Linton - Palin Connection

The Palin Connection
[with acknowledgments to Mr Robert Anderson,who wrote an article for a booklet in 2001, on which this text borrows heavily, and who has done so much for the Village and its Church]

If one were to pick out one key person in the development of the community at Linton, it would be the Reverend Edward Palin, great-grandfather of the highly talented Michael Palin of our own day.

Edward Palin was Rector of St Mary's Linton for 38 years at the latter end of the 19 th Century. Michael Palin is a household name because of his immense and varied talents. He is a scholar. Like his great-grandfather and both were Oxford educated. Their professional paths, however, could not have been more diverse, Edward moving on to academia and the church, while Michael's career is well known.

The Reverend Edward Palin was a generous benefactor to the village and his philanthropic ministry is remembered for many things during his long tenure, and in particular for the rebuilding of the Rectory, the restoration of the Church, the building and extension of the school and the provision, on non rectory washing days, of a village water supply. He was clearly a man of substantial means and generous disposition. The school is now a fine refurbished Village Hall, in all but name a reminder of his generosity.

The remarkable story of how he came to accept this living is told in a film, directed by Michael Palin and entitled “ The American Friend”, in which he took the part of his great grand-father. The film reveals a fascinating story of a man who gave up everything for the love of a woman he met while walking in Switzerland. Brita was a beautiful Irish American seventeen year old and Michael was a brilliant academic at St John's College, Oxford. The problem for him was that for a future career in the University, where he was apparently tipped as a likely President of the College, he had to remain a bachelor sworn to remain celibate. He was obliged to accept the living at Linton, a church he apparently regarded as the draughtiest place in Christendom, but that did not stop his contribution to the community being immense and his legacy colossal. He and his wife are buried in the churchyard.

	Ross Team Ministry



	Parish of St. Mary, Linton
	The Palin Connection [with acknowledgments to Mr Robert Anderson,who wrote an article for a booklet in 2001, on which this text borrows heavily, and who has done so much for the Village and its Church] If one were to pick out one key person in the development of the community at Linton, it would be the Reverend Edward Palin, great-grandfather of the highly talented Michael Palin of our own day. Edward Palin was Rector of St Mary's Linton for 38 years at the latter end of the 19 th Century. Michael Palin is a household name because of his immense and varied talents. He is a scholar. Like his great-grandfather and both were Oxford educated. Their professional paths, however, could not have been more diverse, Edward moving on to academia and the church, while Michael's career is well known. The Reverend Edward Palin was a generous benefactor to the village and his philanthropic ministry is remembered for many things during his long tenure, and in particular for the rebuilding of the Rectory, the restoration of the Church, the building and extension of the school and the provision, on non rectory washing days, of a village water supply. He was clearly a man of substantial means and generous disposition. The school is now a fine refurbished Village Hall, in all but name a reminder of his generosity. The remarkable story of how he came to accept this living is told in a film, directed by Michael Palin and entitled “ The American Friend”, in which he took the part of his great grand-father. The film reveals a fascinating story of a man who gave up everything for the love of a woman he met while walking in Switzerland. Brita was a beautiful Irish American seventeen year old and Michael was a brilliant academic at St John's College, Oxford. The problem for him was that for a future career in the University, where he was apparently tipped as a likely President of the College, he had to remain a bachelor sworn to remain celibate. He was obliged to accept the living at Linton, a church he apparently regarded as the draughtiest place in Christendom, but that did not stop his contribution to the community being immense and his legacy colossal. He and his wife are buried in the churchyard.