He was born on the 17th January 1831. His father worked for the East India Company and died in 1835.
Alured went to Wadham Collage, Oxford and attained an BA in 1854, he was also made a Deacon in the same year.
Two years later he became a Priest, and became an MA the following year. He served as a Curate at Dunchurch, Worcester.
He became the Rector of Elvington in 1865 and stayed until his death in 1884.
He had hoped to become a missionary, but due to ill health in was unable to do this.
He had built the 12 cottages on Church lane, his family were also responsible for the building of the 'old school', which now serves as the 'parish hall'.
The Clarke family owned alot of property in the village, and I think that they might have been behind the building of the cottages which are on the Green.
As we know from records that he owned this property as well.
The Lord Chancellor had held the Patronage of the Church since 1754, but in 1865 John Erskine, Alured's brother, purchased it, and the family retains it today.
There was a literary streak through the family, John Erskine was responsible for the 'Parish Magazine' in 1859, and wrote a number of books, he was also the editor of many books like 'The Children's Prize, and 'Chatterbox'.
Alured started to write 'A Handy book for the villagers of Elvington' from 1860-1873', it then changed to 'The Village visitor'.
Alured often wrote remarks in the Registers of Service, which have given an insight into life in the village in the mid nineteenth century.
There is also in the Borthwick Library at York, a copy of the book in which Alured interviewed some of the older residents.
Another Vicar of the village also did this 120 years later, which I hope to also put on the site soon.
Alured died on the 16th April 1885 of Consumption, or as it is known today TB. He maybe had this all of his life which could be the reason why he never fulfilled his dream of being a missionary.