] By whom is this generally accepted? Speaking of generalities, a man usualy went ot Oxford or Cambridge at age 16 or 17- sometimes earlier. He spent three years studying for a degree- by which time he is twenty. Since he cannot be ordained until he is 23 at least,what does he do with the intervening three years? He spends them doing what the universities want him to do- studying, teaching and assisting. That gives him at least three years more education than the average university student. How much education is "just enough to pass muster"?

I have just been reading Jane Austen adn the Clergy by Irene Collins and her chapter on education does state that at Oxbridge exams were very easy and failure virtually unknown. of course that did not stop many men from getting a good deal more htan the bare minimum out of university but equally she does state that many of hte clergy did have "just enough to pass muster". In addition preparation for ordination was cursory, and while hte ordinand had to undergo examination by a bishop this was usually easily passed.