Sir Roger at Church : Characters

Characters

Sir Roger de Coverley: Sir Roger is a kind, caring, and respected country landlord. He takes great pride in his local church and works hard to keep it running smoothly. He spends his own money to decorate the church, buy prayer books, and hire a music teacher for the parish. Sir Roger wants his parishioners to follow the correct church manners and helps them with gifts and gentle discipline. He also shows kindness by rewarding children for good answers in religious lessons and giving extra salary to the church clerk. Sir Roger is a little old-fashioned and has some funny habits, such as falling asleep in church but waking up others who do the same. People do not laugh at him, but respect him more for these unique ways. He always leaves church first, and everyone shows respect by waiting for him and standing in rows. Sir Roger looks after his tenants, asks about their families, and gently warns those who miss church. He treats everyone fairly and promotes peace in his village. His good-hearted leadership is a good example for all.

Sir Roger’s Chaplain (Parish Priest): The chaplain is friendly and works closely with Sir Roger. He takes part in helping the parish and enjoys a good relationship with Sir Roger, unlike some priests who quarrel with their landlords. The chaplain is patient, teaches children, and encourages them to do well by supporting Sir Roger’s idea of rewarding good behavior and learning.

Parishioners: The parishioners are the people who live in the village and attend Sir Roger’s church. At first, they were not regular in their prayers, but Sir Roger’s guidance helped them become better worshippers. They now sing well, act with respect in church, and look to Sir Roger for leadership. The parishioners admire Sir Roger and are influenced by his actions and advice. They look up to him as a role model and show him love and respect.

John Matthews: John Matthews is a villager who is known to be lazy or careless. During church, he was seen kicking his heels for fun, and Sir Roger called him out loudly to make him pay attention. This shows Sir Roger’s authority and shows that everyone in the parish is expected to be well-behaved at church.

Neighboring Squire and Parson: In the next village, the squire and parson always fight. The squire does not come to church, and this sets a bad example for his tenants. The parson thinks he is better than the squire, and he teaches against him. Their quarrel causes harm to their parish, in contrast to the peace found in Sir Roger’s parish.