The Clergy in Jane Austen's Novels

 The Clergy in Jane Austen’s Novels
Reading Group Discussion
Discussion Leader: Margaret Christmann
By Vonnie Alto, Secretary

In January, our Region Co-Coordinator, Margaret Christmann virtually led our reading group discussion via zoom on “The Clergy in Jane Austen’s Novels.”
 
Margaret’s fascinating presentation discussed Jane Austen’s family background with the church, the education that the clergy received, and the types of livings available. We also discussed the various clerical characters in the novels from the ridiculous Mr. Collins to the thoughtful Henry Tilney.

The Anglican Clergy.
 Jane Austen’s Relationship to The Anglican Clergy.

• The Anglican Clergy was relevant in her life.
• She was of strong faith.
• She attended an Anglican Church all her life.
• Her father, brothers and other relatives became clergy.
• The precision of her prose and lack of ornamentation owes much to the Bible and the Church of England.
• Her writings reflect the moral principles of the church.

 
The Anglican Clergy.

• Holds the belief that without the church, the moral life of the nation would fail.
• Approved that clergy live in the community in order to know the parishioner’s needs and provide an example to the people.
• Didn’t approve of clergy who tried to prescribe behavior of young women or who were kiss-ups to the establishment.
• Viewed people’s imperfections with tolerant amusement.

 
History of the Church.

• During the early 18th century, most of the population lived in villages.
• The clergy came from the lowest gentry of shopkeepers/businesses. They didn’t let spiritual duties interfere with their secular lives.
• Sermons were on church doctrine, not living a Christian life.
• Sermons judged on how well they were spoken, not the content.
• By mid-century, the focus became a need for each person to have a personal faith in God for their salvation.
• By the late century, the Industrial Revolution began to shift people from country to town life. This destabilized society.
• Younger sons needed an occupation due to primogeniture when the oldest inherits everything. The Church was favored above the law or going to war.
• The Church began to support slavery, help for the poor, and prison reform.
• The government believed that the Churches were the best at teaching outward behavior, morals, and inner principles.

 
Requirements for clergy in Jane Austen’s time.

• Gentry born.
• Be a member of the Church of England.
• Earn a degree from Oxford/Cambridge (These were schools set up to train clergymen. 60% who attended college intended to become clergymen).
• Take one class in theology. No other classes were required. Natural religion was taught based on reason, science, and morality.
• Every student was assigned a tutor.
• The most important job for a student was to make connections so that he could find people who had livings for him to gain a clergyman position.
• Age 23, the student would present a testimonial from the college to a bishop that he was morally fit. The bishop would examine the student’s fitness for ordination. At 24, the student would be ordained to perform all the rites of the church.
• Up to 40% of clergymen never found a living.
• If these young men didn’t want to fight in the war (or go into the military), then they tried to find a living or stayed on at the university as a fellow. 
• A living is a position a clergyman takes that allows him to perform the duties and rites of the church.

 
Three Classes of Clergy:

• Rector.

• Owner of a living. May or may not be ordained, for example, an estate owner. Receives the tithes.
• Most clergy owned 1 living, the highest was 6.
• Owner can give or sell the living to another.
• Gives sermons but may not spend all the time on church business, given his activity level in the community.
• Some rectors held services in various churches morning, afternoon, and evening so they could keep all the livings for themselves.

 

• Vicar.

• A clergyman who is in charge of a parish but doesn’t own the living.
• Hired by the rector. Receives 10% of the tithes.
• Performs all the duties of the church and helps the community.
• Cannot sell the position.
• Provided housing by the rector

 

• Curate.
  • Paid a salary by the rector/vicar, sometimes doing all the jobs of a rector/vicar. Very low pay.
  • Had to find their own housing.
  • Works for someone else.
  • The lowest down in the clerical hierarchy, earns the least amount of money.

