The Vicar of Bray
Preserved but no longer current.
A semi-legendary vicar of Bray, Berkshire, who, between 1520 and 1560, was twice a Papist and twice a Protestant in successive reigns. His name has been given as Symonds, Alleyne, and Pendelton, and his date transferred to the time of Charles II. Historically nothing is known of him ; the well- known song is said to have been written in Restoration times by an officer in Colonel Fuller's regiment.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Vicar of Bray” mean?
A semi-legendary vicar of Bray, Berkshire, who, between 1520 and 1560, was twice a Papist and twice a Protestant in successive reigns. His name has been given as Symonds, Alleyne, and Pendelton, and his date transferred to the time of Charles II. Historically nothing is known of him ; the well- known song is said to have been written in Restoration times by an officer in Colonel Fuller's regiment.
Is “The Vicar of Bray” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.