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January 17th, 2008

The Church Cartoonist’s Reference Library (Part 2)

harry pluckrose book on churches

Your eyes do not deceive you – this is indeed ‘The Mills and Boon Guide to the Church’.

Click ‘read the rest of this entry’ to find out more about this book.

harry pluckrose inside cover

The book lived its active life in the libraries of Leicestershire. 1983 was its most popular year. Perhaps it went unborrowed during 1984 and so was withdrawn. But then again no-one borrowed it during 1979-80 and it survived. I think the ’11 Mar 2000′ written in biro is a hoax.

I purchased this book in an SPCK second hand section, but I forget which. Probably Lincoln, but it might have been London.

Finally, a section of text:

text from book

One thing I like about this book is the fact that the author encourages the making of creative illustrated and other records of interesting things found in churches.

Vicars and vergers: If you are approached by someone wielding a portable tape recorder they are probably Henry Pluckrose readers.

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15 Responses to “The Church Cartoonist’s Reference Library (Part 2)”


  1. TimT says:

    And here I was, thinking it was going to contain saucy passages such as…

    The vicar clasped the swooning parishioner in his sturdy arms, and turned his swarthy face down to her white upturned lips.

    “Oh! My darling!” cried the vicar. “Never more shall we part!”

    (etc, etc, etc)

    January 18th, 2008 at 12:33 am
  2. Anne says:

    When I was a sixth former one of my chemistry textbooks was published by Mills and Boon. (Of course it was the Organic Chemistry – clearly the most passionate branch of chemistry we were studying).

    January 18th, 2008 at 7:45 am
  3. tortoise says:

    Oh yes, those pesky wool merchants and their wives – they’re so smug! Always climbing up onto canopied tombs for a photo opportunity. Don’t give them the satisfaction of a photograph, that’s what I say!

    January 18th, 2008 at 8:10 am
  4. Sam says:

    How do singing weather vanes work?

    January 18th, 2008 at 8:36 am
  5. ellen says:

    so much entertainment for just 20p…

    January 18th, 2008 at 10:07 am
  6. ellen says:

    just checked on amazon and Henry’s book is available for 94p, don’t all rush at once…

    January 18th, 2008 at 10:09 am
  7. Miffy says:

    And I was expecting something like:

    ‘She clasped him tightly to her corsets…’

    According to my mother this was a ‘missing piece’ from a censored version of David Copperfield!

    January 18th, 2008 at 10:09 am
  8. Dave says:

    Ellen,

    I notice that there are 8 copies available – ranging from 94p to £17.00. Buyer beware though – some of these are softback.

    Do you think there are actually 8 copies in different warehouses around the UK, or are they just 8 agents trying to sell us the same copy?

    January 18th, 2008 at 10:29 am
  9. ThreeMinute Theologian says:

    If there were any justice in this world Google would have already digitized this book for the edification of us all (although it does seem that he made a living writing non-fiction books about the animal kingdom, so church visiting wasn’t too out of the ordinary for him).

    January 18th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
  10. Russ says:

    I am now awaiting …

    Britain’s 100 Greatest Graveyards by Derek Acorah
    The FHM Guide to Convents
    What Surplice Not To Wear – Trinny & Susannah
    Simon Cowell’s Guide to Plainsong
    Fonts I Have Known by Keith Waterhouse, and
    Barbara Cartland’s Guide to Romantic Trysts involving Clergy

    I’m also disturbed that The Beano has yet to feature in your list of guidebooks, Dave. Unless you’re a Dandy man, or a fan of Whizzer & Chips …

    January 18th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
  11. ellen says:

    I have ordered the softback version for 94p and I will report back on quality of the product. EDD = 3 to 7 days. It is being supplied from within the Uk so I am hopeful that it will be here within the week!

    I think it is possible that there are 8 copies in the world – though it is also possible that it is a terrible international fraud. But I want to believe it is true. I guess that some of us find it easier to believe than others…I will pray for you brother. xxx

    January 20th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
  12. ellen says:

    I notice that now there re only 6 copies left at amazon. At this rate they will all be in private hands by the end of the month…and I will have doubled my initial investment of 94p (at least).

    January 20th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
  13. ellen says:

    there are 7 again and now the top price is £71…Dave, we could be rich beyond our wildest dreams! It is like playing the stocks and shares – I am getting a bit obsessed about it now so I promise I won’t look again for at last a day.

    January 20th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
  14. Phelim McIntyre says:

    I could post a number of possible quotes but they would all be too rude (or should that be rood?)

    January 21st, 2008 at 11:32 am
  15. ellen says:

    My copy has arrived and it is a paperback, in good order, with a previous owner’s name in it. A fellow ordinand and I spent sometime looking for the rude bits (for censorship purposes you understand) but they had already been removed (well we couldn’t find them anyway). I think much of the information in it will be useful for my Church History essay…a worthy purchase (and only 94p). thanks for the recommendation.

    January 24th, 2008 at 5:24 pm