248
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
now and the traditional habit of severe thoughtfulness has
been all but submerged by the growing uniformity of social
manner, although their good reputation and reliability
remain.
Excellent word-pictures of the Peculiar People of Dengie
Hundred will be found in the novels of S. L. Bensusan,
dealing with the Essex Marshlands in the first quarter of
the 20th century. In particular, the old carrier of Tilling-
ham, whose real name was Benjamin Dow (died 1920, aged
81), and whose shining goodness and simplicity of character
endeared him to all who knew him, is faithfully delineated
in Mr. Bensusan's books under the name of "Efrum".(6)
The Peculiar People's services on Sundays are usually
held at 10.30 a.m., 2.30 and 6.30 p.m., and members of
the congregations expect to attend all three services; this
is in striking contrast with the small attendances at even
one service in the Church of England. That there should
be found congregations of 20 to 50 or more persons willing
and happy to spend almost the whole of each Sunday in
usually not particularly comfortable or beautiful surround-
ings, is in itself a remarkable testimony to the influence of
a simple faith upon the people of Essex.
APPENDIX
CHURCHES OP THE PECULIAR PEOPLE
(i) in Essex:
Parish Hundred.
Southend—Lambert Street............Rochford.
,, St. Anne's Road............ ,,
,, Wallis Avenue ... ... ... ... „
Great Wakering ............... ,,
Rochford .................. ,,
Eastwood .................. ,,
Rayleigh ..................
Leigh ..................... ,,
Shoeburyness .................. ,,
Hockley .................. ,,
Daws Heath, Thundersley ............Barstable.
Stanford-le-Hope ............... „
Ramsden Heath ............... ,,
Corringham .................. ,,
Wickford ... ... ... ... ... ... „
Tillingham ..................Dengie.
Cressing ..................Witham.
Witham ...................,