The Two Rectors

London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1825. Leather. Good. 7" by 4". None. A novel by a passionate Vicar, who hoped to support established religion with his stories. Second Edition. George Wilkins (1785–1865), Church of England clergyman. The first Earl Manvers presented him to two Nottinghamshire vicarages: Laxton, on 1 December 1813, and Lowdham, on 19 January 1815. On 8 November 1817 the second earl presented him to the important parish of St Mary's, Nottingham; he continued to hold Lowdham in plurality until 1839. In 1823 he was collated by the archbishop of York to the prebendal stall of Normanton in Southwell collegiate church. Lord Eldon presented him to the rectory of Wing in 1827, mainly on the strength of his book Body and Soul (1822), though its publication provoked some controversy, especially with Revd J. H. Browne, archdeacon of Ely. An earlier publication, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem as Connected with the Scripture Prophecies, appeared in 1816. On 24 April 1832 Wilkins became archdeacon of Nottingham in succession to William Barrow. His ministry at Nottingham, a parish with a population of 28,000 souls, was controversial. He took an active interest in the Nottingham dispensary for the sick poor (1831), and established an elementary school for girls (1835). DNB In a half calf binding with marbled boards. Externally sound although rubbed. Internally ,firmly bound. Bright and generally clean, aside from some scattered spotting. Ink signature to title. Ownership label of Mrs Dudley to front pastedown. Good