lli: i! k i • ^ |1 pi iiy^iiC ■I iiitiiiiii'i'i ' ''S'l']':''''' '^••■^(.|; %i. foljn tin ISbangelist, aSUcstmittstcr: PAROCHIAL MEMORIALS, [St. John ihc Evani^clisi, from Mrs. Jamieso/i's cngrai picture by Raphael., in the Musee at Marseilles.'] J. E. SMITH, restrv Clerk of St. Margaret and St. John the Evangelist, Westminster. 1892. PRINTED BY VVIGHTMAN & CO., io.(, REGENCY STREET, WESTMINSTER, S.W. Entered at .Stationers' Hall.] ^I^**" (D little ;fi3ooh! tlxou vtvt so uncunning, 3JoU) tvxv'st thou \>\\i tlij}5clf in press, for ^reab? Jt is luoubcr that thou luaxcet not vcb ! (Since that thou knoto'st full lite luho shall bcholb i:hj) rube language, full boistouslu unfolb. " Chaucer AN ALPHABETICAL ARRANGEMENT OF SUBJECTS. Note. — The names of persons are in italics. 111. "As Index /o the story r King Richard III., II. Abbey Water Mill 348 Abingdon-buildings 400 Abingdon-sti-eet ... 345, 397-400 Ackiuortk, Buckcridgc Ball ... 523 Accounts of Commissioners, cost of site and building of church 24-9 Acreage of Wards 13 Addison on chanty schools ... 18 A Ibciiiarle, Lord, reminiscences 271, 273, 313, 314, 411 Aliock, Sir Rutherford ... 504, 534 Aldridgc, Rebecca ... 66, 404, 533 Alfred-street 397 Allen, Mr. G. Baiig/i . 1 1 Allen-street 397 Allington-street • 396 Almery School 527 Almonry, the 42S ,435 Aniory, Thomas 427 Archer, Thomas, architect f church 38, 40 {et passim J ) 46 Archery in Tothill-fields... 281-5 Architect of church i 6,38 Architecture of church, opinion s on — Beaconsfield, Earl of ... . . 46 Bohn,H. G 43 Cha)nberlain 38 Chesterfield, Lord 46 Cunningham, P 40- 2, 44 Dickens, Charles 45 Hare, A.J. C. 46 Jesse, J. Ileneagc 45-6 Knii^ht, C. 44 Lof'tie, IV. J. 48 Nightingale, Re7>.J. 39 Noorthouck,J. 39 Rimmer, A 47 U'alcott, Rev. M. 45 Watford, E 47 iraljole. Lord 44 Area of parish, and wards 13 Armed Association ... 146, 476-484 V.M.K Army Clothing Depot 470 Arncway, Thomas 396, 540 Arneway-street 396,400 Arnoldjarvis, Rev. E. C, M.A u8 Arroiu, Mr. Churchiuarden, funeral of 146 Artillery-ground (row, place, etc.) 284, 286, 299, 396, 401, 460 A tcheson. Rev. H., M.L. ... 114 A tterbury. Bishop Era "cis, DD. J r. '9' T^:>^ 437 Atii'ood, Rev. T, B.A 103 Augusta, (2ueen, at the Horse- ferry 2>33 Autographs of Rectors 78 B Bacchus, Mr. John 62, 65, 130, 532 Back, Re-i'. J., M.A 117 Baldwin, Caleb 271, 273 Baltic Wharf, Cirosvenor-road 379, 381 Bandinel, Rev. J., M.A 115 Baptisms 57 Baptist Chapel, Romney-street 246 Bardivcll, VVm 250 Barloiv, Peter VV. 341, 344 Barton-street, and Barton Booth 401,412,533 Baths and Wash-houses, Com- mission, etc. 207, 450, 510-3 Battery in Tothill-fields ... 287, 288 Beaconsfield, L^ord, in West- minster 46,452-6 Beadle, the Parish 132, 140 Beans and Bacon 226 Bear and bull-baiting, cock- fighting, dog-fighting, etc., in Tothill-fields, 268-70, 273, 274, 275 Beargarden, Wells' 269 Beckioith, E. 459 IV. Index. Beggar, a notable 449 Bclgrave^ Lord Viscounty 145, 146,354, 477. 478, 481 Bell-street and Dr. A. Bell, 397, 405, 529 Bells 55 Benedictine monks in West- minster 248, 251 Benefactions to parish ... 65-6, 128, 496-500, 531-540 Bennett, Rev. T., D. D 112 Bentinck, Archdeacon, \V. //., M.A 239, 405 Bentinck-street 397. 405 Benthain, Jeremy ... 367-70, 377-9 Benthain, Sir Samuel 382 Bessborough-gardens 248, 396, 504 Bessborough-street, place, etc. 397 Bickerton, Joint 276 Bigg, Mr. J. 509 ' Bingham's Leap ' 271 Birkbeck, Dr. G. ... 506 Bishop, M. Hoi man, Esq. 4, 138, 534 Black Coat Hospital ... 522, 527 Black Dog Alley 469 Blackamoors, baptism of ... 57 Blackley, Rev. Canon, ALA. 4, 245 Blair, Dr. John 68,83-5 Blood, Colonel 463-9 Bloomburg-street 397,405 Blue Coat School 522-4, 527, 540 Board of Works for Westmin- ster District 206 Boating at the Ferry and Mill- bank 335-8 Body stealing 124-5 Bolder, Peter 415 Bond-court 417 Borradaile, Rev. A., M.A. 1 1 5, 225, 226, 234, 239 Boundaries of parish 9- 11 Boundaries of Tothill-fields Trust 220 Boundaries of wards ... 11- 12 Bowling-alley (street) 396, 463-9 Bradford, Bishop Samuel 31, 438 Brewhouses on Millbank 354, 362 Bridewell 319-21 Broadway Chapel 17-71, 467, 522 Broadwood, Messrs. ... 419, 431 Broderick, Re^i. Dr. 71 Brompton Cemetery 128 Brown, Sir Samuel ... 339, 341 Browne, Sir Anthony 386 Brunsivick, Prince Charles of 382 Brunswick-gardens, row and place 397, 417 Buccleuch, Duke of 504, 528 Bulinga Fen ... 8,248,250,311 , Buller, John '. 460 Burdett, Sir Francis 493-4, 528 Burdett-Coutts, Baroness 227, 311, 433, 504, 525 Burdett-Coutts, IV., Esq., M.P. 494 504, 534 Burgess, Mrs. Ann 458 Burgesses, Court of 220 Burial Board 207 Burial-ground — Acquisition and consecration 120 Closed 124 Converted into a garden ... 128 Enlarged 123 Fees 121, 122, 128 Grant, Dr. Donald 130 Indian Chief buried in ... 129 ^ohnson. Alderman J. 131 Military funeral, a 146 Monuments 129- 131, 154 Overcrowded condition 122-3 'Resurrection' outrages 124-5 Surface raised 122,251 Torchlight funerals 121 Burial in woollen 126 Burial registers 56, 128 Busfeld, Rev.J.A.,D.D. ... 113 Butts, The 281, 284, 285, 286, 479 Byron'' s swim 338 Calamy, D. Dr. Caldwall, Janws, engraver . . . Campus Martius of West- minster Capon, Jr. 361, 381, Carey-street and Dr. IV. Carey 318,397, Carter, JoJin Cass, Christopher, mastermason Catholic Apostolic Church ... Causton-street 319, 397, Census statistics Cesspools Centenarians 129, Chadwick-street ... 396, 406, Chapter-street 318,319, ' Charleys,' the old Chartist Rising, the ... 376, Chelsea-road 287, 73 no 426 405 474 130 246 406 14 204 427 432 397 209 485 306 Index. V. House PAliK Chelsea Water Works 347 C/iclsom, Dr. 426 C/icri/on. Rc-////;///r^/. Plague and pest-houses 293-7 Provision of butts, arms, setting-out soldiers, &c. 284, 286, 288-9 Sale of grass 253 Scottish prisoners ... 291-2 Cigar-Box, the.. 188 City of Westminster Mechanics' Institution 459,506,509 Claims by Rectors 68 Clayton, Dean 215 Clock 67 Closing of burial-ground 124, 126 Coaches, Annual procession of 361 Cobourg-row ... 318, 319, 397, 407 Cock-pits 268, 270, 452, 462 Coldstream C.uards' Hospital 311, 525 Cole, Mr. Jacob 485-7 Coleridge, Dr. 426 College-court 416 College-street 217, 337, 354, 356, 407.15 Collins, TK;//., the artist ... 278,427 Colours of Westminster Volun- teers 483 Colquhou/i, Dr. J^africk, on the police 209,505 Commission, see " Royal Com- mission " Communion plate 54 Condition of clergy in i8th cen- tury ... ..V 70,74,75 Condition of streets ... 200-5 Consecration of burial-ground 1 20 Consecration of church 30 Consolidated charities ... 534-6 Constitution of Vestry 191 Convocation, controversy be- tween Upper and Lower Houses 18,19,20 letter of Queen Anne to 20 Coinuay, Canon 504 Cook, J as. Esq 4 Coonibes, the champion of the Thames 316 Cornwallis, Letitia 540 Cosens, Rc7>. IV. E. R., D.P. 4-241 Cos.'ier, .Stephen, Esq 60 Cost of site and building of Church 24-9 ' Councillor Bickerton, Jisq.,\.. 276 Court of Burgesses 220 Cowley-strcct and Abraham Cowley 401, 403, 412 VI. Index. I'AGE Cow distemper, of 1750 253 Craven, Earl, account of the Pestilence 301 Criticisms on architecture of Church 39-48 Crosse, Charles 35» 68 Crosse, Godsalve 33, 66 Crosse, Sir John 34, 35, 49,65, 135, 361 Crosse, Sir Thomas 67, 135, 140, 489-91 Crown Estate Paving Com- mission 203 Cubili, Mr. T. M.P 239 Cumberland, Richard ... 400,433 Cumberland Tea Gardens 381, 384 Curates and Lecturers ... 