James Woodforde

Martin Brayne (Independent Scholar - Europe)
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James Woodforde, best known as the author of

The Diary of a Country Parson

( ed. John Beresford, 5 vols. 1924–1931) was born at the Parsonage, Ansford, Somerset, England on 27 June 1740. In adulthood he led an uneventful, unambitious life as a clergyman of the Church of England: a life unremarkable but for one thing – for nearly 45 years he kept a diary recording an existence the very ordinariness of which provides a unique insight into the everyday routines and concerns of 18th century rural England.

The sixth child of the Revd Samuel Woodforde, rector of Ansford and vicar of Castle Cary and his wife Jane Collins, James was one of four brothers ( one of whom died in infancy ) and the only one to attend public school – Winchester, and university – Oxford. He was admitted to

986 words

Citation: Brayne, Martin. "James Woodforde". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 23 June 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4794, accessed 19 March 2024.]

4794 James Woodforde 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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