Thanks for all the responses - I thought the compass thing would have been twenties, so would have got that wrong if doing something set then!

I have wondered at times, reading such rituals in fiction, which north is used. Is it geographic, or compass? And if compass, does it take declination into account? This could be quite important in high latitudes.

I have got the book ready to read, but it's in a box somewhere. I think. It was my parents' copy, and I spotted it during clearance. So I can't go out and buy it.

They go to such trouble with costumes - read what they did with Cranford - but assume that other things don't matter.

It was East Sussex. My chapel grandfather was scathing about the Oxford movement vicar of Mayfield. He changed the custom of the church with no regard to the congregation.

Penny