People who frequented Stamford Race-Course or the Theatre were warned that they would not be passed for confirmation into the Church of England in an excited rant by the curate of St Michael’s.
“Great excitement had been occasioned amongst the parishioners of St. Michael’s in Stamford by what occurred in the church on Sunday evening last. Immediately after the close of the service in the reading-desk by the Rev. J. N. Peill (the curate), that Rev. Gentleman, under very visible perturbation of feeling, thus expressed himself:- “The Bishop of this Diocese will hold a confirmation here tomorrow week. I shall attend in this church tomorrow and Tuesday between the hours of 12 and 2, to examine candidates; and on Thursday evening I shall deliver a discourse on the subject: service to commence at half-past six. It has been reported in this town that I intend refusing my certificate to any candidate who has attended either the Theatre or the Race-course: It is true: but I hop I shall not have to refuse, as I trust none who have attended either of those places will offer themselves as candidates. I can explain my reasons for this in private, to any person who will favor me with a call. This much I will say in public – I consider the person who attends with the Theatre or the Race-course is an enemy to God.” – In the delivery of the sermon which followed, Mr. Peill’s nervous excitement continues in a remarkable way: he mis-read his matter, and mispronounced his words, giving to almost every person in the congregation an impression that he was labouring under indisposition from indulgence; and on Monday, we understand, a respectable parishioner deemed it his duty to call upon him, and to suggest that it was due to the Rev. Gentlemen’s congregation that some explanation of the circumstance should be given. Mr. Peill assured him that he had drunk nothing to justify the supposition that he was intoxicated, and appealed to some persons at his lodgings to confirm this; which they did. Here the matter rests.”
The Stamford Mercury, 25th August, 1837.