Character Sheet

Name/Title: The Reverend Christopher Mellings

Occupation: Priest of the Church of England, ministering to the poor of Whitechapel

First Impression: Rugger player who took orders.

Sex/Gender: Male

Age: 30

Appearance: Broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, Mellings always looks slightly ill at ease in a suit. He has dark brown hair in muttonchop whiskers, light blue eyes and a squarish, flattish face, with a broken nose.

What they Carry: A Bible and a briefcase.

Relationships: Single and orphaned, lives with his aunt Caroline. Friendly, in a sociable way, with many of his congregation.

Personality: Mellings is both sincere in his faith and deeply practical, almost pragmatic in his views. He feels that he can be most truly Christlike by going among the poor and troubled and assisting them in practical ways to better their lives, then speaking to them gently of how they could better themselves spiritually. He feels extremely lonely and at times almost despondent, because it would take an army of Mellingses to make any difference to Whitechapel, and he does not feel able to enter true intimacy and friendship with any of the people he works with - while other people do not understand the world he has to deal with.

Strengths: Honest and kind-hearted.

Shortcomings: Increasingly prone to depression and doubt. Not highly intelligent.

History: Born in Essex to merchant parents, attended grammar school, went to university on a scholarship. After taking holy orders considered missionary work abroad, but got lost in the East End while trying to find the office of a missionary society in London and realised his work was there.

Motivations/Goals: To make a difference. To find a way to keep going.