In June 1873, Henry Sandford of the West Quarter was brought before the Exeter magistrates by the Rector of Saint Mary Steps, James Baxter Strother, for refusing to 'pay his dominicals'. Dominicals were a charge made on householders by the parson, of one penny a week plus four pennies for Easter, ergo 4s.8d. per annum. This church-tax supplemented the parson's stipend. Exeter was, I think, one of only three cities where the custom was in force.
Mr. Strother, so said his counsel, "did not enforce the payment from any ungenerous or unkind motive, for often a portion of the payments made in respect of dominicals were returned again in consequence of the poverty of many of the parishioners." Nevertheless, Henry Sandford had been summoned to the court.
"In cross-examination Mr. Strother said he believed the defendant was now a member of the Wesleyan Methodist body, but, as a resident in the parish, whether a Churchman or a Dissenter, he was liable to pay dominicals." After much debate as to the legality of 'dominicals', "the Bench were of opinion that there could be no doubt whatever that the right of Mr Strother to this payment had been clearly established, and an order for payment within fourteen days was made"
Source: The Exeter Flying Post, 4th June 1873.
No comments:
Post a Comment