ANECDOTES
ABOUT THE VILLAGE.
John Huntley died at the age or 94 in 1891 having been born in the year 1797.The
following are reminscinces of the village told by him to Miss Helen Foxcroft in
1888.
Mr. Watkins-the Eccentric Vicar
From 1872 until 1893 the Rev. Charles Watkins was Vicar of Hinton. There are many
stories of this eccentric character. Before taking orders he had been an Army
Officer and was always reported to have suffered from a "touch of the sun".
On one occasion when there were very few people in Church, only 1/2d., was to
be seen lying on the plate (plates were in use then in place of our more discreet
bags). Mr Watkins on receiving the plate became exceedingly irate at the meagreness
of the collection. He at once angrily enquired who was responsible for the only
coin subscribed. On receiving no reply, he hurled the coin down the length of
the Nave. As a reader of Old Testament lessons he favoured the dramatic form of
delivery, looking only occasionally at the Bible to refresh his memory. With a
fine disregard of the lectionary, he often read his favourite Old Testament lesson
dealing wi th the cleansing of Naaman' s leprosy and the deceit of his servant
Gehazi. Among his more obvious eccentricities was his habit of wearing his surplice
with his head through the arm hole.