Parsonage and Parson

Coping with the Clergy - thirty years of eccentricity and delight

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Pub Date 28 Sep 2022 | Archive Date 13 Oct 2022
The Book Guild | Book Guild Publishing

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Description

Richard Trahair shares an insider's experience of the wide-ranging 'goings on' in a large Church of England diocese in the south of England from the 1980s.

As estate manager - Diocesan Property Secretary - for more than thirty years, he reflects on the astonishing range of characters he worked alongside, and the diverse buildings and land for which he was responsible. Richard delves into the nature of a parsonage house, its parish loyalties, and the keen controversy over selling the grand old houses and replacing them with smaller ones so that the impoverished clergy and their families can at least keep warm.

Both people and places were a heady mix of the delightful, the worthy, the curious and the downright eccentric. With encounters recounted that range from wacky and hilarious, to thought-provoking and historical, catch a glimpse into the life of a twenty-nine-year-old surveyor in a diocesan office dominated by retired military gentlemen, rattling around in a huge 15th century former city workhouse, as he grows into his role.

Richard Trahair shares an insider's experience of the wide-ranging 'goings on' in a large Church of England diocese in the south of England from the 1980s.

As estate manager - Diocesan Property...


A Note From the Publisher

Richard Trahair is a retired chartered surveyor and Justice of the Peace, a church organist and one-time churchwarden, immersed with his wife Biddy in the frantic life of a small rural parish community a long way from anywhere in particular. He has written two published novels during his retirement.

Richard Trahair is a retired chartered surveyor and Justice of the Peace, a church organist and one-time churchwarden, immersed with his wife Biddy in the frantic life of a small rural parish...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781915603272
PRICE £3.99 (GBP)
PAGES 104

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Average rating from 6 members


Featured Reviews

This was good! I enjoyed reading about the inner workings of the parsonages and the people who lived and worked there. The anecdotes were often amusing and there were some great characters. I’d never really considered ‘behind the scenes’ before, but even learning about retired parsonages being ‘declassified’, and new inhabitants wanting to keep a bit of of the history, was charming. . Now every-time I see ‘The Old Rectory’ I’m going to wonder what the story was. Worth a read. #netgalley #parsonageandparson

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Not a topic that comes to mind or up in conversation but the synopsis caught my eye and my attention.
Interesting memoir of different circumstances and dealings with the clergy, the congregation and various others.
A part of the clergy that I can almost certainly bet that you were not aware of. Think of land agent, yes I had to look it up, and you have the job with all it entails. Many happy memories and frustrations in this book..
A chatty style that makes it very readable.

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A short interesting but probably rather niche memoir. I was attracted to the title and synopsis have grown up with several members and friends of my family having been vicars and subsequently being well acquainted with ancient vicarages plus a few modern ones along the way. I found the book interesting as it gave an insight to the scenes behind the workings of the diocese, which as a child I didn't give any attention to. Possibly this book would also appeal to older readers who have fond memories of ancient vicarages, summer fetes in park like grounds, or not so fond memories of inadequate parish run halls attending brownies or youth clubs.

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I found Parsonage and Parson to be really interesting.I have no familiarity with Parsons or Parsonages so it was fun to get an insiders look at the goings on the characters the daily life.Fullof interesting people situations really enjoyed.#netgalley #bookguild

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The author has first hand knowledge of the parsonage houses of England and other ecclesiastical properties. It is an insider's recollection of churches, graveyards, vicarages and the holy men who lived and worshipped within their walls. A diocesan administrative professional, Richard Trahair clearly loved his job. He was carer, facilitator and often the go-between of opposing factors during a time of monumental change for the Church of England.
The book is full of wit and wisdom and eccentric characters, now lost in the mists of time. It was a privilege to read this book.

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