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5 - ‘Let Him be an Englishman’: Irish and Scottish Clergy in the Caribbean Church of England, 1610–1720

Sarah Barber
Affiliation:
Lancaster University
Allan I. Macinnes
Affiliation:
University of Stratchclyde
Douglas J. Hamilton
Affiliation:
University of Hull
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Summary

The Rev. James Field did not relish his time in Antigua: ‘West India Apostles, of all others, most miserable’. Since 1693 he had pursued the well-worn path from army/navy chaplaincy to various parishes. He felt entitled to a benefice in England; at least a West India regimental chaplaincy to which he could depute a curate. For

had I been a Missionary from any of ye Roman Catholick orders, nay from any of our vile Sectaryes so long a time, I should meet wth some sort of thanks; And yt ye Church of Engld alone should neglect or despise its Propagators is truly strange, but sadly true.

Field would ‘readily sacrifice [his] life for ye Church of Engld’. Given the ill-health that attended tropical service, maybe he did – he died in 1728 – but despite his disillusion he painted a not unattractive picture of what an Anglican servant in the West Indies might expect:

His Duty is only to preach on Sundays, & read ye Prayers & Chatechize ye children in ye afternoone. He will have ye best conversation ye Leeward Isles afford, of Gent, Drs Lawyers, Merchts in St John's.

If he is a single man, his dyet (living in or by ye town) will cost him little or nothing. For besides christening & wedding dinners, he will have a genl invitation of ye Merchts to dine wth ym whenever he pleases.

That is, with one despairing wail: ‘But Dear Dr if possible let him be an Englishman’.

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Publisher: Pickering & Chatto
First published in: 2014

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