Sunday, October 21, 2018

The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral

The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral is a 1911 short story by M.R. James. Wikipedia has this synopsis: "Archdeacon Pultney of Barchester Cathedral dies mysteriously and the new Archdeacon Haynes takes his place. Haynes is very talented and performs the duties of his office with great zeal, however he is haunted by the carved figures in the stalls of Barchester Cathedral."

It begins,
This matter began, as far as I am concerned, with the reading of a notice in the obituary section of the Gentleman’s Magazine for an early year in the nineteenth century:

On February 26th, at his residence in the Cathedral Close of Barchester, the Venerable John Benwell Haynes, D.D., aged 57, Archdeacon of Sowerbridge and Rector of Pickhill and Candley. He was of——College, Cambridge, and where, by talent and assiduity, he commanded the esteem of his seniors; when, at the usual time, he took his first degree, his name stood high in the list of wranglers. These academical honours procured for him within a short time a Fellowship of his College. In the year 1783 he received Holy Orders, and was shortly afterwards presented to the perpetual Curacy of Ranxton-sub-Ashe by his friend and patron the late truly venerable Bishop of Lichfield.... His speedy preferments, first to a Prebend, and subsequently to the dignity of Precentor in the Cathedral of Barchester, form an eloquent testimony to the respect in which he was held and to his eminent qualifications. He succeeded to the Archdeaconry upon the sudden decease of Archdeacon Pulteney in 1810. His sermons, ever conformable to the principles of the religion and Church which he adorned, displayed in no ordinary degree, without the least trace of enthusiasm, the refinement of the scholar united with the graces of the Christian. Free from sectarian violence, and informed by the spirit of the truest charity, they will long dwell in the memories of his hearers. [Here a further omission.] The productions of his pen include an able defence of Episcopacy, which, though often perused by the author of this tribute to his memory, affords but one additional instance of the want of liberality and enterprise which is a too common characteristic of the publishers of our generation. His published works are, indeed, confined to a spirited and elegant version of the Argonautica of Valerius Flacus, a volume of Discourses upon the Several Events in the Life of Joshua, delivered in his Cathedral, and a number of the charges which he pronounced at various visitations to the clergy of his Archdeaconry. These are distinguished by etc., etc. The urbanity and hospitality of the subject of these lines will not readily be forgotten by those who enjoyed his acquaintance. His interest in the venerable and awful pile under whose hoary vault he was so punctual an attendant, and particularly in the musical portion of its rites, might be termed filial, and formed a strong and delightful contrast to the polite indifference displayed by too many of our Cathedral dignitaries at the present time.

The final paragraph, after informing us that Dr. Haynes died a bachelor, says:

It might have been augured that an existence so placid and benevolent would have been terminated in a ripe old age by a dissolution equally gradual and calm. But how unsearchable are the workings of Providence! The peaceful and retired seclusion amid which the honoured evening of Dr. Haynes’ life was mellowing to its close was destined to be disturbed, nay, shattered, by a tragedy as appalling as it was unexpected.
You can read it online here and listen to it here. It was adapted for television in 1971:


14 comments:

  1. A mystery. Might take a gander while waiting for Doctor Who

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    1. Ah, Doctor Who! You can't go wrong there :)

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  2. I believe I have read this story. Although I can't remember when or why, I started reading it and it came back to me. Thanks for the memory jog. Happy Sunday. hugs-Erika

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    1. The author's stories have been included in anthologies through the years, so we end up reading more of him than we remember, I think :)

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  3. I know and like this story, but have not seen the film. Have a great day, Valerie

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    1. I think they did a good job with the adaptation, and the on-location shooting adds atmosphere.

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  4. Always good to see that the TV adaption stays true to the original story 😀. Wishing you a happy new week! J 😊 x

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    1. Yes, I agree. I don't mind some changes, but some adaptations should be labeled "inspired by" instead ;)

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  5. An interesting read. Where ever do you discover such gems?

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    1. I know some of these authors from way back, but others I find looking for books suitable for the month of Halloween. Eerie tales were more common back then, I think.

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  6. The story seemed so familiar--like I may have seen this or read it a long time ago. :)

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    1. A lot of these stories have made the rounds through the years. I had a few anthologies years ago and read some of them then.

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  7. This one didn't take me long to read at all. I actually enjoyed it.

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    1. I'm so glad :) These older stories strike a chord with me.

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