 
More About The Clergy:

• A living is a position the clergyman takes.
  • Livings given by a University, bishops, The Crown, private landowners, or Public schools.
  • There were about 7,500 livings in 1790.
• The incumbent is the person in charge of the Parish. Incumbent literally means a person who lays down in the living.
• A parson is a general word (similar to a clergyman) and refers to anyone in the church in that role.
• Clergymen are appointed for life and can’t retire.
• Clergymen Wages:
  • £35 to £1,000 a year depending on position with rectors getting the most and curates the least.
  • The pay depended on who owned the living not the size of the living or the amount of work that was done.
  • Tithes of 10% were given to the clergyman from the community in the form of grains, fruit, animals, and other products of the community.
• A clergyman could increase his income two ways.
  • George Austen brought students in the house to live with him and tutor them for entry to Oxford/Cambridge.
  • “Glebe land” was assigned to the clergyman. The land attached to a parish and could be farmed by the clergyman.
• Those who didn’t get a position (a living) could become teachers in the public schools or enter another profession.
• The alter and pulpit were the most important pieces of the church and kept up by the clergy. The building was taken care of by the community.
• A clergyman could repair the parsonage and even tear it down and rebuild it if he had the money to do it.
• The parsonage of Jane’s father was torn down and rebuilt in a higher position after her death.
• In time, the parsonages were moved away from the great house and closer to the church.   
• Married clergy were preferred as they had experience with domestic life to advise the parishioners.

 
What Did Clergymen Do?

• Held 1 or more services on Sunday.
• Services included prayers, readings from the Bible, and a sermon on church doctrine.
• Read the entire book of Psalms and the New Testament each year in church.
• Sermon were available in printed books or the clergyman could write his own.
• The congregation sang prayers or psalms with no musical accompaniment.
• Held Holy Communion once a month (on Wednesday). Money collected during Holy Communion was given to the poor of the area.
• Dispensed charity in the form of food, clothing, and/or money.
• Helped parishioners find employment and supervised the poor.
• Met with bishops who examined the affairs of the parish.
• Served as Registrars for the parish, recording births, deaths, marriages. Charging for this was an extra form of income for the clergyman.
• Set a moral example for the parish.

 
The Clergyman’s Wife.

• Helped the sick, elderly, and the poor with food, medicine, and clothing.
• She must maintain a calm and proper behavior at all times and be an example to the women of the parish.
• When her husband died, she was left without a house or income.

• Danine Cozzens said that the Georgian Anglican Church was famously corrupt, which led to reformations such as those led by John Newman who eventually became Catholic.

 
The Austen Family.
George Austen.

• His living was given to him by an uncle, Thomas Knight, who gave the living of Stevenson to him.
  • Sir Thomas Knight adopted George’s son, Edward as his heir.
  • It was George’s first clergyman position.
  • He had 2 livings:  Stevenson and Deane.

• Before his retirement, he increased the tithes so that his family would have enough money to live in Bath and still support his son, James, his curate.
• He decided to retire to have some time for himself before he died.

 
Is there a limit to a number or living rectors that a clergy man could hold? No, although excessive numbers were looked down upon.
 
The Clergy in Jane Austen’s Novels.
(How involved the clergymen are in the novels):
 
Sense And Sensibility:
Edward Ferrars

• The only clergyman in Sense And Sensibility.

• He becomes a clergyman at the end of the book. Delaford (small rural area) is given to him by Colonel Brandon.
• Received £200 in tithes.
• Not defined as a rector.
• Earned a divinity degree at college.

 
Note:

• The holder of a living can’t dismiss a vicar/curate without just cause. The vicar/curate would have had to agree to leave their position before Colonel Brandon could give it to someone else.

 
Pride And Prejudice:

• Mr. Collins is vicar of Rosings Park Church.
  • Clownish, toadying, a joke, pompous, and silly.
  • No sense of Christian-like humility, no forgiveness, narrow-minded.
  • Lack of social skills. Constantly discussing the worth of things.
  • Good at collecting the tithes and prescribing the behavior of others.
  • Performs the duties of a clergyman without understanding them.
  • Never changes throughout the novel.
  • Sees his job as praising Lady Catherine, not shepherding souls to heaven.

 
Persuasion:

• Dr. Shirley in Uppercross owns a living.
• Charles Hagar is a curate for a living which is being held for a child.
• Mr. Wentworth (Captain Wentworth’s brother) is the curate at the Elliot’s church when Anne and Captain Wentworth meet.

 
Note:

• If you own a living, you can give the  2nd son a living, then hire a curate to do all the work of the church until the son is grown up and able to take over the church

• Did not include the clergymen actively in the book.

 
Northanger Abbey:
1st book written when Jane Austen was very young at the age of 18.

• Catherine’s father was a rector who owned a living.
• Catherine’s brother James would become his father’s curate when his father retires, then become rector at his father’s death.
• Henry Tilney is a rector. His Father gave him the living in Winston to support himself and so he could marry.
• Performs all the duties of a clergyman such as give services, and attends parish meetings.
• Acts his beliefs rather than talking about them.
• He educates Catherine, rather than showing off his knowledge.
• Strong sense of duty to his parish.

 
How was Henry Tilney as a clergyman? Did he do his job?

• Arnie Perlstein said that we don’t see him doing his duties.
• Henry has hired a curate so his pulpit is filled when he is away.
• Henry confronts Catherine who is snooping around in his mother’s bedroom. He points out that these things couldn’t happen in a Christian country. This was Jane Austen cynical of the Anglican church.
• We’re supposed to read between the lines and question how closely the church is living up to the words of the Bible.
• Margaret said that one job of the clergy is to teach good manners/good morals. Henry Tilney explains the moral issues involved.

 
Note:

•  Marcia Hamley noted that Jane Austen was both sickly and church going.
• Margaret said that Jane wrote to her nieces jokingly that perhaps we all should be evangelicals.

 
Henry Tilney:

• Often absent from his parish.
• Spent a lot of time away from it. What does that say about his dedication to his parish?
• We don’t see Henry doing any of his vicar work, Stephanie Fleming said. Arnie agreed that it is noteworthy.
• Kirk said, “Boo” to Henry Tilney.
• Margaret said he was overly romanticized as a perfect person.
• Therefore, look at his relationships to tease out his character:

• His kindness towards Catherine.
• His protection of his sister.

 
Catherine:

• Like Jane Austen, Catherine is the daughter of a clergyman.
• She has a strong morality and Christian manners expected of church families.

 
Member comments:

• Connie Brown said that Mr. Collins is necessary to contrast Charlotte Lucas’s choice with Elizabeth’s choice of a husband.
• Arnie said that Jane Austen could spot the phonies in the clergy who are pretenders. At one point, Jane Austen indicated that, “He is the last one I will go to for Christian morality….”
• Margaret Christmann said that someone of Mr. Collin’s position was able to get a position from Lady Catherine so soon after graduation makes him extremely lucky.

• Elaine Blatt said that there’s clergy in Jane Austen’s novels for the comfort/social status. Mr. Collins was biding his time waiting to inherit.
• Margaret said that Mr. Collins does every job to the fullest. He tells everyone what they should be doing. But, he constantly talks about money and is focused on monetary worth.
• Stephanie Fleming said that Jane Austen is so unfiltered in her early works that she’ll have to go back and look to see if she can see the seeds of Mr. Collins and others like him.

• Arnie said that the Wynne sisters who were so close to Catherine in Catherine Or the Bower were the daughters of a clergyman.
• Margaret said that if you were not married, you had no income. Charlotte was able to arrange her marriage to Mr. Collins in such a way as he doesn’t infringe on her space. Elizabeth wouldn’t have been able to have done that.
• Marcia Hamley noted that it was a prudent move for Charlotte to marry Mr. Collins.
• Margaret said that Mr. Collins’ focus on money is more about his character than his behavior.
• Margaret said that status is important to Mr. Collins. He said that clergy are the highest in the land.