101-119 Cutler, Sir John 17 D Dangers of Millbank and Tot- hill-fields 306, 354 Dangers of the streets ... 212-4 Da7iiell-Bainbridge,Rev. H. G., M.A 118 Date of erection of church ... 30 Davies, Mary, the heiress ... 357 Davies, Rev. G. H. D 119 Davies, Reit. W. H. 116 Davis, Ann 533 Davis, Rev. JJ\ 113 Da_y, Miss 519 De Groflf 435 Dean and Chapter, disputes 308-10, 439, 422 Dean-street ... 217, 396, 426, 459 Dean's-place 397 Deans of Westminster ... 437-8 Declared Accounts of Com- missioners 24-9 Dedication of church 29 Delaval House 399 Delaval, Sir John 354 Denn, Dr. 31 Derivation of title of church ... 29 ' Desart of Westminster,' the 428 Description of church ... 40-52 ' Devil's Acre,' the 443 Devon-place 417 Diekens, C, description of a London burial-ground ... 123 Church, Smith-square 45, 47 Horseferry, the 335 — Millbank 365-6 'Our parish' 139 Dilke, Charles W. and Dilke, Sir Charles W., M.P. 409, 458 Dickinson, Edward 65,532 Dickson, Rev. G. D. IV., M.A. 4, 244 Dinner on ' Churchwardens' day ' 142 Dirty Condition of Church ... 53 Dirty Lane 398 Discovery of skeletons 300 Dispensary, Western ... 503, 536 Dissensions in Convocation 18-20 Distilleries on Millbank 362, 389 Dolben, Bishop John 437 Dodd, Ralph 381 Douglas-place 471 Douglas-street 397,416 Downes, Rev. J. 113 ' Duck,' the 255,271,313 Duck-lane... 237, 275, 451,522, 527 Duelling in Tothill-fields ... 305 Duke-street Chapel 17 Dutch picturesciueness of Mill- bank 358-361 Duties of Vestry 200 Earl-street 395, 396, 421 Eaton, Rev. H., B.A 103 Ebury, Lord Ecclesiastical disagreements Ecclesiastical districts Edgar, Charter of ... 8,222, Edric the fisherman - Edward-street 397, Edwards, Rev. Holland 59, 87 Eldrich's Nursery ... 8, 216, Election of Paving Com- missioners Elections, Parliamentary in Westminster 488- Elliott, Captain Elliott, John Lettson, Esq. 4, 147, 318, 329, Ellis, Rev. H. M., M.A. Elliston, R. ]l\, the actor ... Emanuel Hospital 17,460, 522, Emery Hill's Almshouses 17, 406, 439, 496-500. Engine House 218, ' English Bastille,' the ... 366- Enquiry by Royal Commission as to need of new churches •7, : Esher-street Etymology of 'Tothill' ... 249, 357 18 •5 245 324 543 ,89 253 494 506 509 118 425 540 522 436 377 395 250 Indi ex. Vll, Ei'diis, Dr., epitaph on \'an- bruj^h 42 Evans, Mr. /f., churcliwarden 137 147-50, 177, 528 Evans, Rci'. S. 103 Evening service commenced... 91 Fairs in Tothill-fields 263-7, 271,418 Famous Frosts 326-9 Far^ucll, R 62. 532 Festivities in Tothill-ficlds 256-8 Finc/i, Dr. Poolc 63, 85-6 Fines for non-acceptance of office of churchwarden ... 45 Finney, Mr. 462 Fire-engine, annual drill ... 141 F"ire-extinguishing arrangements in parish 218,220 Fire inquest held by \'estry ... 2ig Fire insurance offices ... 33,219 Fish Market, the 500 Fitzi^crald, Rev. T. loi Five Chimney-court ... 316,471 Five Chimneys, or Seven Houses, 253, 271, 273, 276-8, 297, 302, 314, 316, 471 ' Five Fields,' the ... 252, 306, 314 Flight of James II. and his Queen ... I'^^-'h^l Floods in Westminster 252, 349, 350 Font 55, 59 Foot, R 62 Ford, Francis, Esq. 4 Forrest, Henry 5 38-9 Fort in Tothill-fields 287 France, Rev. G., M. A 115 Frankly n, Rev. J. H. 118 Frederick-street 397 P'ree Public Library 207, 459, 506-10 Freeing of the liridges 344 Freeman, IV. 63 Frost Fair 328 Funeral of Mr. CliurcliiL'arden Arrow ... 146 Funerals by torchliglit 121 Furniture belonging to church 56 Furse, Rev. Canon C. IV., M. A. 99 Fyncs-street 318, 397, 417 Galleries in Church 49 Garden-street 3 '9. 417 Gas, first used in church 64, 216 Gas, invention and introduc- tion of 215-7, 394 In parish 205,216-7, 418, 423, 432 Gate House Prison ... 320, 321 Gay/ere, Mr. 68, 416 Gee, Dr. Ediuard i\, 71, 79-81, 194 Geological features 12-13 Geori^e Il\ in Tothill-fields 314-6 Glcniiervie, Lord 503 Gibbon, the historian 407 Gibbs, Mr. IVii/iani ... 235, 238 Gi/t>ert, Rev. P. P., M.A. ... 114 Gini^cr, IV., of College-street 410 ' Go your way ' Godson, .Septimus H. (jooseberry Fair Governors and Directors of the Poor 203, Great .Seal thrown .into the Thames Grant, Dr. Donald (travel taken from Tothill- fields 251, 303, 305-6 Great College-street 217, ^^y], 354, 356, 407-15 216, 217, 396, 431-3' 5'3 217, 237,407, 456-9 60 58, 66, 145 ... 522-3 319, 522, 527 409 509 271 442 MO Great Peter-street Great Smith-street Green, Mr. David . Green, Mr. T/ionias Greene, IVi/liani Green-coat Hospital (Greenwich parish church ... 20 (irenadier Guards' Hospital ... 525 Grey-coat Hospital 17, 312, 417, 519-22, 527, 540 Grey-coat-place and street 396, 417 Grinsell, Mrs. Jane 538-9 Gritten, IV. R 508 Grosi'enor, Sir Robert 35, 49, 135, ■40, 355' 356 Grosvenor, Lord 122.123,355,363 (Sec Petcrborouoli House) Grosvenor Hospital 524 Grosvenor-road 363, 364-5, 379, 381, 417 Gros\cnor-street 395 Grub-street 419 Guards' Hospitals 31 i, 441, 471, 525 Gulston's-cottagcs 315,406 Gik.'ilt, Josepli 398 Giuydyr, Lord 478 Craynne, Madame 316, 387 vm. Index. H Haggitt, Rev. HArcy, M.A...^ 113 Hale., A rchdeacoi 53 Halfpenny Hatch, the 313, 314, 315, 472 Hall, Robert, M. A 76 Hall, Sir Benjamin 205 Haniniick, Rev. E. A., M.A. i 19 Harrage, Air. E 63 Harvey, Rev. R 89 Hat her ley. Lord (Sir IV. Page Wood) 268, 509, 528 Hawkes, Mrs. E. M. 62 Hayes, Catherine 473 Heather, William 447 ' Heaven Tavern' 400 Hebberfield, Wm. (Slender Billy) 271-5,276 Herriek Robert 444 Hcrtslet, monuments in church 61 Hide-place 318 Hiffernan, Paul 409 High-street at Millbank 354 Highwaymen 306, 354, 418 Hill in Tothill-fields 249, 251, 256, 490 Hill's Almshouses 17,406,439, 496- 500, 539 Hipioell, Daniel, Esq. ... 5, 100 Hisco.v, Rev. J. 113 Historic sign-boards ... 394-5, 404 Hobhouse's Act, adopted ; and result 203-4 Home for Working' Boys ... 513 Hora, James, Esq 504 Holland-street 397,423,543 Holy Trinity, Bessborough- gardens, church and schools ... 15,239-242,405 Holywell-street 395) 430 Horse baited to death 269 Horse Ferry, the — Boats and boating ... 335-8 Byron^ s sw'ww 338 Dusky ambassadors at ... 327 Famous frosts 326-9 Ferry House 333-5 Ferry rates 329 First steam-boat 338 Flight of James II. and his Queen ^'^'^-^To Lambeth-bridge ... 333, 338-346 Legend of St. Peter and the fisherman 324-6 PAGE Horse Ferry, the — contijtued. Marlborough and the ferry- man 333 Notable passengers ... 327, 333 (2iteenAicgiista of Saxe-GotJia 333 Regatta, the 336 Water-works 347 Westminster and Eton Horseferry-road 203, 216, 396, 417 Horsley, Bishop Samuel 438 Hotchkiss, Rev. V., B.A. 112, 542 House of Commons at St. John's Church ... 65 Houses first numbered 394 Ho7vard, Hon. E. C 525 Howard, John, the philan- thropist 321, 367 Hoivell, Rev. J. •. 103,542 Hiibbert, 'ganiekeeper of Tot- hill-fields' 275 Hudson's-terrace 395 Hughes, Rev. J., M.A 114 Hunt, Mr. Ja?nes 59, 66, 147, 150 Hunt, Rev. H. W., M.A. ...117 Hunt, Sir H. A. 59, 65, 66, 147, 244 ////;;/, SirE. Seager, M.P. ... 128, 138, 150 Hutchins, Mr. J. P 5 Huttons, the, of College-street 415 I Indian chief buried in St. John's Burial-ground 129 Inliabited houses. Number of 14 Inquest of a fire held by Vestry 219 Inscriptions in church ... 60, 63 Instrument appointing Vestry 191 setting out the parish ... 9-10 Insurance offices in London 33, 219 Interior of church described ... 51-2 Inundations 252, 349 Inventory of plate, furniture, ornaments, &c 53-6 ' Irvingites' in Westminster ... 