CRICH PARISH

which consists of the villages of Crich, Fritchley and Whatstandwell.

Parish life with a troubled vicar

Crich 1875 – 1900

The story of Crich parish between 1875 and 1900 is a fascinating one. It is a tale of: court cases; scandal; schools; church and chapel; drunkenness; village characters; and much more.

Throughout this time the parish had a most troubled and troublesome vicar in the Reverend William Acraman. Fighting his curate, sacking head teachers, conflict with the Baptists, indignation meetings, letters from Florence Nightingale, court appearances, and parishioners pleading for his removal were all part of his lot as vicar of Crich. There cannot be many parishes where hundreds of villagers burnt an effigy of their vicar outside the vicarage! Yet his legacy was not all bad, as the story shows.

The account is told mainly through newspaper reports, letters and logbook entries with photographs to set the scene. It should be of interest not only to those with Crich connections past and present, but to anyone with an interest in social history, family history, how and why School Boards were created, the rise of nonconformist religion, village life in the latter part of Queen Victoria’s reign, and the effect of rapid change on a small community.

cover of parish life with a troubled vicar

268 pages, 60 photographs
ISBN 978-0-9562271-0-2

Home