Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1876 — The Smallest Church in England. [ARTICLE]

The Smallest Church in England.

Wastdale, a little parish in England, has the smaljest church in that country, and It is a very diminutive affair. It has but eight pews, and yet is capable of accommodating double the population of the district. The rector opens the church himself and rings the bell. Then he dons his ecclesiastical robes in the presence of his congregation. There is no musical instrument in the church, and the minister leads the singing. His sermons are very short—a recent one occupying only seven and a hall minutes in its delivery. Two services are held every Sunday, and this rector, clerk, precentor, sexton, bell-ringer and church warden, all combined in one, receives for the performance of his varied duties the modest little salaiy of about SBOO. In comparison with this item of salary the income of tho Bishop of Rochester, who has just been appointed to the new off 01 w. ainans, iooks mountainous, it will amount to SBO,OOO. > The largest farm in the State of Rhode Island contains 1,150 acres.