Market town in Essex, incorporated from the 16th century to 1886, containing the church of Saint Mary. Two miles east is Little Dunmow, formerly the seat of a priory where Robert Fitzwalter in 1224 instituted the custom of presenting a flitch of bacon to any couple who spent the first year of their married life in harmony and never regretting their union. Two hundred years later the flitch was claimed for the first time. The custom still exists; in 1925 it was won by the London manager of the Catholic Encyclopedia, and his amiable consort.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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