he was absolutely committed to prove that Penn the Quaker was from the
same family as the Penns of Penn Parish. Over the years he was to research
and write extensively regarding what he thought was evidence for the link.
5
This in itself was really quite benign, but things started to get rather more
heated when he later began to publicly involve the whole village in his plans,
thereby raising the profile of what others would have preferred to remain a
‘sleepy hollow’—because quite frankly, many villagers simply did not accept
the link, saw his efforts as an exercise in self aggrandizement and many were
concerned about the implications of ‘world-wide’ fame for the tiny village if
that was what he wanted to achieve. Nietsche’s words ‘… he who enters my
home honours me; he who passes by pleases me …’, suited most parishioners,
and they were an articulate lot the Vicar’s parishioners, many were journalists
for newspapers or magazines—one for the New Yorker.
Their concerns were well founded, for Muspratt had previous ’form’. For
example, he had always celebrated every milestone in the history of
Pennsylvania in Penn church. These were often ‘show cased’
5 affairs with
radio and TV coverage to the ‘States’, with messages to and from Philadelphia
and with representatives of the U.S. military or the U.S. Embassy present.
Whenever the Lambeth Conference brought the Bishops of Pennsylvania or
Delaware to England they were invited to Penn, and in memory of the first
visit by Bishop Oliver James Hart in 1948, a window was dedicated in the
Lady Chapel of Holy Trinity. In 1962 Muspratt was invited to Philadelphia
as an official guest by the Bishop of Pennsylvania. He met the Governor of
the State, opened a session of the Senate with prayers, made nine radio
broadcasts and gave two TV interviews.
27
Much of this it seems was tolerated by the villagers, but less than a year
after his trip to Philadelphia, on 06 May 1963, Muspratt orchestrated the
foundation of a charitable Trust Deed known as the Penn-Pennsylvania
Fellowship in order to emphasise—as he saw it—the historical link between
the Parish of Penn, and Pennsylvania. He described this Trust as ‘of special
and far-reaching interest which, whilst capable of dealing with any charitable
purpose generally, would in particular preserve and perpetuate the historical
character and associations of the ancient village of Penn’.
28 Now Muspratt
always demanded the best in everything he did, and although clearly a
colourful fellow he managed to attract the support of two most eminent and
respected parishioners to act alongside himself as Trustees, thereby giving the
Trust undeniable credibility viz, Wilfred Quixano Henriques, Vice Chairman
of Clark Chapman and Co., civil engineers, and Ernest Whitley-Jones,
29
General Manager of Lloyds Bank. A year later on 12 May 1964, a Deed of
Gift by Viscount Curzon and others, conveyed ownership of a plot of land
476
D. Sheppard
same family as the Penns of Penn Parish. Over the years he was to research
and write extensively regarding what he thought was evidence for the link.
5
This in itself was really quite benign, but things started to get rather more
heated when he later began to publicly involve the whole village in his plans,
thereby raising the profile of what others would have preferred to remain a
‘sleepy hollow’—because quite frankly, many villagers simply did not accept
the link, saw his efforts as an exercise in self aggrandizement and many were
concerned about the implications of ‘world-wide’ fame for the tiny village if
that was what he wanted to achieve. Nietsche’s words ‘… he who enters my
home honours me; he who passes by pleases me …’, suited most parishioners,
and they were an articulate lot the Vicar’s parishioners, many were journalists
for newspapers or magazines—one for the New Yorker.
Their concerns were well founded, for Muspratt had previous ’form’. For
example, he had always celebrated every milestone in the history of
Pennsylvania in Penn church. These were often ‘show cased’
5 affairs with
radio and TV coverage to the ‘States’, with messages to and from Philadelphia
and with representatives of the U.S. military or the U.S. Embassy present.
Whenever the Lambeth Conference brought the Bishops of Pennsylvania or
Delaware to England they were invited to Penn, and in memory of the first
visit by Bishop Oliver James Hart in 1948, a window was dedicated in the
Lady Chapel of Holy Trinity. In 1962 Muspratt was invited to Philadelphia
as an official guest by the Bishop of Pennsylvania. He met the Governor of
the State, opened a session of the Senate with prayers, made nine radio
broadcasts and gave two TV interviews.
27
Much of this it seems was tolerated by the villagers, but less than a year
after his trip to Philadelphia, on 06 May 1963, Muspratt orchestrated the
foundation of a charitable Trust Deed known as the Penn-Pennsylvania
Fellowship in order to emphasise—as he saw it—the historical link between
the Parish of Penn, and Pennsylvania. He described this Trust as ‘of special
and far-reaching interest which, whilst capable of dealing with any charitable
purpose generally, would in particular preserve and perpetuate the historical
character and associations of the ancient village of Penn’.
28 Now Muspratt
always demanded the best in everything he did, and although clearly a
colourful fellow he managed to attract the support of two most eminent and
respected parishioners to act alongside himself as Trustees, thereby giving the
Trust undeniable credibility viz, Wilfred Quixano Henriques, Vice Chairman
of Clark Chapman and Co., civil engineers, and Ernest Whitley-Jones,
29
General Manager of Lloyds Bank. A year later on 12 May 1964, a Deed of
Gift by Viscount Curzon and others, conveyed ownership of a plot of land
476
D. Sheppard