246 Islip, Abbot 386 'Jack Hair 125 James H. and Mary of Modena, flight of y-^-ZTo Jennings, The Ven. Archdea- con John, M.A. — Life 88-98 Monument 61 hide. Icniiings., The Ven. Archdea- con John, M.A. — contimicd. References to 128, 151, 207, 222, 224, 226,232,239,509,511, 527 Wife's monument 60 Jcphson, Rev. IV., Jf.A 116 ' Joe Miller,' a 357 Jones, Rcxi. A., B.D 116 Jones, Rev. Giistaviis, M.A. Jones, Jemima 533 John's-place 473 Joint son. Alderman John 89, 131, 137, 151-4, 363 Johnson-street 395, 396, 420 Johnson, Dr. S., on street dan- gers, etc. 213, 215 Johnson, Rev. IV. 113 Jubilee of George III. and Qiieoi Victoria , ... 484 K Keats, Jolin 408 Keene, Rev. Tallwt, M.A. I 12 Ken, Bishop 72, Kensington-place 395 King's Arms presented to Church 32 King's Scholars' pond and seM-er. 256, 271, 387, 388 Knightsbridge, proposed sur- render of 388 Knvi'ctt, G. If. W. 61 Kyte, Rev. J., I)./) 1 1 1 J.amtiert, 'J'homas 410 Lanibclh-bridge 333, 338-346, -:,']^ Lam])lighter, the old 214 Langton, Bennett 477 Laundry-yard 420, 425, 431 ' Lay Bishop of Westminster,' the 268 Legendary history ... 248, 250, 324 Lennox, Lord, reminiscences 275 Levying of rates 194,316 Library, P'ree IHiblic ... 207, 506 Licttfield, Risliop of 53 Lighting of streets, tSic. 212-7, 394 Lillington-street 396, 420 Lindsey House and lane 354,397-8, 400 Linen, burial in 126 Linen of church ;6 TAGE Link-boys, the 213 List of churchwardens ... 135-8 List of overseers 181-4 List of curates and lecturers loi-i 19 List of representatives in par- liament 493-4 List of \'estry clerks 189 Littlington, Aldwt 348, 386, 407, 41 r Little College-street 415 Li-ttle Feter-strcet ... 396, 431, 474 Little Smith-street 217, 460 Lives of the Rectors ... 79-100 Local self-government of parish 190-220 Longevity 128-9, 4^7 Longtands, Rev. T., ALA. ... 113 Lowe, Rt. Hon., W. 482 Loiundes, William 489, 490 M J/r?ivr//'Ari'on condition of clergy 75 Malone, Rev. R., M.A. 5, 236, 237-8 Manning, Rev. C, B. A 112 Margrie, Mr. James ... 5,515 Market-street 418 Man of Ross, of Westminster 496 Mansell, John, Henry Ill's Councillor 258 Afarlborough, Dulce c^and the lucky ferryman },})'^ ALarlborough House, court and place 423 Marsham, Charles, Earl of Romney 420 Marsham-strect 7, 9, 217, 250, 396, 412, 420 Maud, Rev. J. P.junr., M.A. 119 Maze, the 304-5 McNally, John, a notable ^egyar 449 Medical garden 253 Medway-street 39'^i 397 ' Memorial of the Church of England, a' 18 Merrie Westminster 281 JVIetropolis Local Management Act 205 Middlesex and Westminster \'olunteers 483 Midnight interments 121 Military Hospitals 524 Millbank 315,396 A capacious tree 381 Hank, the early 349, 350, 35 1 -2 Hclgrave House 354 X. Index. 36 r 356, 357 M ihljank — continued. Brevvhouses, disiilleries ... 362 Complaints of condition of highway 351-3 Dangers of 354 /^/c-/'£77j' description of ... 365 Dutch pictnresqueness of 358, 359, 361 F'ashionable quarter, a 354, 358 Mill, the Abbey 348-9 Peterborough House 355-8,' 362 Procession of Coaches, annual 361 Salisbury Estate Sunday Constable, the ... 354 Tidal inundations... 252, 349, 350 Toldcroy, Mis 365 Waterworks 346,354 Wharves, formation of 362-4 Windmill Millbank House Millljank Penitentiary .,.,„ , 315,362,364,366-377 Millbank-street ,r;, --'7,' 218, 314, 354, 379,394 Miller., Geoi'gc Taiierner., Esq J-P 5, 138 Mil/er, Rev. George, A/. A. 5, 117, 241 Miller, Ta7'ernerJo/in, M.P. 154 Mill's-buildings 417 Minor and major trouljlcs of church T.\ Mitchell, Eliza Ann Mob violence ' Mohocks,' the Monck, Henry Monck-street Monster Tea-gardens Montagu, E. Woj^tley ... Monuments in burial'ground Monuments in church ... Morris, Jo/in Mount, Patrick, R.N. M(mil?ray, Re?'. E. G. L., M.A. Ti„ Murdoch, William 215 Music in church 48 ••• 534 ... 449 ... 213 185, 423 396, 423 ... 316 • 457 • 60-3 . 61 459 N Names first placed on doors Nnpic}; Rev. G., M.A Nares, Archdeacon R National Schools, founder of. National Society, the 394 119 305 405 428 Nature of soil 12-3 Neat-houses, the 252 Negroes, baptism of New Peter-street ... New Pye-street New-street Newton, Thomas ... ' New Way,' the Nicholls, Dr. IV. ... ' Nickers,' the North-street ... 396, Nuisances iVussey, Rev. J., M.A. PAGE I 39 (et passim), 251 -87, 316, 385- 390 57 ... 406, 432 ••• 396, 433 ... 425.544 452 205, 428, 438 457 213 412,425,544 205 114 Offa, charter of 7,248 Oil lamps, introduction of ... 214 Old Pye-street 237, 238, 396, 433 Olivier, Rev. H. E., B.A. ... i 19 Ommaney, Admiral ... 145,354 Onley, Dr. Nicholas 20. 24, 30 Orchard-street 246, 251, 394, 426-30 Organ, the 48, 49, 55 Organists 4^ Origin of parishes 7 Origin of St. John's parish ... 9 Ornaments of church 31 O swell. Rev. H. L., M.A. ... 115 Overflows of the Thames 252, 349 Overseers, appointment of ... 181 duties of 179-181 list of igi O.vley, Mr. W. E. Marl a ml '" 5, 266, 268 Page-street Paintings in church Palmer's Almshouses Palmer's Village ... . Pamphlet, an obnoxious. Parish officers ' Parish parade,' the... . Parish plate Parish registers ... . Parliament and the churches Parliament-stairs Parliamentary grant after fire 35 Parochial charities 531 Past Overseers' Society 156, 184-8 Patronage of Parliamentary candidates 488-494 • 396, 430 • 56, 58 . 17, 406 • ••• 319 . ... 18 .. 132-189 . ... 141 ■ 53-5. 56 .56-8, 128 new . ... 21 398-9 Index. XI. ... 400 • 251,430 13, 38, 39 ... 1 10 35 Patriotism of Westminster 281, 284, 286, 475-487 Paul I, Rc7'. H. H. /)'., M.A.... 117 Pauper burials 121 Pavilion in St. John's-garden 128 Paving" Acts and Commissions, 201-4, 362,396. 439, 442 Paymcmts to liuilders of church 25-9 Peabody-buildings, and Gcori^c Pcabody 426,429 Pc(irCL\ Bishop Zacliary 438 Pcanc, Williain Pear-street Peaty nature of soil Pi'/rson, Satinicl Pclhaiii.Mr. ... .. Pcpys at the Neathouscs 386-7, 3 Perkins-rents 435 Pest Houses and the Plague 292-302, 438, 471 Peter-streets (Great and Little) 431 J\'icrborot/g/i, Charles., 3rd Earl of " 357 ]*cterborough House 355-8, 362, 363 P helps. Rev. F. P., M.A. ... 119 Phillips, Rev. H. E 117 Physical features 8,12-13 Picture of church after fire Pictures in church Pinfold, Dr. Charles j Pipcr's-ground 415 Plantagenets, the 252, 281 Plate of church 53-5 Playground of famous boys ... 306 Pleasures of the town arcli;c- ologist 392-3 Poet Laureate {H.J. Pye) ... 505 Police-court 505 Police of the metropolis 209 Ponsonby-place, street, i.*tc. 315, 379 J'oole, Mr. Henry K 5 Population 14 J'or/er, Henry and the ' great organ' 48 33 56, 59 I Arehdeaeon 98 4'7, 439 112 Portrait of Ven. Jen)iini^s . . . Pound House, the ro7o, Rev. W. M. rowcll, Rev. Ci Prayer books, presentation of... I'riee, Samuel Prisons (.ftv "Bridewell," "Tot- hill-fields," and "Millbank Prison"). Prize-fighting in Tothili-fields I 12 •45 35 271 Public Baths and Wash-houses 207, 45O' 510 Public-house signs 395 Puljlic Record Office, 'Declared Accounts' 24-9 Pureell, Henry 435, 445-7 Purchase of site for church ... 24 ' Puss in a parachute ' 390 /'jv, Sir Robert 435, 505 PycH.j. 505 Pye-street (Old and New) 237, 238, 396, 433 Queen Anne's bounty ... ••• 18 Queen-square Chapel 17 Queen-street police office ... 505 Queen's Royal Volunteers 481, 483 Queen's-stairs 398 Race-course at Tothili-fields ... 270 Railings and gates round church 52 Raising of burial ground 122, 251 Rampart in Tothi'll-fields 287, 288 Ranelagh sewer 388 Rates, levying and collection of 194' 3'8 Raii'linson, AV?'