Friday, September 15, 2023

The Parson with Nine Pussies

Matthew Steeples takes a look at the life of a vicar who gave services with his nine cats in tow, the Reverend Robert Hawker

Witchcraft, religion and women with cats have long been associated. Be it the cat accompanied Pendle Witches – a collection of unfortunates tried in 1612 mostly at Lancaster and in the main found guilty and executed by hanging – or Tabatha Bundesen, the owner of the multi-million making late ‘Grumpy Cat,’ long has there been mockery of women with cats.

 

In a letter, published last week in The Times, the author of the brilliantly titled Eccentric Britain, Benedict le Vay, referenced the story of a 19th century vicar and father of eight, the Reverend Robert Hawker (1803 – 1875), whom always took his nine cats to church with him when he gave services. Here is a contrasting example of men, religion and cats.

 

The Parson with Nine Pussies – Eccentric Reverend Robert Hawker – Matthew Steeples takes a look at the life of a vicar who gave services with his nine cats in tow, the Reverend Robert Hawker (1803 – 1875).
A plaque in memory of the truly eccentric Reverend Robert Stephen Hawker

Aside from also inventing the harvest festival service in 1843 and helping the victims of shipwrecks, this “eccentric man” also “rode a mule bareback around [his] parish, followed by a pet black pig called Gyp.” Other animals in this “romantic poet… with a penchant for opium’s” menagerie numbered a domesticated stag named Robin and in later life aside from talking to birds developed a fascination with “witches, the evil eye and the Devil’s emissaries.” He converted to Roman Catholicism in April 1875 and died in April that year. At his funeral, this “lover of bright colours” and “flamboyant fezs” requested mourners wore purple rather than black.

 

You just simply couldn’t make such a character up. Perhaps Reverend Hawker’s contemporaries should follow suit. Then, they might just attract a few more people to our ever emptying churches.

 

Faith in cats, Letters to the Editor, The Times, 7th January 2020 – Sir, If liking cats makes you less religious (“Atheists put their faith in ‘godlike’ cats,” January 6th), no one told the Rev Robert Hawker, vicar of Morwenstow, Cornwall, in the 19th century. When entering church to take services he was always accompanied by his nine cats. He also rode a mule bareback around the parish, followed by a pet black pig called Gyp. Cats were essential companions for this eccentric man who, in the course of his long and wonderful life, also invented the harvest festival service. Benedict le Vay, author of ‘Eccentric Britain.’

 

Facebook: @TheSteepleTimes

Instagram: @TheSteepleTimes

Twitter: @SteepleTimes

 

The Steeple Times
The Steeple Times
We research and background check our articles. If you believe we have made and error in some detail please get in touch, we seek always to write the truth and stand against a press owned by a self selected few. Please help us, we will accept all your likes, subscriptions and anonymous suport. The Editor and his team at the Steeple Times.

6 COMMENTS

  1. Back in the day, we had a parson in our village in Somerset, not unlike this guy. He had 3 dogs and 2 cats that he would take with him when he went walking. We used to give him a bit of stick when we were kids. Do you think they could have been related?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

£1 per week Supports The Steeple Times

Help journalism to remain honest & independent. You can make a difference to the world today.

3,573FansLike
2,068FollowersFollow
16,670FollowersFollow
4,962SubscribersSubscribe

Subscribe For DAILY NEWS

Please subscribe, like and share this unique site, it helps us tremendously. The Steeple Times in return will send you an email at noon each and everyday, that we sincerely hope you will enjoy & look forward to seeing in your inbox.

AD
Advertisement

Trending Now

‘Comeback King’ Kevin Spacey – Actor Seeks To “Leave The Nonsense Behind”

As Kevin Spacey’s eccentric ‘friend’ Geoffrey Mark claims the “exonerated” actor will now “leave the nonsense behind” and begin his comeback, we remind of his friendships with ‘curious sorts’ including Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein.

Summer Silly Season Stories 2023 – ‘The Steeple Times’ Is Back

Matthew Steeples highlights the stories he’s been following during the ‘silly season’ summer of 2023 – amongst them matters Ghislaine Maxwell and Rudy Giuliani and podcasts about ‘true crime’ as a genre.

Most Popular Articles

Was Mucky Minx Meghan Markle A ‘Yacht Girl’ For ‘Randy Andy’?

As author Kirby Sommers suggests that the then Meghan Markle likely spent time with Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein before she met Prince Harry, we again highlight the mucky, murkiness and mendacious manner of this alleged “yacht girl.”

Most Liked...

Big Zuu (Birth Name – Zuhair Hassan)

Big Zuu Zuhair Hassan
A rapper and grime MC turned TV star of ‘Big Zuu’s Big Eats,’ Zuhair Hassan is an example of a youngster with infectious positivity and great talent. A modern-day Keith Floyd in the making.

Nasty NestSeekers

Nasty NestSeekers – Realtor turned alleged squatter Jonathan Davis – Entitled Hamptons brat Jonathan Davis exposed for allegedly squatting in a house in Sag Harbor owned by Paula Rosado during the coronavirus lockdown; it turns out he’s a realtor with NestSeekers.
Entitled Hamptons brat Jonathan Davis exposed for allegedly squatting in Sag Harbor during the coronavirus lockdown; it turns out he’s a realtor with NestSeekers.

SW3’s Smallest – Smallest Stand-Alone House In Chelsea For Sale For...

SW3’s Smallest – Smallest Stand-Alone House In Chelsea For Sale For Staggering Sum
Smallest stand-alone house in Chelsea for sale for 100% more than it was offered for in 2017; there’s barely room to swing a cat.

Cut The Conspiracy Claptrap – Crazy Theories About The Deaths Of...

Cut The Conspiracy Claptrap
Matthew Steeples suggests that the crazy conspiracy claptrap that has followed in the wake of the death of Her Majesty The Queen and the ongoing nonsense that circulates online about Jeffrey Epstein is exactly that; crazy claptrap.

‘Comeback King’ Kevin Spacey – Actor Seeks To “Leave The Nonsense...

‘Comeback King’ Kevin Spacey – Actor Seeks To “Leave The Nonsense Behind”
As Kevin Spacey’s eccentric ‘friend’ Geoffrey Mark claims the “exonerated” actor will now “leave the nonsense behind” and begin his comeback, we remind of his friendships with ‘curious sorts’ including Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein.