Among the stories preserved in the history of Great Yarmouth Minster is that of an eighteenth-century minister with an extraordinary collection of books.
In September’s Parish Life, local historian Paul Davies looks back at the life of the Revd Thomas Macro and the library he gave to the church.
A preacher chosen in 1722
Following the death of the Revd Barry Love, the Yarmouth Corporation assessed six applicants by hearing them preach. Macro was appointed in 1722 and became known as a learned man and a popular preacher.
His interests extended well beyond the pulpit. He assembled an extensive library, including theological works and early printed books from European presses, and presented it to the church.
A collection built across generations
Davies records 175 books in the library in 1772. With further gifts, the collection had grown to 320 volumes by 1877. Its earliest book dated from 1468, offering a striking link with the beginnings of European printing.
Much of the collection was destroyed during the Second World War, although some volumes were saved and are held in Norwich Cathedral’s library. The story of Macro’s gift therefore reaches beyond Great Yarmouth, connecting the Minster with a wider history of learning and preservation.
It is a reminder that a church’s heritage is carried in books, gifts and the lives of its people, as well as in the building itself.
Based on Paul Davies’s article in September 2026 Parish Life, originally published in the Yarmouth Mercury. This is a summary of his article. Featured photograph: Great Yarmouth Minster.
