THE RECTOR OF PEMBERLEY’S PARISH was a dignified, sensible, middle-churchman, the Right Reverend Mr. John Franklin, who tempered his sermons with only as much religion as would ensure its digestion in the minds of the brusque Derbyshiremen, whose characters could be cold as the clay and brittle as the coal. Reverend Franklin preached in the Pemberley church for most of his ordained life and was on an easy, intimate basis with the Darcys, being a regular visitor at the Pemberley table, and a participant in most of the usual celebrations and ceremonies, major and minor, of the Pemberley family.

Reverend Franklin made a journey each summer to see his relations in the south, and, in the same year that Mr. Wickham had been unreasonably disappointed by not receiving the living at Kympton (as he had resolved on not taking orders), the new rector of that parish was engaged to fulfill the parish duties whilst Reverend Franklin was away. Parson Overstowey was an heavy, happy young man, in florid health, and of earnest good humour, enough so as rendered an exterior agreeable to which nature had not been generous. Having the habits of a much older man, he preferred large, lengthy dinners, was fond of wine and country company, and liked nothing better than taking meals with his neighbours at their houses, or, as second-best, dining with as many them as would fit into his tidy parsonage. His evening pleasures were of cards, and the delights of his days were in fishing and visiting. Whilst never negligent in fulfilling the duties of his parish, he was sure to finish his dinner before attending to any service, and on at least one occasion, the sacrament was nearly denied a parishioner because the deceased had timed his dying so ill as to coincide with Parson Overstowey’s supper.

Parson Overstowey was, however, most vigilant in the care of his tithes. The Kympton living was good, being about £600 per annum. Such that his income and table allowed, Parson Overstowey was the first to offer a six-pence, or to contribute in some small way to any subscription for the relief of some parish family in distress, the militia-men, or a larger national cause. The farmers of the glebe lands were steady, respectable tenants, who paid the parson annually at his rent-supper. In this gesture, the parson was as generous to his tenantry as to his peers; for their payments on tithe-day, they were treated to all the bounties of Glebe Farm and whatever he could add for their merriment. In short, Parson Overstowey was adjudged by many to be a generous neighbour, a respectable land-lord, a careful friend, and, in conclusion, a fitting clergyman for the home parish of Pemberley when that time came.