The old bishop and his chaplains, the dean and his canons and minor canons, the old choir, and especially Mr.Harding who was at the head of it, had all been popular in Barchester.

They had spent their money and done good; the poor had not been ground down; the clergy in society had neither been overbearing nor austere; and the whole repute of the city was due to its ecclesiastical importance.

Yet there were those who had heard Mr.Slope with satisfaction.
It is so pleasant to receive a fillip of excitement when suffering from the dull routine of everyday life! The anthems and Te Deums were in themselves delightful, but they had been heard so often! Mr.
Slope was certainly not delightful, but he was new, and, moreover, clever.

They had long thought it slow, so said now many of the Barchesterians, to go on as they had done in their old humdrum way, giving ear to none of the religious changes which were moving the world without.

People in advance of the age now had new ideas, and it was quite time that Barchester should go in advance.