[posted] Posted(#62004, Richings)

[David Price]

The Church Rate, by Benjamin Richings                                    62004
   [Subtitle: a dialogue between a Churchman and a Dissenter]
   [Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/0/0/62004 ]
   [Files: 62004-0.txt; 62004-h.htm]




For those wishing to know: this Anglican pamphlet from the 19th century 
was written against the dissenting groups (e.g. Methodists) who complained 
that they had to pay a "church rate" to fund the Church of England, but 
were of a different religious group.  The matter was a source of great 
argument, particulary around 1836 when Parliament unsuccesfully tried to 
abolish church rates.  The arguments for it (which is what the pamphlet 
puts forward) weren't that strong and you have to wonder if the writer 
really thought he had a good case.  As a side point: the Rev. Benjamin 
Richings possibly put one or more of my ancestors in the poor house!

All the best,
David
Overcast England