. G 225 Reahhlous, A. //. Esq. J /.A. P.Se 5 Recantations 56-7 Red House, the ^^y Rector's Rate 100, 194 Rectors, the 70-100 Rectors, claims by 68 Rectory House 154-5 Regattas at the Horse Ferry... 336 Regency (Regent) street 318,436 ' Regent Arms ' public-house... 318 Regent- place, engine-house in 218, 436 Registers of parish 56-8, 128 Relations between Vestries of two parishes '94-9 Ren/lie, Sir John 371, 382 Repair of highways 351-3 Report of Royal Commission as to need of new churches 1 7 Representatives in Parliament 493-4 Restoration after the fire ; the Vestry's difficulties ; Par- liamentary grant obtained; cost 34-6 Index. I'AGE 'Resurrection' outrages... 124-5 Rewards for attendance at fire 219 Reviews of Westminster Volun- teers 479-81 Ridley-place 436 Rigg. Rev. J. H.,D.D 518 Rigiits of w^ay, questions of 310 (cf passim), 389, 439-442 Road- watering 205 Robertson, Col. IV. 426 Robertson, Mrs. A7iasiasia ... 357 Rochester, Bishops of ... 437-8 Rochester-row 203, 246, 316, 397, 436-443 Rodber, Rev. IV. J. 114 Roman Catholic Church 245 Romney-street 217, 246, 396, 421 Rose, Mr. Frederick 184, 185, 543 Royal Commission (New Churches) appointment ... 22 representation by St-.Mar- garet's Vestry to 23 report 17 Roivell, Rei'. T. loi RiisJiii'orili,Jo]in 448 Sne/ieiierell, Dr. Henry Saint Andrew's Home Saint Ann's-court ... Saint Ann^-lane Saint Ann's-street ... 2 Saint Edward's Fair 19 513 232-3. 450 232, 443-50 ?>!■: 443. 450 264-5 Saint George, Hanover-square parish of 8, 387, 388 vSainl James-the-less, Upper Garden-street 15,242-5 Saint John's Burial-ground {see "Burial-ground") 543 Club 5 J 4- '5 Church {see "Church, The") Parish {sec " Parish") Public-garden 127-8 ■ Snuff-box 56, 156-177 Saint John-street 396,450 Saint Katherine's Docks 13, 385 Saint Margaret's church ... 17 parish 7, 16 \^estry, Statement of, as to need of new church ... 23 Relations between St. John's Vestry and 194-9 Saint Margaret and St. John's Armed Association, 146, 476- 484 267 404 54 527 113 471 PAGE Saint Margaret's Fair ... 265-6 Saint Martin-in-the-Fieids, parish of 8, 387, 388 Saint Mary-the- Virgin, Tothill- fields 15, 92, 224-6, 310 Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church 245 Saint Matthew, Great Peter- street 15' 93> 232-9 Saint Matthew-street 451 Saint Peter and Edric the fisherman 324 Saint Stephen, Rochester- row, Church and Schools 15, 226, 232, 311 Salisbury Estate 356, 389, 470 Sanctuary, the unhappy privi- leges of ' Salutation 'Inn Schedule of church plate, bells, furniture, ornaments, &c. Schools (See also Hospitals). Scott, Rev. C, M.A Scots Guards' Hospital Scottish prisoners in Tothill- fields 289-92 Secrcta?!, Rev. C. F. ... ^ ... 241 Self-government of the parish 190-220 Services in church \ 48 Seven houses or Five Chimneys 253, 271, 273, 276-8, 302, 314, 316, 471 SIiedlock,J. F. 436, 509 SliepJiard, C/iristop/ier 129 Shcppard, Jane 63 Skeletons discovery of 300 'Ship' The, Millbank 315 Ship-court 396, 419 Signboards, disappearance of 394 Signs, Old Westminster 394-5, 404 Sinclair, Vcn. Archdeacon, 53, . . -3' Smking of church during build- ing' 38-9 Suns, Re7'. Joseph 34, 82 "Sir Roger de Coverley" in St. Ann's-lane 445 on the need of the new Churches 15 Site of Church 23,24 ' Slender Billy ' ... 2 7 1 - 6, 3 1 6 Slums of Westminster 232-3, 237 Smallwell, Rev. E., D.D. 103, 542 Smirkc, Sir Robert 367, 371 Index. xiu. Smith, Mr. J. £"., Vestry Clerk I, 189 Smith, Henry, site of church purchased of 24, 456 Smith, Stone, monuments of family of 6o-i Smith-street {see ' Great Smith- street ') 'Smithfieldof Western London' 255 Smith-square 412, 452-6 Smith, Sir James 456 Snipe in Tothill-fields 253, 255, 275, Snuff-box, the 56, 156-177 Soil, spongy nature of 13, 39. -51, 342, 370, 377 Sounding board in church ... 48 South-west tower, destroyed by fire 36 .South-west tower, struck lay ligliting 50 Southern, Thomas 456 Special Constables ... 376, 485-7 Sprat, Bishop Thomas 437 .Stafford, Robert 66, 67, 137,, 533 Statistics of insanitary condi- tion of parish 204-5 Statistics of population, houses, &c 14 Statistics of the ecclesiastical districts ' 224 Steam-boat, first on the Thames 338 Steele, Sir Richtfrd 457 Stephctison, Mr. Simon ... 58-9, 66 Stockdalc and Hansard ... 1 47- 50 Stokes, Rev. G., LL. B. ... 114 Stone, Rev. T, M.A 115 Street lighting 212-17 Streets, condition of ... 200-5 dangers of 212-4 lighting of 394 Stretton, Rev. H., M.A 116 Strutton-ground 217, 460 Styles, Rei>. F. M.A 115 Sub-soil, nature of I--13 ' Sugar Hog'shead,' the 427 Swift's ' Description of a City Shower' 200 ' Swiss Ground,' the 205 Tachbrook-street ...396, 461, 543 Tate's, Mr. H. ' National Gal- lery of British Art ' yj"] lA<.li Tat ton, George, Esq 62 Tavern signs 395 Taylor, Rev. C. R., M.A. ... 118 Tayton, the late Mr. T.J. 5, 138 Teesdale, Col. 410 Telford, Thomas 398 Tennant, Rev. W., M.A. 115,229, 231 Terry, Mr. G. P. IV. 6 Thames, overflowing of 252, 349 -Theatre booths, Tothill-fields Fair ... 266 Thirleby, Bishop 438 Thoms, /r./. ... 311, 315, 415, 431 Thomas, Bishop John 438 Thomas, Rev. H. D., M.A. ...' 118 Thorney Island 248 Tidal inundations 349 Till, Rev. L. IV., M.A., 117 Title of the church, derivation 29 Tobacco-box, the ... 156, 184-8 Tolderoy, M?-s 365 Toll bars 319 Tombstones in burial-ground 130 Toplady, Rev. A. M., B.A. 112, 542 Torchlight funerals 121 Tothill-fields, 8, 9, 11, 13, 356, 431, 437' 43^ Tothill-fields— Albemarle, Lord, reminis- cences 271,273,313,314 Ancient appearance and to- pography ... ... ... 247-8 Archery, practice in ... 281-5 Artillery ground ... 284, 286, 299 Bahkuin, Caleb ... ''...271, 273 Battery, the 287,288 Bear and bull baiting, cock- fighting, dog-fighting, iScc. 268-270, 273, 275 i)V////ww'.s- description of ... 369 ' Bi/!>;ha//is\c^p' 271 Bridewell 319 Bulinga Fen 8,248,250 Butts and Shooting-house 281, 284, 285, 286, 479 Campus Martius of West- minster 280 Collins,'"]V., the artist ... 278 Complaints of removal of gravel, &c., from ... 251, 303 Council I or Bicker ton, Esq. 276-8 Cow distemper of 1750 ... 253 Cra-i'cn, Earl of, account concerning the pestilence 301 XIV. Index. Totbill-fields — coutimted. Discovery of skeletons ... 300 Disputed claims with Dean and Chapter to ... 308-10 ' Duck,' the 255, 271, 313 Duelling in 305 Etymology of name ... 249, 250 Festivities in 256-8 ' Five Chimneys' or ' Seven Houses' 253, 271, 273, 276-8 297, 302, 314, 316 Geology i3' 248 George IV.\x\ 31 4-6 Halfpenny Hatch, the ... 314 Hebberfield, IV;/l, or ' Slender Billy' ... ... 271-6 Highwaymen in 306 ' Hill,' the 249, 251, 490 Horse baited to death ... 269 Hubbcrt, R. ; and Mother Hubbert ... 275, 313 King's Scholars' Pond and sewer 256, 271 Legendary history 250 Lennox, Z.(?;7/, reminiscences 275 Mansell,JoJin, Henry Ill's Councillor ... 258 Maze, the 304-5 Offa, charter of 7,248 Overflowed by the Thames... 252 Pest Houses and the Plague 292- 302 Playground for Westminster School 306-311 Produce 251, 252, 253 Race-course at, supposed ... 270 Rampart and battery in 287, 288 Sanctuary rights 267 Scottish prisoners in ... 289-92 ' Smithfield of Western Lon- don' 255 vSeven Houses or Five Chim- neys, 253, 271, 273, 276-8, 297, 302, 314, 316 Snipe, in ...253,255,275,313 Soil, nature of 1 3, 39, 25 1 , 370, 377 Sports and pastimes, in 281 {ct passim) Strange adventure, a ... 