 
What was Mr. Collins like in college?

• He would waylaid others, introduce himself, and suck up to others while in college. Not really make friend.
• Since Mr. Collins is focused on money, when he was in college he would have researched how much living he could get from each parish, maybe from talking to others.
• Dula Baker noted that Mr. Collins studied. He had some imagination because he liked to garden and had his bees, but he was one of those people who gets on others nerves.
• Margaret said he didn’t develop his social skills.
• Dianine Cozzens said that Mr Collins was browbeaten by an illiterate and miserly father, attended university but made no good friends — to paraphrase Ch XV paragraph 1.  
• Margaret said the only required class to be a clergyman was a theology class then a conversation with the bishop (about the Bible and the 39 articles that the Church was based on).
• Mr. Collins is the same at the beginning of the novel as at the end. He never grows even though he gets married.
•  Some film versions have portrayed him as buffoonish.
• Stephanie Fleming noted that Mr. Collins was in fact vicariously doing Lady Catherine’s work. He was a real "vicar" indeed! Stephanie said she loved it.
• Joan Reynolds said she wondered if Mr. Collins having children would change his character.

 
The Anti-Clergymen of Jane Austen’s Novels
(Examples of people who should never be clergymen):

• Henry Crawford in Mansfield Park.

 
Mr. Elton in Emma:

• Mr. Elton is a vicar, not a rector, doesn’t get many tithes which is why he was looking to marry a rich woman.
• Like Mr. Collins, Mr. Elton has a very high opinion of himself, he dresses well, and he wants his vicarage to look well. He is all show, no substance.
• He improves his vicarage for looks, not for livability.
• He is a respected and efficient clergyman. He attends parish meetings and is good to the poor.
• He tries to increase his social standing by marrying Emma but instead marries a social climber with a fortune.
• Mr. Elton is charming so long as you’re nice to him.
• Mr. Elton is more interested in the social activities of the community and lacks a sense of vocation.
• Mr. Knightley described Mr. Elton to Emma as having a littleness about him.
• Mr. Elton is supposed to be an example of morals and manners.
• Mr. Elton performs marriages. He marries at least 2 couples in the novels. 

 
 Note:

• It was noted that Jane Austen did not take us into the churches and hear the sermons. We should thank Jane Austen for that.
• Mrs. Bates and Miss Bates (wife and daughter) of the clergymen. When their husband/father die suddenly, they don’t have much money and must rely on others to help them.

 
Mansfield Park:
Three Clergymen in Mansfield Park:

1.  Edward Bertram:

• An Ideal clergyman. He is the most religious of all the clergymen.  He is the most believable of the clergy in Austen’s novels. He will fulfill his duties every day of the week.
• Edward is strong in his vocation, has solid principles and deep convictions.
• He’s supposed to get the living of Mansfield Park that his father set aside for him. His brother, Tom, ran up excessive debt so his father was forced to sell the living to Dr. Grant.
• Sir Thomas has a second living at Thornton Lacy’s which becomes Edward’s on his ordination.
• Edward becomes the curate at Mansfield Park when Dr. Grant retires.
• It was against the law to sell a living after someone’s death. It reverted to the original owner.
• Rector of Thornton Lacey because his father gave the living it to him. 
  • He’s the most serious of all of Jane Austen’s clergy.
  • Lives the life/expectations of a clergyman even before he is ordained.

• Edward’s guidance of Fanny shows that he will be a good teacher for his congregation.
• Mary Crawford expects him to hire a curate and go live in London with her.
• On the death of the vicar, the living goes back to the landholder. Sir Thomas could then give the living at Mansfield Park to Edward when Dr. Grant dies.

