Vicar's 280-year-old windfall

Vicar's 280-year-old windfall

The vicar hopes to earn another £50 this year

A vicar has pocketed a £50 bonus from a wealthy parishioner who died in the 18th Century.

The Reverend John Wright, vicar of St John the Baptist Church in Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire, was baffled when he received a £50 cheque last Christmas.

He contacted the donors - the Elizabeth Hodges Trust - who explained Ms Hodges, a parishioner, had written a special clause into her will in 1723.

It stated if the vicar of her local church mentioned her name and those of four of her relatives on the anniversary of their deaths, he would receive money.

If he managed to name-drop all five into his services, he could pocket £50.

Important family

Mr Wright said: "Elizabeth Hodges's will stated the vicar was to preach sermons on the anniversaries of her death and the deaths of four of her relatives.

"If it was done they would receive this money."

The vicar said although no-one checked up on him, he tried to remember them in prayers on the nearest Sunday to their deaths out of "an instinctive decency".

The vicar said he is now keen to find out more about the benefactor and plans to look through 18th Century burial records.

He said: "I haven't found out much about what she did, but they were a major local family. £50 was quite a lot of money in those days."