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Subject: Re: Diary of Elisabeth Koren
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 09:20:03 EDT
I know one cannot necessarily draw accurate parallels from one culture to
another, but Elizabeth seems to me to mirror many clergy wives that I have know
in my upbringing in the bosom of the Church of England. It could be an
intensely lonely existence - some of the "otherness" of one's husband's vocation kept
you at a distance from members of his congregation, and there was a perceived
need to avoid letting him down, and to avoid favouritism. It could easily
lead to a vicious circle where the congregation felt that the wife was
"Stand-offish" and she felt excluded from the relationship between clergyman and
congregation. This often found expression in slightly barbed comments like "my Lord
Husband!"
I would like to think that this is now a phenomenon of the past, but I fear
not!
cheers
Catherine
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