307-8 Taking of gravel from 251, 305 T/iorn Ey 248 Tothill-fields prison 322 Tothill-fields Trust 202, 220, 318 Tournaments held in 251,256, 257 Trained bands, the 286-9 Trials by battle, &c., in 259, 260, 261-3, 543 Tothill-fields — continued. ' Up Fields ' 271,306 ' View' by High Bailiff of electors in 489-92 Vincent-square, enclosure of 309-12 Well's Bear-garden 269 Wyatt's Insurrection 263 Tothill-fields Bridewell ... 319-21 Tothill-fields Prison 322 Tothill-fields Trust 202, 220, 318, 443 Tower at south-west corner of Church 36, 50 Towers, supposed reason of erection 39, 40 Townshend Schools 230, 231, 443 Trafalgar-square riots 487 Trained bands, the 286-7, 288, 289 Tramwa)' in Vauxhall-bridge- road 470 Treasurers of parish 179 Trevelyan, Rev. \V. B., M.A. 5, 236 Trial of the fire-engine 141 Trials by battle and ordeal 259-263 543 Tucker, Mr. T.J. 244 Tufton-street 217, 270, 412, 461-9, 527 Turle, RcT. IV. H., M.A. 5, 1 17, 235. 236 Tiirtoft, Dean TJios 249 Tuttle-in-the-Maze 304 Twining, Rev. \V. H. G. ... 231 Tyburn tickets 145 Tyrconnell, Lord, on state of Westminster streets ... 201 U United Vestry, reconstitution 206 United Westminster almshouses 407, 496-500, 540 United Westminster schools 540 Unlucky pinnacle, an ... 36, 50 ' Up Fields' 271, 306 V Vandon, Cornelius 536-8 Vanbrug/i, Sir Jolin 36, 37-8, 42 Vaults ' 67 Vauxhall-bridge 203, 344-6, 381-4 Vauxhall-bridge-road 255, 316,319, 370, 396, 469-71, 526 Vauxhall-gardens 379-80, 387, 390 Vestry, The — Instrument appointing ... 191-3 Index. Vestr)', The — coiUinucd. Relations with St. Margaret's Vestry 194 Powers and duties ... 194, 200 Amendment Act of 1887 ... Vestry Clerks, list of 189 Vidlcr, Mr. John 36 1 , 482 'View' by High IJailiff in Tot- hill-fields" 489-92 Villa, Rev. J., M. A 81 Vincent, G. G 309, 313 Vincent, Dr. IVilliain 86-7, 409, Vincent-square 309-12, 318, 397, 471, 506 Vincent-street, place, X'c. 311,318, 397. 472 \'ine cultivation in Westmin- ster 252, 422 Vine-street 251,396,422 Volunteer movement 146, 475-84 W Wagers of battle 256, 259 Wake, A7-chhisIiop 399 Wake. Mr. Hall 62 Walcfltt, Rc7'. Mackenzie E. C. 412 Walcott-street 396,472 I Wapshott, Thomas 462 Wards, area of original five wards present three wards Warner, Rev. A. G., M.A. 5, 92, 1 17, 225, 226 Warwick-street 255, 313, 316, 396 47 543 ••• 337 208-1 1 48-9 Water Ledger, the ... Watch, The' Water Mill, the Abbey Water supph' of parish 205, 346-7 Watering of roads 205 Well's Bear-garden 269 Wesleyan Chapel, Horseferry- road 246 Wesleyan Training College... 516 Wesleys, the, in Westminster 415, 428 iWestern Dispensary 503 S'estininster, Diikeof,K.G. 128,543 estminster and Eton boat- races lyj Westminster and Lambeth Re- gatta 336 Westminster r.ridgc ly:), 338, 343, 50' Westminster District Ijoard of Works 206 Westminster elections ... 488-94 Westniinster Mechanics In- stitution 506, 509 Westminster Nursing Com- mittee 504, 536 Westminster Petty Sessions... 215 Westminster Police Court 311, 505 Westminster Technical P\ind 540 Westminster Tobacco box 1 56, 184-8 Westminster \'olunteers 475-84 Wheeler-street 473 'White Horse and Bower,' the 418 Whicher's Almshouses ... 17,540 Whister's (Whitster's or Whist- ler's) ground 423 IVigles'iuorth, Rev. J. L., M.A. 116 Wilberforce, William ... 476, 481 Wil cocks, Hi shop J. ... 120, 438 Wild flowers in Tothill-fields 252 Willes, Dr, Edward 34, 81-2, 542 Wilkinson, Rev. B., M.A. ... 119 Williams, William 370 W-illow Walk, the 255, 271, 313, 314,315, 316, 472 Windmill in Tothill-fields ... 361 Windows of Church 56, 58, 59, 66, 147 broken Ijy boys of West- minster School 32 Wilton, Earl of 357,472 Wilton-street 396, 472 Wodsiuorth, Rev. C, M.A. ... 113 Wood, Mr. J. 62 Wood, Mr. J. Carter ... 509,528 Wood-paving first laid in West- minster 217 Wood-street 473 Woollen, burial in 126 Workhouse 459, 542 Wright, Mr. Charles 543 Wyatfs insurrection 263 Zinzan, Mr 49 ( Acknoivlcdirments. LIST OF AUTHORS AND WORKS CONSULTED. " 'Tis all mine, and none mine. As a good housewife out of divers fleeces weaves one piece of cloth. ... I have collected this cento out of divers writers, and that sine injuria : I have wronged no authors, but given every man his own." — )!ukton. Ackerniann, R. — History of Wcstiiiinstcr Abbey, 1812. Albemarle, Earl of, George T. Keppell. — Fifty Years of My Life, 1876. Allen, T. — Antiquities of London, 1828. Archer, J. Wykeham. — l^cstiges of Old L.ondon, iS^i. Atheniv Cantabrigienscs. Athenicum, The. Aubrey, John. — Jllisecllanies, 1696. Bailev, N. — Antiquities of London and Westminster, 1722. Baker, W. E. — Biographia Drainatica, 1782. Bardwell, \W-- JVest minster Lniprovcmcnts, 1839. Eeaconsfiekl, Lord. — Sybil ; or the Tzvo Nations. Bechmann, J. — LLislory of Inventions, 1S46. Biographia Britanniea. Bohn, H. CI. — Pietorial Handbook of London, 1854. Bosweir.s LJfe of Samuel Johnson. Boyer, A. — Reign of Queen Anne, 1722. Builder, The. Burnet, Bishop Gilbert. — History of his own LJfe and Times, 1723. Charity Commissioners' Reports. Census Commissioners' Reports. Chalmers, A. — Biographieal Dictionary, 1S12. Chamberlain's Co/npleat History and Snrvey of L.ondon and Westminster, 1769. Chetham and Camden Societies Publications. Chester, J. L. — Westminster Abbey Registers, 1876. Church Building Commission. — Parliamentary L\y.pers, 1S61. Civil War Tracts of Lancashire. Clarendon's History of England to 1767. Cobbett's Parliamentary History. Colburn's Calendar of Amusements. Colquhoun, Patrick, 'LL.'D. — lreatise on the Police of the Metropolis, 1796. Cooke, T. — Westminster L^ocal Directory, 1847. Culpeper, Nicholas. — Coinplete Herbal 1805 and 18 19. Cumberland, R. — Memorials of Himself Cunningham, V&\&x.— Modern London, 1851 ; Handbook for London, 1^0,9. Cushing's Dictionary of Lnitials and Pseudonyms, 1886-8. Debary, T.—LListory of the Church of England, i860. ' Declared Accounts,' Public Record Office. Defoe, Daniel.— Journal of the Plague Year, ed : 1872. Dickens, C.—Our Mutual Friend, David Copperficld, and Sketches by Boz. List of AutJiors &c. consulted. xvii. Dicliouary of National Biography, 1885 to date. Dilke, Sir C. V^.—.lft'ii/oir of Mr. C. IF. Dilke, prefaced to Papers Critic, 1875. Dod's feerage. Evelyn, ].— Diary and Correspoudciicc. Fitzgerald, Percy. — Picturesque Loiidou, 1890. Forshall, F. H. — IVestiiiiitster .School, Past and Present, 1884. Forster, J. — Life of C. Churchill, 1855. Frost, T. — Old Shoivnien and London Fairs, 1881. General Advertiser, The. Gentleman^ s Magazine, 1732 to 1840. (j'^^hciViS Memoirs of My Life and Writings. Gilfillan, Vt.— Life of Churchill, 1880. Griffiths, Major.— iJ/t'wor/aA of Millbanh, 1884. Gwynn, J. — London and JVcst/ninster Improved, 1766. Hallam, H. — Constitutional History of England, 1857. Hare, A.J. C. — Walks in London, 1878. Hartridge Collection of Newspaper Cuttings (Guildhall Library). Hatton's A^fTc View of London, 1708. Heath, James. — A Brief Chronicle of the I^te Intestine Wars. . . . 1661. ,, ,, England's Chronicle, 1689. Hodgson, C. — An Account of Queen Anne's Bounty, 1845. Holinshed, Raphael. — Chronicles of England, .Scotland, and Ireland, 1807-8. Holmes, T. — Vie^vs in London, Westminster, and their Vicinities. Hone, W. — Every Day Book, 1831 ; I'ahlc Book, 1864; Year Book, 1864. House of Commonsyi?//;7MA- 1709 to 1726. Howell, Jas. — Londinopolis, 1657 ; Epistolae Ho-Elianae, 1645-55. Hughes, S.