
The website of the
Black Country Society

Established in 1967 to Support, Record, Preserve and Celebrate the distinct
Character and Nature of the West Midlands area known since the mid nineteenth century as 'The Black Country'
Virtual Heritage Group
Recordings of meetings
An Ecclesiastical Affair - Chris Baker
Wednesday February 8th 2023
This presentation tells the story of events in the Black Country village of Pensnett in the 1860s and 1870s - about the relationship of the vicar of Pensnett in 1870 with a teenage pupil teacher at the church school, an illicit trip to the circus in Birmingham, a clergy discipline trial, a series of anonymous and scurrilous pamphlets and letters circulating in Pensnett about the incident, and a nationally reported libel trial. And what happened afterwards.
Amongst other things the presentation describes a series of anonymous letters and pamphlets that were circulating around the village. Copies of these can be accessed using the button below.