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Anorak News | Richard Munslow Was The Shropshire Sin Eater

Richard Munslow Was The Shropshire Sin Eater

by | 19th, September 2010

RICHARD Munslow, the country’s last recorded “sin eater”, is buried in Ratlinghope, Shropshire. He died in 1906. Locals have coughed up £1,000 to restore his grave. There will be a service today.

Munslow would stand by a dead body of someone who had not recanted their sins and drink wine and eat bread. In doing so he would adopt the sins of the dead. As he swallowed a free meal, the mourners swallowed the line.

“I give easement and rest now to thee, dear man. Come not down the lanes or in our meadows. And for thy peace I pawn my own soul. Amen.”

The Reverend Norman Morris is the vicar of Ratlinghope. He explains:

“It was a very odd practice and would not have been approved of by the church but I suspect the vicar often turned a blind eye to the practice.”

The vicar has are no plans to restore the practice, but the Catholic Church is believed to be interested…



Posted: 19th, September 2010 | In: Strange But True Comments (2) | TrackBack | Permalink