Introduction

In days gone by, any Anglican church in England might be crowded with worshippers, just as today on Christmas Eve or Easter. The numbers of congregants who turned up depended on many factors, such as the popularity of the vicar, rector or visiting clergyman renowned for sermons, the particular requirements of the governmental regime, the weather at the time of service, the special celebration of the day if any and the like. On days when a church was packed, obtaining a seat might be difficult regardless of how early one arrived before the service.