Poor as a church mouse

But to return to our public functions; that we have had a decided turn for the church appears from the fact that the church-mouse is a recognised order amongst us, and it is our just pride that we alone have preserved the genuine character of the institution as founded by the Apostles, inasmuch as our poverty has passed into a proverb— "as poor as a church-mouse."

She was an Eastern Virginia woman, and, although poor as a church mouse, thought herself superior to West Virginia people.

"As poor as a poet" would be quite as comprehensible as "as poor as a church mouse."

Pulford is currently building a raised bed for an allotment, and another school garden is due to open soon. "I'm poor as a church mouse, but I wake up a happy man," he says.