Donna Fletcher Crow, Novelist of British History, has written more than 50 books specializing in British Christianity. These books include: The Monastery Murders, clerical mysteries; Lord Danvers Investigates, Victorian true-crime; The Elizabeth and Richard series, literary suspense; and Glastonbury, The Novel of Christian England. She loves research and sharing you-are-there experiences with her readers.
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Donna Fletcher Crow, Novelist of British History
A traveling researcher engages people and places from Britain's past and present, drawing comparisons and contrasts between past and present for today's reader.
Day 4 Jane Austen Festival: Mr. Collins and High Tea at Highbury
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 6, 2025
Set up for the day with a proper, cooked English breakfast,
Glenda and I walked to St Swithin’s Church in the suburb of Walcot. This is an historic church where Jane’s parents George Austen and Cassandra Leigh were married in 1764,
and George Austen was buried in 1805.
The novelist Fanny Burney, whose novels Evelina and Cecilia Austen enjoyed so much she subscribed to Camilla, was buried here in 1840.
As fascinating as we find the history, however, today we have come to hear Brenda Cox speak on “Why Mr. Collins?”
Paraphrasing the famous opening line of Pride and Prejudice, Brenda said, “A single clergyman in possession of a good living must be in want of a wife.” She then considered why Collins’ much-adulated patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh, would have chosen him. Since only 20 percent of aspiring clergymen received livings within five years of graduating from university, the competition must have been fierce. And Collins had little to recommend him: he had been brought up in subjection to an illiterate and miserly father, at university he had failed to form any useful acquaintance, and he had limited contact with society. The simplest answer seems to be that she chose him because he flattered her.
Austen describes her most entertaining clergyman as “a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.” He is boastful, sycophantic, and foolish. But is he a good clergyman? Collins listed his duties as “to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship, and…to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England.” In that order--the traditional "hatch, match, and dispatch" for English clergy.
Although Collins fails to show the Christian virtues of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness after Lydia’s disgrace, he is apparently conscientious about his main duties of leading church services, preaching, christening, marrying, and burying the people of his parish.
During the Napoleonic Wars the English believed one shouldn’t attack the church or clergymen because they were necessary for stability. Of the 13 clergymen in Austen’s novels, she only satirized three of them: Mr. Elton for his ambition, Dr. Grant for his gluttony, and Mr. Collins for his absurdity. Jane’s comic clergymen are guilty of imperfection and foolishness, not evil vices.
After the talk we enjoyed the beauty of the church,
Then went on to the former Octagon Chapel where Jane Austen is believed to have reserved a pew whenever she was visiting the city of Bath. The chapel became a popular place for many of the city’s distinguished visitors and was the “place to be seen” in Bath. Although it is now a gastropub, the neo-classic beauty of the architecture is still there.
That evening “High Tea at Highbury” offered a delightful evening of entertainment upstairs at the Jane Austin Centre.
Between the courses of our excellent tea
Professional actors portraying Jane Fairfax, Emma Woodhouse and Mr. Knightly entertained us with music and readings from Emma.
We walked home in the moonlight
And I called Stan—my Mr. Knightly.
Tomorrow a walking tour of Jane Austen sites in Bath.
Donna Fletcher Crow, Novelist of British History, has written more than 50 books specializing in British Christianity. These books include: The Monastery Murders, clerical mysteries; Lord Danvers Investigates, Victorian true-crime; The Elizabeth and Richard series, literary suspense; and Glastonbury, The Novel of Christian England. She loves research and sharing you-are-there experiences with her readers.
Read More: Attending the Jane Austen Festival
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Reader Comments:
The Octagon reminds me a bit of the Round Church in Cambridge. I'm loving following your tour.
-SheilaDeeth , February 7, 2025
Thank you, Sheila! I remember the Saxon church in Cambridge. I think it is even older than the one we saw in Burton-on-Avon.
-Donna, February 14, 2025
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