Darwin became involved with local charitable organisations including the Coal and Clothing Fund, a savings club to which he made honorary contributions and which he later ran from 1848 to 1869, taking over from Innes.
[2][3] Darwin also co-founded a Friendly Club with Innes, to which local people subscribed for assurance of assistance in times of financial need, and served as its treasurer for over 30 years, even hosting the Friendly Club's annual meeting on the lawn of Down House, the Darwin family's home.
He is a man of the most perfect moral character, and his scrupulous regard for the strictest truth is above that of almost all men I know.
I am quite persuaded that if on any morning he met with a fact which would clearly contradict one of his cherished theories he would not let the sun set before he made it known.
[7] In the 2009 film Creation the Reverend John Innes was played by actor Jeremy Northam.