Good Friday

[Image from Pixabay]

Today at 10am there will be a short service by the grave of Nicholas "Beggarman" Smith in Hartfield, Sussex. Smith was a wealthy 17th century fellow who decided to test the Sussex spirit of generosity by dressing up as a beggar to see what the reaction would be. He found a great deal of meanness until he came to Hartfield where he was made welcome. He settled down in the area and left an annual dole of £10 to be split between the 40 poorest parishioners in his 1634 will.

Arilx