On one such occasion Fox expressed his regret that Crabbe had ceased to write, and offered his help in revising any future poem that he might produce.

The promise was not forgotten when ten years later _The Parish Register_ was in preparation.
During his first year at Parham, Crabbe does not appear to have undertaken any fixed clerical duties, and this interval of leisure allowed him to pay a long visit to his sister at Aldeburgh, and here he placed his two elder boys, George and John, at a dame school.

On returning to Parham, he accepted the office of curate-in-charge at Sweffling, the rector, Rev.Richard Turner, being resident at his other living of Great Yarmouth.

The curacy of Great Glemham, also within easy reach, was shortly added.

Crabbe was still residing at Parham Lodge, but the incidents of such residence remained far from pleasant, and, after four years there, Crabbe joyfully accepted the offer of a good house at Great Glemham, placed at his disposal by his friend Dudley North.