2.  Mrs. Norris.

• Dies early in the book.
• Mrs. Norris is required to pay Mr. Grant for repairing the parsonage.
• Mrs. Norris likes to sponge off from others. She’s a horrible wife for a clergyman. Jane makes a point here about the clergy. Mrs. Norris scraped and saved and has a lot of money of her own that she refused to spend, preferring others to pay for her.

 
3.  Dr. Grant.

• Dr. Grant is a doctor of divinity earned while he was in college.

• Dr. Grant, not a real good clergyman either.  He’s more interested in his food than his preaching.
• He travels to London and is killed by his gluttony, a commentary that Jane Austen makes of his lack of dedication to his vocation. He is more interested in food than in the duties of a clergyman.

 
The Clergy Wives.

• Stephanie Fleming asked who is best suited and those who aren’t as clergy wives?
• Fanny was the most moral, religious of all the wives.
• Mrs. Norris a selfish wife, looked out for herself above all.
• Mrs. Elton vs Fanny: Appearance versus reality.
• Catherine Tilney: Clergy daughters make the best clergy wives.
• Charlotte Collins: Smart and adaptable
• Elinor said that Mary Crawford knows she isn’t suited.
• Kirk said he loves the idea of Catherine and Elinor as clergy wives.

 
More on the Clergy in Mansfield Park:

• Arnie Perlstein said that Jane Austen wrote a poem in her letters about the clergy:

 
Happy the lab’rer in his Sunday clothes!
In light-drab coat, smart waistcoat, well-darn'd hose,
And hat upon his head, to church he goes;
As oft with conscious pride, he downward throws
A glance upon the ample cabbage rose
Which, stuck in button-hole, regales his nose,
He envies not the gaiest London beaux.
In church he takes his seat among the rows,
Pays to the place the reverence he owes,
LIKES BEST THE PRAYERS WHOSE MEANING LEAST HE KNOWS.
Lists to the sermon in a softening doze.

• Danine Cozzens said that there’s comments on attractiveness in Mansfield Park and that even Mrs. Price comments about it.

 
Slavery:

• Another consideration on Jane Austen’s clergy commentary in Mansfield Park is the church’s role in slavery-- and owning slaves in the West Indies (See the book, Jane Austen: Secret Radical for more information on the subject).
• Mansfield Park is the only novel in which Jane brings up the issue of slavery.
• The Church didn’t have a stand on slavery until the late 1700s when the public wanted reform. 
• Stephanie Fleming said that the Church owned slaves in the West Indies and used their labor to finance the church.
• Margaret said that there were wealthy people in England who had plantations with slaves. The upper church hierarchy would probably be the same.
• Arnie said that the Mansfield family that Fanny grows up in made their money from slavery in Antigua. Edmond (represents the clergy in the novel) turns a blind eye because he’s on the take.
• The Central Church 1820s supported the attempts to abolish slavery in Parliament.
• Margaret said that Fanny grows up as a semi-servant like a slave which is what Jane Austen is trying to say as a commentary.
• Marcia noted that there’s a strong focus on slavery in Mansfield Park. Read between the lines to see it.
•  William Wilberforce (1757-1833) was a Member of Parliament who advocated for abolition of slavery.He lived during Jane Austen’s lifetime.

 
Recommendations for Further Reading:

• Jane Austen and the Clergy by Irene Collins
• The Parson’s Daughter by Irene Collins
• Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune: How Younger Sons Made Their Way in Jane Austen’s England by Rory Muir.

 
For more information on the subject:

• There's an upcoming talk by Irene Collins on “Jane Austen and the Clergy” at the Pacific Northwest Super-Regional Gathering on Feb 6th with 7 JASNA regions hosting! The event title is “Reading Jane Austen in the Pacific Northwest: ‘Perfect Happiness.’” https://jasnaewanid.org/pacific-northwest-gathering/

 
Thank you, Margaret Christmann, for presenting a detailed and thorough study on the clergymen in Jane Austen’s time, her family, and novels. So very insightful!