...was quite high on the social scale, especially in a village like Highbury. (The economic status depended on the size of the clergyman's "living", and whatever money/income he and his wife had from their families. Some had to scrape to get by, but others were quite wealthy.) Remember that this was one of the few professions that a gentleman could go into and remain a gentleman.

In Mrs. Elton's case, her husband not only has the status normally due to a C. of E. clergyman, he is also a handsome young man who is popular amongst his parishioners.