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The Broad Ax
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County County, Utah
What is this article about?
In the English village of Hook, near Kingston-on-Thames, with 1,700 residents, church attendance is extremely low, leading Rev. W. M. Dingwell to resign after three years of efforts. Only 200 attend, mostly non-locals. The vicar departs for the West Indies, while some villagers petition for his return.
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Village of 1,700 People Who Seem to Have Gone Spiritually to Sleep.
"Pagan Hook" is the name now enjoyed by the quiet little village of Hook, which is situated some three miles from Kingston-on-Thames.
So lost in indifference is this village that the vicar, the Rev. W. M. Dingwell, has thrown up the cure of the parish in despair, says a recent London report.
"I have worked hard here for nearly three years," said the vicar, in an interview, "and it seems largely in vain. I have spoken to the people personally and have implored them to come to church, but they will not do it.
"No effort, either spiritual or material, no concert, whether high-class or extremely 'popular,' no branch of church activity that I have been able to devise or carry on will induce the people of Hook to come to church.
"There is a population of 1,700 people, but many of them absolutely refuse to attend church. In fact, only 200 out of the 1,700 have attended church, and some of these even are not Hook people.
"The fact is that the village is spiritually asleep. They do not go to non-conformist places of worship, nor do they go golfing or motoring. They have simply gone to sleep and they do not give a thought to spiritual things."
The vicar has now departed for the West Indies on a holiday voyage.
Some of the more enlightened inhabitants of "Pagan Hook" are taking around a large memorial paper asking Christian and pagan alike to sign an earnest entreaty to the reverend gentleman to return to them.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Hook, Near Kingston On Thames, England
Event Date
Recent London Report
Key Persons
Outcome
vicar resigns and departs for west indies; some villagers petition for his return
Event Details
The village of Hook, dubbed 'Pagan Hook,' shows extreme spiritual indifference with only 200 of 1,700 residents attending church despite the vicar's three years of efforts including personal appeals and various activities. Residents avoid church, non-conformist worship, golfing, and motoring, appearing spiritually asleep.