Religion & Morality Vindicated, Against Hypocrisy and Pollution Or, an Account of the Life and Character of John Church the Obelisk Preacher, Who Was Formerly a Frequenter of Vere-street, and Who Has Been Charged With Unnatural Practices in Various Places. To Which Is Annexed, a Fac-simile of a Letter, Written by Him to James Cook, Who Kept the Infamous House in Vere-street.

This early‑nineteenth‑century pamphlet offers a vivid glimpse into London’s moral fever and the press’s role in exposing scandal. The editor of the Sunday Dispatch compiles a detailed portrait of John Church, the self‑styled “Obelisk Preacher” from Vere‑Street, who faces accusations of hypocrisy and alleged immoral practices. Framing the story as a public duty, the editor explains why the episode could not remain confined to a fleeting newspaper column.

Listeners will hear the original prose, complete with the editor’s moral commentary and vivid details of public punishments that once drew thousands of onlookers. A facsimile of a letter from Church to James Cook, the notorious proprietor of the Vere‑Street house, is also included, giving a rare personal glimpse into the controversy. While the pamphlet stops short of a courtroom resolution, it raises timeless questions about journalistic responsibility, the balance between privacy and public interest, and how a society confronts alleged immorality.