The Vicar of Morwenstow: A Life of Robert Stephen Hawker, M.A. (1876)
by Sabine Baring-Gould

The Vicar of Morwenstow is a biography of Robert Stephen Hawker published in 1876.

314845The Vicar of Morwenstow: A Life of Robert Stephen Hawker, M.A.1876Sabine Baring-Gould
  • Chapter I. Birth of Mr. Hawker.—Dr. Hawker of Charles Church.—The Amended Hymn.—Robert S. Hawker runs away from School.—Boyish Pranks.—At Cheltenham.—Publishes his "Tendrils."—At Oxford.—Marries.—The Stowe Ghost.—Robert Hawker and Mr. Jeune at Boscastle.—The Mazed Pigs.—Nanny Heale and the Potatoes.—"Records of the Western Shore."—The Bude Mermaid.—Takes his Degree.—Comes with his Wife to Morwenstow.
  • Chapter II. Ordination.—The Black Pig, "Gyp."—Writes to the Bishop.—His Father appointed to Stratton.—He is given Morwenstow.—The Waidron Lanthorn.—St. Morwenna.—The Children of Brychan.—St. Modwenna of Burton-on-Trent.—The North Cornish Coast.—Tintagel.—Stowe.—Sir Bevil Granville.—Mr. Hawker's discovery of the Granville Letters.—Those that remain.—Antony Payne the Giant.—Letters of Lady Grace.—Of Lord Lansdown.—Cornish Dramatic Power.—Mr. Hicks of Bodmin.
  • Chapter III. Description of Morwenstow.—The Anerithmon Gelasir a.—Source of the Ta-mar.—Tonacombe.—Morwenstow Church.—Norn an Chevron-Moulding.—Chancel.—Altar.—Shooting Rubbish.—The Manning Bed.—The Yellow Poncho.—The Vicarage.—Mr. Tom Knight.—The Stag, Robin Hood.—Visitors.—The Silent Tower of Bottreaux.—The Pet of Bos-'castle.
  • Chapter IV. Mr. Hawker's Politics.—Election of 1857.—His Zeal for the Laborers.—"The Poor Man and his Parish Church."—Letter to a Landlord.—Death of his Man, Tape.—Kindness to the Poor.—Verses over his Door.—Reckless Charity.—Hospitality.—A Breakdown.—His Eccentric Dress.—The Devil and his Barn.—His Ecclesiastical Vestments.—Dislike of Ritualists.—Ceremonial.—The Nine Cats.—The Church Garden.—Kindness to Animals.—The Rooks and Jackdaws.—The Well of St. John.—Letter to a Young Man entering the University.
  • Chapter V. The Inhabitants of Morwenstow in 1834.—Cruel Coppinger.—Whips the Parson of Kilkhampton.—Gives Tom Tape a Ride.—Tristara Pentire.—Parminter and his Dog Satan.—The Ganger's Pocket.—Wrecking.—The Wrecker and the Ravens.—The Loss of the "Margaret Quail."—The Wreck of the "Ben Coolan."—"A Croon on Hennacliff."—Letters concerning Wrecks.—The Donkeys and the Copper Ore.—The Ship "Morwenna."—Flotsam and Jetsam.—Wrecks on Nov. 14, 1875.—Bodies in Poundstock Church.—The Loss of the "Caledonia."—The Wreck of the "Phoenix" and of the "Alonzo."
  • Chapter VI. Wellcombe.—Mr. Hawker Postman to Wellcombe.—The Miss Kitties.—Advertisement of Roger Giles.—Superstitions.—The Evil Eye.—The Spiritual Ether.—The Vicar's Pigs bewitched.—Horse killed by a Witch.—He finds a lost Hen.—A Lecture against Witchcraft.—Its Failure.—An Encounter with the Pixies.—Curious Picture of a Pixie Revel.—The Fairy-Ring.—Antony Cleverdon and the Mermaids.
  • Chapter VII. Condition of the Church last Century.—Parson Radcliffe.—The Death of a Pluralist.—Opposition Mr. Hawker met with.—The Bryanites.—Hunting the Devil.—Bill Martin's Prayer-meeting.—Mr. Pengelly and the Candle-end.—Cheated by a Tramp.—Mr. Hawker and the Dissenters.—Mr. B——-'s Pew.—A Special Providence over the Church.—His Prayer when threatened with the Loss of St. John's Well.—Objection to Hysterical Religion.—Mr. Vincent's Hat.—Regard felt for him by old Pupils.—"He did not appreciate me."—Modryb Marya.—A Parable.—A Carol.—Love of Children.—Angels.—A Sermon, "Here am I."
  • Chapter VIII. The Vicar of Morwenstow as a Poet.—His Epigrams.—"The Carol of the Pruss."—"Down with the Church."—"The Quest of the Sangreal."—Editions of his Poems.—Ballads.—"The Song of the Western Men."—"The Cornish Mother's Lament."—"A Thought."—Churchyards.
  • Chapter IX. Restoration of Morwenstow Church.—The Shingle Roof.—The First Ruridecanal Synod.—The Weekly Offertory.—Correspondence with Mr, Walter.—On Alms.—Harvest Thanksgiving.—The School.—Mr. Hawker belonged to no Party.—His Eastern Proclivities.—Theological Ideas.—Baptism.—Original Sin.—The Eucharist.—Intercession of Saints.—The Blessed Virgin.—His Preaching.—Some Sermons.
  • Chapter X. The First Mrs. Hawker.—Her Influence over her Husband.—Anxiety about her Health.—His Fits of Depression.—Letter on the Death of Sir Thomas D. Acland.—Reads Novels to his Wife.—His Visions.—Mysticism.—Death of his Wife.—Unhappy Condition.—Burning of his Papers.—Meets with his Second Wife.—The Unburied Dead.—Birth of his Child.—Ruinous Condition of his Church.—Goes to London.—Sickness.—Goes to Boscastle.—To Plymouth.—His Death and Funeral.—Conclusion.
  • Appendix A
  • Appendix B

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.


The longest-living author of this work died in 1924, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 99 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

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