Other Literary Clergy of Bemerton


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	John Norris (1657-1711) Rector of Bemerton from 1692 to 1711, was, unlike Herbert, a famous poet in his own time, and the suspicion is that he came to Bemerton as a sinecure, to permit him time to do his 'real' work of writing. He produced 23 publications (mainly scholarly, rather than poetry) while here, many of them going through several editions. In 1704 he lost the sight of one eye, while writing "Theory of the Ideal World"; and in 1710 in "Christian Prudence" he mentions his failing health. He died "after exhausting his strength by intense application and long habits of severe reasoning" in 1711, and is buried at Bemerton.
The memorial to him in S^t. Andrew's Church reads:-
(translation)	H S E
JOHN NORRIS	JOHANNES NORRIS
Rector of this parish	Parochiae hujus Rector
where for 20 years he lived a good life in retirement,	Ubi annos 20 bene Latuit
using his leisure for pastoral care & literature.	Curae Pastorali et Literis vacans
In this retreat he set up for himself monuments of	Quo in Recussa Sibi posuit
equal genius and piety, now widely scattered	Late jam p. Orbem Sparsa
through the world.	Monumenta
he died in the year of our Lord 1711, aged 54	Obijt An^o Dni 1711 - - AEtais 54

	William Coxe (1748-1828)
	Rector of Bemerton from 1788 until 1828, was also a literary man, but very different from Herbert and Norris In 1784, 3 years before he came to Bemerton, he had published a 3 volume "Travels in Poland, Russia, Sweden & Denmark" While he was Rector of Bemerton, he found time to travel extensively, and write travelogues about the places he visited, and biographies - including that of Sir Robert Walpole. Perhaps his most important work was an history of Montgomeryshire, showing an unconscious link with his illustrious predecessor. After an extended visit in 1798, and two visits in 1799, the work was published in 1801. In 1803 he became a Canon-residentary of Salisbury cathedral, in 1805 Archdeacon of Wiltshire, and held other parishes in plurality with Bemerton, including Stourton, and was Chaplain to the Tower of London. One wonders how much time was spent in this parish. He became blind in 1819, died "of old age, unable to contend with two helpings of salmom and lobster sauce, washed down with large draughts of Perry" - resulting in dysentry! He is buried in the nave of S^t. Andrew's
The memorial to him and his wife in S^t. Andrew's Church reads:- Juxta Conduntur reliquiae GULIELMI COXE Mortalis esse desiit Anno Salutis MDCCCXXVIII AEtatis LXXXI - - - Necnon ELEANORAE Conjugis suae charissmae quae obiit Anno Salutis MDCCCXXX AEtatis LXXI



`last updated 12^th April 2003`