-^I'reatise on Gas Works, 1853. Hughson, D. — Walks through London, ^c, 1817. Hunt, Leigh. — The Imvn. Hume, Smollett, and Hughes. — History of England. Hutton, L. — Literary Landmarks of London, 1885. Illustrated London Neii.ey, &^r., 1856. Nares, Archdeacon R. — Glossary illustrating English Authors, 1822. News, The, 1809-16. Nicholas, Sir N. H. — A Chronicle of London, from loSg to 14SJ. Nightingale, Rev. J. — Bcanties of England and Wales, Vol. 10, Continuation of Part 3 — City and LJberty of JVestn/inster. Northouck, John. — A A^e^v History of L.ondon, inelnding ]Vestminster and Southwark, 1773. Notes and Queries. Novello, Vincent. — LJfe of Pnreell. Old British Spy. Orders in Council (Ecclesiastical Commission), Vols. I.' V. IX. XV. Orridge, B. 'Q.— Citizens of London and their Kulers, 1867. Oxford and Cambridge Monthly Miseellany, 1750. Oxford Herald and Oxford Spy. Parochial Charities of Westminster, puljlished hy the ^^estry, 1890. Parish Magazines, various. Pearce, \N.— Ecclesiastical Principles and I\dity of Wesleyan Methodists, 1868. Pennant, T. — Some Account of London, 1791. Pepys, Samuel. — Diary and Correspondence. Phillimore, Charles Bagot.— .-^///w;// Wcstmonasterienses, 1852. L^ietas Londinensis, 17 14. Proceedings of the Upper and Lower Houses of Convocation, 1708-1728 (Lambeth Library). Public General Statutes. Rayners London Adivning Advertiser, l^i^i. I\eliquia- Hearniana-, 1856. Ridgway, J. — (7(W (9/ I'homey Island, i860. Rimmer, Alfred.— .J/w/// England -adth I^iekens, 1883. Rose's Biographical Dictionary. Sayer, Edward.— CMcvr'TZ/Vv/.f .-;/ the ]\dice and Civil Government of West- minster, 1784. Select Viezus of London and its Environs, 1805. Seymour's 5w-zvy/ of London, 1735. Smith, J. T.— .^ Book for a Rainy I\iy, or Recollections, 1766—1833; Antiquities of Westminster, 1807; Vagahondiana, \%\-] ; Antiquarian Ramlde in the Streets of London, 1861 ; Nollekens and his Times, 1828 Stanley, Arthur Penrhyn (Dean of Westminster), Historical Memorials of ll'estminster Abbey, 1876. spectator, The, and The Patler. List of Authors &c. consulted. xix. Stow, John. — Sun>ey of London, 1598. Sirun's S/>orL<: and /'asri/zu's. Ed. l)y W. Hone, 1845. Strype's S/oii', ed. 1720. Thorns, W. J. — Show's Survey, ed. 1842. Thornton, W. — London and Wcstniinstcr. . . . History, Description, and Survey, 1 784. Thornhury, W. — Haunted London, ed. 18S0. Timbs, John. — Romance of London, 1865 ; Curiosities of London and ll'est- miiisfer, 1867 ; London and Westminster .• strange events . . . of Metropolitan Life, 1868; No,>hs and Corners of Engiiih Life, 1867; Clubs and Club Life in London, with anecdotes of . . . Taverns, i^j2. Times, The, and the files of other London daily papers. Town Spy, The, 1725. Walcott, J. M. — Memorials of Westminster, 1849 and 1851. Walford, E — Old ani New London ; Londiniana, 1879. Weekly Journal, The, 1735. West London Press and other local newspapers. Westminster Poll-Book, 1818. Whitelocke, Sir Bulstrode. — Memorials of the English Affairs, 1862. VVidmore, R. — Inquiry into hirst J-'oundation of Westminster Abbey, 1751 ; History of the Church of St. Peter, 1751. Williams, F. — Memoirs and Correspondence of Disliop /-'.ancii Atterbury, 1S69. Wilmot's Queens of England. Wriothesley's Chronicle, 1485 — 1559. (The above List is by no means complete.) TO THE PARISHIONERS OF ST. MARGARET AND ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST WESTMINSTER AS REPRESENTED BY A HUNDRED GOOD MEN AND TRUE ELECTED AND UNITED AS A CORPORATE BODY FOR THE PURPOSES OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT- CUSTODIANS OF A PRICELESS HERITAGE — THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE HUMBLY DEDICATED BY ONE WHO (while WISHING THAT THE OFFERING WERE MORE WORTHY OF THEIR ACCEPTANCE) GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE UNWEARYING FORBEARANCE AND UNCHANGING KINDNESS WITH WHICH HIS OFFICIAL AND VOLUNTARY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INVARIABLY RECEIVED DURING THE EIGHT YEARS HE HAS HAD THE HONOUR OF HOLDING THE RESPONSIBLE POSITION OF VESTRY CLERK. December, i8g2. Like April morning clouds, that pass, With varying shadow o'er the grass. And imitate on field and furrow. Life's chequered scene of joy and sorrow ; Like streamlet of the mountain north, Now in a torrent racing forth. Now winding slow its silver train, And almost slumbering on the plain ; Like breezes of the Autumn day. Whose voice inconstant, dies away, And ever swells again as fast. When the ear deems its murmur past ; Thus various my [historic] theme Flits, winds, or sinks, a morning dream. Yet pleased, our eye pursues the trace Of Light and Shade's inconstant race ; Pleased, views the rivulet afar. Weaving its maze irregular ; And pleased, we listen as the breeze Heaves its wild sigh through Autumn trees ; Then wild as cloud, or stream, or gale. Flow on, flow unconfined, my Tale ! SCOTJ'. PREFACE. Finding the pen, the paper, and the wax, These at command, and now invention lacks : This sentence serves, and that my hand outslrikes That pleaseth well, and this as much mislikes, I writBj indite, I point, erase, I quote, I interline, I blot, correct, I note." Dkayton. " Whoever thinks a faultless ' />ooi-' to see. Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be." Poi'E. Inimitable literary ability — " choice word and measured phrase above the reach of ordinary men " — have so freely been bestowed upon the chronicles of Westminster, that the critic's eye may be expected to turn eagerly to a simple effort to add a few further pages to its history. To allay any such avidity, let it be said at once that no pretence is here made to compete with the literary merit, the area surveyed, or the research accomplished, from which Smith's Antiquities (1807) or Walcott's Memorials (1849) may be said to have derived their value as standard works on Westminster. Nor is any attempt made to tell tales of distress and misery, of broken fortune and ruined hopes, of unrelieved wretchedness and successful knavery which the jiuthor of Sketches by Bo.-: associated with the two .words ' the pari.sh.' No highly coloured romance, no extraordinary adventure, no sanguinary battle, no brilliant ^jiography will here be found. All that is attempted is a ■;,are analectic and fragmentary epitome, gleaned for the jcvst part from the official records and other manuscrijits the small and comparatively unnoticed parish of St. !jin the Evangelist. But as we turn to these records and / 4 Preface. manuscripts, and supplement the extracts therefrom with a few items from publications now becoming rare — " A thousand fantasies Begin to throng into the memory, Of calHng shapes, and beckoning shadows dire, Of airy tongues that syllable men's names On sands and shores and desert wildernesses." Milton. Some of the facts here presented will probably be within the recollection of many an aged inhabitant, who happily survives in the enjoyment of a well-earned but modest retirement from commercial and administrative business. And if, as — To the sessions of sweet silent thought He summon up the remembrance of the past — Shaksi'Eare. he, and those who follow worthily in his footprints, find sufficient variety to impart interest or to excite an indul- gent excusal of many shortcomings and other imperfections, the author will have satisfaction in the thought that his pleasant relaxations by the light of the midnight oil have not been in vain. The numerous sources of information to which reference has been made being separately scheduled, there only remains the agreeable but bounden duty of acknowledging with sincere gratitude the courteous and valuable assistance cheerfully given by the undermentioned gentlemen : — Bishop, Michael Holman, Esq., Churchwarden, for access to the Registers, to the Church plate,. to the " Snuff Box," and to the records of the Infant School. Blackley, Rev. Canon, M.A., for information relating! to the Church and parish of St. James-the-Less. Cook, James, Esq., for statistics of the schools it parish. Cozens, Rev. W. R., D.D., for particulars concer Holy Trinity Church, Bessborough-gardens. fi Preface. 