[posted] Posted(#62143, Clutton)

[David Price]

Sabbath-Breaking on the Canal, by Rev. John Clutton                      62143
   [Subtitle: A Poem]
   [Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/1/4/62143 ]
   [Files: 62143-0.txt; 62143-h.htm]



For those wishing to know: written around 1820 by the Rev. John Clutton, 
Prebendary of Hereford (i.e. paid member of Cathedral staff), this poem 
tells the poverty-striken labours on the canals to go to Church on Sunday, 
rather than work.  It illustrates the then-growing divide between the 
middle-class and affluent Church of England clergy and the working classes 
who were being dramatically affected by the industrial revolution.  He 
dedicates it to his friend Rev. John Davies (in nearly Worcester) who had 
apparently printed a sermon on the spiritual state of those working on the 
canal.

All the best,
David
Sunny England but still quite a lot of light gray clouds