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Exeter Flying Post 06 January 1848p3 Xmas Meal sponsored by Rev Clay

 East and West Worlington. – From a Correspondent.

– The annual good hospitality was displayed at this place on Christmas day, to one hundred and four poor people of the Two Sister parishes, who were bountifully regaled with old English fare, roast beef, plum pudding, and strong beer, tea, &c.; and many other families that dwelt at a distance were liberally served with necessaries for a good Christmas dinner, by those worthy gentlemen and lady, the Rev. B. Clay, E. C. Clay, Esq., and Miss J. Clay, to whom much praise is due in showing forth their liberality. Although eighty five Christmas’s have passed over the rev. gentleman his faculties are unimpaired, and it is hoped the lord will grant him a long life for the benefit of the poor, for his liberal hand hath been always extended to those in distress.

The divine service was performed by the Rev. W. M. Bruton, who preached an impressive sermon from Isaiah 9th chap. 6th verse. After which the choir under the superintendence of Mr. Hosegood, attended at East Worlington Parsonage House, and where they sung with scientific skill many beautiful and appropriate anthems by those eminent composers, Bennett, Chapple, and Northcott, which gave much satisfaction to those ladies and gentlemen present.

The choirsters were then conducted to a room decorated with holly and evergreens, and partook of an excellent supper, consisting of roast beef, and plum pudding, and strong beer, &c. The churchwarden was also present and gave the following toast, the health of the venerable rector, and also prosperity to the church and choir; after much enjoyment the parties departed for their homes in such order as becometh the character of good church men.

On the following morning, the choir by invitation, attended on that respectable yeoman, Richard Melhuish, gent. and were liberally served with breakfast; and also Samuel Price, gent. showed forth his liberality. Between the morning and evening service, the choir repaired to the Castle of Afton, where they made the mansion of the nobles of yore, resound with heavenly music; after which an excellent dinner was provided by that respectable yeoman James Troake, gent, and to conclude the choir attended on the following evening, at West Worlington Parsonage, where they partook of an excellent supper, provided by that worthy lady and gentleman, the Rev. W. M. Bruton and Mrs. Bruton, and then all departed for their homes in peace and conviviality.