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A Day in the life of John Tomkys a preacher (evening)
Public preacher (Image courtesy of J.Bryan)
It is Evensong at St Mary’s. I will make Shrewsbury a “godly city on a hill” if I die doing it. I have written a list of 79 ways in which the townspeople must make their lives closer to the example of our Lord Jesus. There must be no swearing, no bell ringing, no foolish catholic processions, no Morris dancers and no wearing of charms. Some do not like this, but they must obey because I hold a special court to punish those who don’t. People like John Gardner, have had to appear at St. Mary’s dressed in a white sheet to show he was sorry for doing wrong. I also want people to report secret marriages to me. I help men and women to reach heaven – what better work is there to do?
St. Mary's Church where John Tomkys was public preacher. (Image courtesy of Shrewsbury Museums Service and www.darwincountry.org)
How true is "Days in the Life..."?
These dramatised accounts have been created by the Discovering Shropshire's History team. We used information taken from biographies of these individuals as researched by Bill Champion, author of "Everyday Life in Tudor Shrewsbury". These biographies, with the sources he used, can be seen in full by clicking on the "in depth" buttons on each page.