5 Dickson, Rev. G. D. W., M.A., for memoranda relating to the Church and parish of St. James-the-Less. Elh'ot, John Lettsom, Esq., for personal reminiscences extending over more than eighty years. Ford, Francis, Esq., for access to printed records of the Architectural Museum. Hipwell, Daniel, Esq., for notes made at much personal labour from his valuable collection, upon the Rectors, the Curates, and the Lecturers from 1728 to the present time. Hutchins, John P., Esq., for interesting items on the . parochial patriotism. Jones, Rev. Gustavus, M.A., for personal recollections of Archdeacon Jennings. Malone, Rev. Richard, M.A., for particulars relating to the Church and parish of St. Matthew. Margrie, Mr. James, for the loan of papers referring to St. John's Club. Miller, Rev. George, M.A., for information with respect to the Church and parish of Holy Trinity, Bess- borough-gardens. Miller, George Taverner, Esq., J. P., for personal recollections of his and his late father's church- wardenship of the parish. Oxley, Mr. W. E. Harland, for access to his valuable collection of newspaper cuttings. Poole, Mr. Henry E., for special facilities of reference to the contents of the Public Library. Reatchlous, H. A., Esq., M.A., B.Sc, for the loan of books and papers relating to the Wesleyan Training Institution. Safiford, A. H., Esq., for opportunities of perusing some of the early records of the Westminster Police Court. Tayton, Mr. Thomas Joseph, for personal remini- scences of the parish eighty years ago. 6 Preface. Trevelyan, Rev. W; B., M.A., and Turle, Rev. W. H., M.A., for information with reference to the Church and parish of St. Matthew. Warner, Rev. A. G., M.A., for notes on the Church and parish of St. Mary-the- Virgin. The author also takes the opportunity of expressing his indebtedness to one of his official colleagues, Mr. G. P. W. Terry, for able assistance ungrudgingly given, at the sacrifice of much personal leisure, in the collection of materials, and generally in the production of the essay. Should the perusal of its pages present pleasure, or even information to the reader's view, he may perhaps call to mind Byron's conciliatory lines: — " We must not quarrel for a blot or two ; But pardon equally to books or men. The slips of human nature and the pen." i TJie ParisJi. Chapter I. THE PARISH. This is the place, .... Let me review the scene, And summon from the shadowy Past, The forms that once have been. Longfellow. Origin. — Instrument setting out boundaries. — Wards. — Plans. — Phy- sical and Geological Features. — Area. — Population. — Ecclesiastical Divisions. A UTHORITIES are divided as to the origin of the division of England into parishes. Some declare the institution to have had an ecclesiastical derivation, others that civil parishes existed long anterior to ecclesiastical distinctions, and were merely sub-divisions of the ancient hundred. By some the date of the institution of civil parishes is fixed at 1179, while others assert that it became general in the 9th and loth centuries, that legislation on the subject is to bi found in the laws of Edgar about 970, and that the parochial division followed, in a great measure, the civil distribution into manors. Apparently adopting this view, Walcott states that " Westminster was nothing more than a rural manor belonging to the Abbey, until its ecclesiastical lords constituted the whole to be one parish, that of St. Margaret ; of the boundaries of which the earliest notice we possess is in a charter of King Offa, A.D. 7S5-" Onwards from this early period for nearly a thousand years (until 1724) the ' terra incognita' we are about to perambu- late was comprised within the parish of the Virgin Martyr sii ,.(.J Antioch. As we saunter fitfully within its limits, we rc^i/iall not be tempted to turn aside to explore any Roman .uviuli — nothing but a small coin, brought to light in the Jourse of some excavations in Marsham-strect, has been 8 Rural Character. transmitted to us from that remote era — nor shall we be able to connect ' the parish ' with the Saxon day otherwise than by an incidental allusion to the ancient marsh of Tothill Fields as " Bulinga Fen " in the charter of King Edgar ; no Norman architecture will meet the eye, nor are there any Plantagenet traditions to interest us ; and there is but little to associate the locality with the Tudor period. The Stuart dynasty, before and after the Commonwealth, however, saw the gradual settlement of inhabitants along the river side, " the banck leading to the myll and the horse ferrie " southwards, and in Orchard-street as it stretched itself westward. The history of the parish is rather that of original development than of decay and restoration, for until the middle of the seventeenth century a few houses, two or three small farms where — " Deep fields of grain the reaper mowed, In meadows rich the heifers lowed ;" Scott. and a considerable area of low-lying, marshy land extended to that part of the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields which (since absorbed in St. George, Hanover Square) lay between Westminster and Chelsea. Swampy ground, hidden here and there by " the green mantle of the stagnant pool," existed in the part now known as Warwick-street, Churton- street, Charlwood-street, and the western end of Rochester- row, and patches of garden ground distinguished the cul- tivated from the generally waste character of the soil. On ' the site of the Gas Company's premises was Eldrick's nursery, which supplied the surrounding district with fruit and flowering shrubs, as the Abbey vineyard had supplied the monks in the olden time with many a vintage. One of the original vestrymen, appointed by the Com- \ missioners, was described as a * farmer '; Richard Ferrym? a farmer, of Horseferry Road, was elected 29th Decembl( ^ 1736, and several persons were assessed for 'farms' ai^ '? " ' fields ' in their occupation down to the first quarter of i\t f present century. Commissioners' Instrument. g Tothill Fields had but a few lonely cottages in their midst until 1810, when the commencement of the new bridge at Vauxhall cast the shadow of impending change. So partially disturbed, however, was this locality in 1820, that the tower of St. Luke's Church, Chelsea, then in course of erection, was clearly distinguishable from the back win- dows of the houses in Marsham-street. By an instrument enrolled in the High Court of Chancery on 8th January, 1724, " to describe and ascertain the bounds and limits of a new parish in the parish of