New vicar gets job through nepotism (1877)

Post date: May 08, 2012 9:20:46 PM

Extract from Reynolds's Newspaper of 30th December 1877.

CLERICAL JOBBERY.

TO THE EDITOR OF REYNOLDS'S NEWSAPER.

SIR,-An admirer of the pithy article in Saturday's issue of your paper on " Clerical Prize Pigs" is anxious to bring a few facts to your notice respecting some appointments that have recently been made in the diocese of Rochester. Two months ago the living of Wateringbury, valued at about £1,000 per annum, became vacant by the death of the Rev. Mr. Stevens. Archdeacon Grant (one of the Rochester prize pigs) at this time vacated his living at Aylesford, which is of almost equal value with Wateringbury, and the two fortunate prize pigs selected to fill these very snug styles are the archdeacon's son, the Rev Cyril Grant, a young man of about thirty, and his son-in-law, the Rev. Spencer Phillips, who for some years has been vicar of St. Margaret's, Rochester, a living of over £400 per annum. Rumour says that family influence does not stop here, and will be exercised with good effect in the appointment of the new vicar of St. Margaret's. The writer hopes these matters may receive attention, and the power of a largely-circulated paper used for the exposure of such a display of favouritism. Rochester, Dec. 24, 1877. VIGILANS.