Fenor 1996 – Diary of a Parish Community

“Peter’s Pence”

A collection was taken up at all Masses today for St. John’s College in Waterford. In former times this was called the “Peter’s Pence” collection, and the money collected was sent to Rome for the propagation of the faith. Each family was expected to contribute one half-penny (old money) per week, which meant that the contribution to this collection was 2s/2d (two shillings and tuppence) per family – about 11p in new money.

[For the sake of those who have known only the euro currency and know nothing of shillings or old pence and new pence, here are some exchange rates:

1 euro (€1) = 100 cents (100c)
1 punt (IR£) = 100 new pence (100p)
1 punt = 20 shillings (20s) = 240 old pence (240d)
1 euro = 0.787564 punt

So that 2s/2d = 11p = 14c
– Comms Team ]