The introduction includes a biography of William Connor Magee, the vigorous bishop of Peterborough from 1868 to 1891, who originally hailed from Cork. A man of strong opinions, clearly expressed. On page xiii, you can read exactly what he said in the House of Lords about whether England should be 'free or compulsorily sober’. It also describes in detail the town of Northampton and associated issues during that era.
Magee circulated questions to the clergy of the Rural Deanery of Northampton in preparation for formal visitations held in the years 1872, 1875, 1878, 1882 and 1888. These and the answers provided are the body of the book. As well as information from all parishes then operating in the historic town of Northampton, responses from Hardingstone, Duston, Dallington, Kingsthorpe and Upton can also be found.
Appendices contain the texts of letters from the Bishop to Lord Overstone, who was the patron of a number of livings in the diocese, and biographies of the parish clergy involved.