOURNAL EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Michael Goodman (Chairman) Mark Hill James Behrens Hughie Jones Timothy Briden Lynne Leeder Rupert Bursell Peter Moore Norman Doe Stephen Pix David Harte Thomas Watkin EDITORIAL ADVSISORY BOARD Professor John Baker Chancellor David McClean Bishop Eric Kemp Revd Dr Robert Ombres OP Professor Richard Helmholz Professor Dr Gerhard Robbers Professor Francis Lyall The Ecclesiastical Law Journal is published by the Ecclesiastical Law Society. Decisions on the publication of individual articles are at the discretion of the Editor but are normally made on the advice of referees, chosen by the Editor as expert in the relevant area. General policies of the Journal are developed in consultation with the Editorial Committee and the Editorial Advisory Board. The views expressed in any article, review or other publication in this Journal do not necessarily accord with those of the Editorial Committee or the Society as a whole.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Decision-Making, Office-Holding, and Religious Change in England’S Parishes, 1559-1700
    “The Constitution of This Realm”: Political Decision-Making, Office-holding, and Religious Change in England’s Parishes, 1559-1700 Brian Chapman Dudley Richmond, Virginia B.S., United States Military Academy, 1993 M.A., University of Virginia, 2002 A Dissertation presented to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Virginia in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of History University of Virginia December, 2013 ii Abstract A key concept in the study of seventeenth-century English political thought has been the notion of England’s “ancient constitution,” an ideology of custom and law articulated by an elite group of legal specialists. This dissertation examines a different constitution, one that governed the everyday operation of seventeenth-century England’s most basic political unit: the parish. Whereas most previous studies have treated parish government as part of a larger story of socio-economic polarization, I have investigated the formal institutions and processes through which ratepaying parishioners made decisions and chose the officers responsible for enacting them as a means of elucidating the political ideals that lay behind these actions. In so doing, I have found that several of our assumptions regarding early modern parish governance are in need of modification. Historians’ tendency to evaluate early modern parishes as either participatory democracies or as elitist oligarchies, for example, is inadequate, as is the well-worn notion of a trend towards oligarchic forms of parish government around 1600. Instead I find that both majoritarian and oligarchic principles retained their legitimacy and that they frequently worked in tandem, rather than in opposition. Parish offices, meanwhile, rather than being actively pursued by ambitious middling parishioners, were in fact usually considered an honorable burden rather than a prize.
    [Show full text]
  • Exeter College Donors' Report
    Exeter College Donors’ Report ‘10 Annual Fund £483,781 Restricted Gifts £2,581,490 Legacies £154,759 Overall Total £3,233,507 Participation rate of Old Members 22% Exeter College Donors’ Report ‘10 From the Rector 2 College Finances 4 Income Statement 5 Annual Fund 6 Making a Difference 11 Volunteers 12 Legators and Legacy Pledges 13 Major Gifts 14 Major Benefactors 16 List of Donors 17 EXETER COLLEGE DONORS’ REPORT | 10 From the Rector Thanks to the generosity of our many donors, some wonderful things have been happening at Exeter College in the past year. In particular, we have become the owners We are immensely grateful for this of the thrilling site on Walton Street that level of support. It puts us, as far as will become our New Quad – a move we I can determine, in second place would never have dared to make without among all major institutions of higher the support and help of our alumni and education outside the United States. friends. And we have completed our beautiful new graduate campus on the But your philanthropy does not just Iffley Road, giving us some of the best benefit these large projects. Every week, graduate accommodation in the University we draw on our Annual Fund, into which – or indeed the country. Again, this is the hundreds of Old Members, Parents result of the generosity of our alumni and and Friends of the College pay regular friends. amounts. The Annual Fund contributes to many of the College’s most important activities: our invaluable but expensive tutorial system; the Turl Street Arts Festival, which brings the three Turl Street colleges together for a week of music, theatre and fun; the hardship grant which stops a student fretting about finding the money for rent instead of concentrating on revision; the sports equipment that benefits our rowers, rugby players and runners; the Chapel Choir’s tour to the United States.
    [Show full text]