66 SPORTING PARSONS OF THE OLD SCHOOL I 



The Rev. J. C. Davenport, who was bom in 1805, and 

 lived to the age of 84, was Rector of Skeffington for fifty- 

 seven years, and hunted regularly for between sixty and 

 seventy. He was well known not only in the Shires, 

 but outside, and was a fine shot, a dexterous (fly) fisherman 

 and an all-round sportsman of the best type. 



Amongst other good stories told of the Rector is this : — 

 he was a lover and wonderful judge of port, and amongst 

 his social intimates was known as " Old Port," an obvious 

 abbreviation of his patronymic. Well, at an Archidiaconal 

 Meeting in Leicester, there was the usual pleasant function 

 — a luncheon — and in due course the port was passed round. 

 On its arrival at the old Rector of Skeffington, he filled his 

 glass, with this aside to his neighbour (who was a former 

 Incumbent of Hinckley, the Rev. H. Leney), " Ah ! reached 

 port at last ! and then adding, " I think it must stay here," 

 coolly put the decanter down on the floor by his chair. 

 As was remarked afterwards, the treble play on the word 

 " port " was worthy of Tom Hood. 



The Rev. J. R. Davenport, the present Rector of 

 Skeffington, was born in 1848, and is a son of the Rev. 

 J. C. Davenport (commonly known as "The Bishop" of 

 Skeffington) above referred to, and brother of Mr. H. S. 

 Davenport, the well-known sporting correspondent. He 

 was educated at Uppingham, and Hertford College, Oxford; 

 ** a chip of the old block," he was always very fond of 

 sport ; hunting, shooting, fishing, and racing were all 

 uppermost in his mmd. Of his connection with the latter 

 pursuit the Rector recalls, with somewhat mixed feelings of 

 pleasure and regret, a visit to Newmarket Heath, his 

 favourite course, in the company of some Oxford pals, 

 when he witnessed "Pretender" beat " Belladrum " for 

 the Two Thousand Guineas. In his youthful days his 

 great friend, Horace Flower, resided at Skeffington Vale, 



