AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 101 



doing it. But he, having gratified the churchwardens' 

 indignation, and his own curiosity, by looking at the in- 

 scription, begged it might be permitted to remain, for he 

 could not allow himself to have a share in the destruction 

 of such poetry, of which, probably, he chose to be the sub- 

 ject rather than the composer."* This minister was the Rev. 

 and learned Mr. Pyle, the incumbent of the parish at that 

 time, and a Prebendary of the Church of Winchester. We 

 believe the hand of Old Father Time has since swept over 

 the offending inscription, and effected the desired oblite- 

 ration.! 



When the Rev. A. Earle succeeded to the living in 1866, 

 he found the Church affairs of the united parishes in a 

 very critical condition. Three of the churches were in a 

 dilapidated state, and the school-houses required extension 

 and re-building. The churches of West Alvington, Mal- 

 borough, and South Huish, were considered positively 

 unsafe, and formidable as the enterprise appeared, the 

 restoration or the re-building had to be set about. West 

 Alvington Church has been restored, at a cost of £2,600; 

 new schools have been built in the parish; and a public- 

 house converted into a reading-room for the working classes. 

 Malborough Church has been restored at a cost of £2,500, 

 and handsome new school-rooms also erected. The Church 

 at South Huish was in such a perilous state that it had to be 

 abandoned, and a new one was built at Galmpton to replace 



it.J 



The Vicarage House is pleasantly situated near the 

 village of West Alvington; and the vicar is assisted in 



* Polwhele. 



f It was afterwards re-cut. 



X See chapter on Bigbury Bay. 



