The Right Reverend Horatio Rye Hill Cheesespike [1921-2007]

L'Épouvantail is currently involved in finding and publishing the life story, musings and sermons of the late Right Reverend Horatio Rye Hill Cheesespike [1921-2007] a hugely misunderstood, progressive Anglican priest who amongst other achievements had an immense impact on the mentally unstable patients of Numbscull Priory [North Yorks] during the fifties, which lead to the establishment of the notorious Crackpot Savants and their activities across the north of England during the late fifties and into the sixties which became known as the 'Sermon Disturbances,' and which eventually led to the Reverend Rye Hill Cheesespike's first period of incarceration at Her Majesty's Pleasure for continually breaking the peace, and a side issue of tax evasion.

Soon after his release he caused uproar in the General Synod over his theories on the bestiality, spent further time in Belmarsh Prison due to a misunderstanding involving tattoos, serious incidents of drunk and disorderliness in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds city centres, as well as his organisations recruitment policies. There were also, once again tax irregularities including investigations by Customs and Excise centred primarily around containers imported into Bootle Docks, that involved his latest group dedicated to the Glory of God, the Servants Of Christ United.

He however he put his second spell 'inside' to good use, helping him to both dry out and establish a new, fresher adaptive Christian movement [called the 'small 'c' christendom faction']. An altogether more peaceful organization- although it did dabble in agitprop activities in the early eighties and for some time adopted a Red Star over a Cross emblem- it enabled him to return into the Church of England’s mainstream fold after a time in which he also, during a period of hard times, worked as a bingo caller in Blackpool and where he became known as the 'Pastor of The Golden Mile.'

Eventually he managed to obtain a sleepy pastoral parish of his own in Wiltshire, although he continued, as he had done through all his life, to struggle with the demon monkey [as he described it] of drink and to his dying day maintaining that he was channeling the spirit of a long dead vicar from the eighteenth century.

Extracts of his work sermons and memoirs are presently being collated and restored. Here is a sample:

aye tis oft I hath pondered the tranquility therein apparent in the oneness of the without partic. as I scribe my humble evensong sermon which I offer with contrite heart to Our Father Above and his Son, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND SAVIOUR Amen.

As the cruel wyndes of Autumn doth bloweth around the gables of mine humble abode I admiteth that sweet nectar is what I doth naught sip but tis a charger of pale stout followed I do declare versooth by a verytable grand glass of golden spirit from the Scottish Isles and aye, tis ashamedly I must admiteth it but I do do oft open a flagon of 'Whyte Lightning' strong cyder which doth remindeth me of mine innocent seminary dayes in Dorset, that most gracious of countyes in our wonderous God's Country which lieth under the protection of Her Highness THE QUEEN May God blesseth Her and aye, I doth confess, that the sparrows and monkeys doth apeareth before mine glasslike eyes as the chancel candlelight doth flicker in these dark nights of November, as I ponder the in of the outness then lo the inside out of the withness...

etc

AIDE MEMOIRE:

i] BIDDING PRAYERS 5-11 TO BE USED

ii] PLAYCE WEEKLY ORDER AT VERYTABLE WINE EMPORIUM 'MAJESTIC' praise be to God amen

There is clear indication of his state of mind at this time, which is later in his career during the twilight ministry of his time as a parish priest in Wiltshire. Anton is presently working on a transcript which includes a critique of this period in his life and may well contribute something soon directly in relation to the above extract form the Right reverends memoirs.