St. Margaret, Westminster," the Commissioners appointed by King George I. to give effect to the Act of Queen Anne for the building of fifty new churches, directed that there should be a parish for the new church then about to be erected. They also "set out, ascertained and appointed the limits and bounds, district and division of the said new parish," which are thus described : — " The limits and bounds shall be and begin at and from the Parlia- ment Stairs at low water mark sixteen feet and a half to the North of the angle of Captain Tufnell's Wharf, and from thence running up to the middle of the gateway at the East end of the paved passage on the south of the Prince's Chamber, being the passage leading from the said Parliament Stairs into the Old Palace Yard, keeping the middle of the said passage all along into Old Palace Yard, about eight feet and a half past the corner of a house called the Old Star and Garter, fronting towards Old Palace Yard ; from thence turning square towards the South, and proceeding directly to the middle of the entrance into Dirty Lane, and from thence still keeping South all along the middle of Dirty Lane to a point in the middle of the entrance into College Street, then proceeding down the very middle of College Street Westward home to a street called the Bowling Alley, then crossing the said street about fifteen feet to the South of the Old Stone Gateway and turning square to the South for about twenty feet, and then square to the West into a passage on the South on the Rainbow Alehouse, in the possession of Mr. Figg, and from thence jkeeping the middle of the said passage to the West, home to the East side of Smith Street, then crossing the said street in a direct line towards the North end into Stable Yard, keeping the middle of the Sjaid yard going Westward to the East end of Orchard Street, between file house of Mr. Wisdom and the house of Mr. Gooden, then adjoin- ing into the Channel or Denter Stone in the middle of Orchard Street, Keeping the middle of the said street Westward home to the middle of 7 lo ComJiiissioners Instrmiient. the entrance turning into New Pye Street, leading into Old Pye Street, unto the middle of the channel of Old Pye Street opposite to a street called Perkin's Rents, thence going up the middle of the said street towards the West, home to the East side of Duck Lane, then crossing the said lane into the middle of Pear Street and keeping Westward directly across Straton Ground, between the house on the North in possession of Mr. Bill, and the house on the South in posses- sion of Mr. Lloyd straight to the East door of the Military Ground, then crossing the Military Ground to the West door of the said Ground into the common highway about three feet from thence, turning to the South, keeping all along by the wall of the Military Ground up to the South-west angle of the said ground, thence crossing oblicjuely to the angle of the rails of the Green Coat Hospital, keeping by the East side of the said rails, thence crossing by the West end of the gardens of Hill's Almshouses directly to a footway commonly called the Willow Walk, near the Feathers Alehouse, in the possession of Mr. Keys, excluding the said house ; and from thence along the footway West- ward to the Willow Walk Bridge, which is accounted the old boundary of St. Margaret's parish, and so Southward along the common sewer and King's Scholars' Pond, which as is supposed doth or did divide the two parishes of St. Margaret and St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Middlesex, down to the North side of the river of Thames to the low water mark, and thence along to the said shore or beach to the angde or point near Captain Tufnell's Wharf before mentioned, and there ending where this description first began ; and the limits and bounds so described shall be the limits and bounds of the said new parish, on the respective * thereof abutting as aforesaid ; and that all the houses being in number eight hundred and fifty or thereabouts, and all the buildings, grounds, and hereditaments, situate, lying, and being within the limits and bounds aforesaid (which are more plainly described by the several red lines in the scheme or ground plot hereto annexed) shall be the district and division of and for the said new church." Adopting modern nomenclature, the boundaries may more briefly be described as commencing at Parliament-stairs, crossing Abingdon-street, passing along the centre of Great College-street and the south side of Dean's-yard, crossing Great Smith-street into Orchard-street, thence through Pear-street, thence crossing Strutton-ground, fol- lowing an oblique north-westerly line and crossing Victoria- street to a point marked in the footway fronting Palmer' passage. Hence the line re-crosses the street and pursu^ ' its course along Artillery-row, Cobourg-row, Buckinghari «-' cottages, crossing Vauxhall Bridge-road at the intersectioj of Rochester-row and Warwick-street, to the crown of th * Blank in original copy. Original Wards. i .i King's Scholars' Pond sewer beneath the centre of Tach- brook-street, along which it is drawn through the Gas Light and Coke Company's Works in Bessborough-street to the foreshore of the river opposite Nine Elms, there turning in a north-easterly direction and proceeding beneath the cen- tre arches of Vauxhall and Lambeth Bridges to a point opposite Parliament-stairs. At the constitution of the parish there were five wards or divisions wholly or partly within its bounds,* viz.: — Part of Palace Yard Ward, including Parliament Stairs, Lindsey's Lane or Dirty Lane, Abingdon Buildnigs, and part of College Street. Part of Deanery Ward, including Smith Street and part of Stable Yard. Part of Sanctuary W^ard, including Bowling Alley, Oliver's Court, and part of College Street. Millbank Ward, including Piper's Ground, Black Dog Alley, Horse- ferry Bank, Garden Grounds, Grosvenor Street, and therein Wisdom Alley, Market Street, and therein Goodchild Alley, Horseferry Road, and therein Garden Ground, Marsham's Street, and therein Blood (^rounds, Hearn Court, and therein Lumley Street, Tufton Street, Vine Street, Campion Alley, Millbank, Church Street, Smith's Square, North Street, Wood Street, Cowley Street, Barton Street, Inglish's Wharf, French's Wharf, Killham's Wharf, Mackrifif's Wharf, Prat's Wharf, Bell Wharf, Crooked Billet Wliarf, Tapping's Wharf, Gray's Wharf, Catchcart's W^harf, Norris's Wharf, and Meal Wharf Peter Street Division, including Great St. Ann's Lane, Jones's Court, and Pipe-makers' Alley ; part of Orchard Street ; part of New Pyc Street ; part of Old Pye Street, Little St. Ann's Lane, and Parker's Rents, part of Duck Lane, part of Pear Street, part of Artillery Ground and Artillery Wall, part of Strutton Ground, Peter Street, Leg Court, Laundry Yard, Providence Court, Whister's Ground, part of Adam-a- digging Yard, Tothill Fields, and, Rochester Row. For purposes of civil administration the parish was divided, under the provisions of the Metropolis Local Management Act of 1855, into three Wards, which are thus described by Mr. George Baugh Allen, Barrister-at- Law, the Commissioner appointed by Sir George Grey, let ' j^e Home Secretary, to set them out : — ^toWard No. i. — All such parts of * the Parish of St. John the Ssrvangelist, Westminster, as lie west of a line commencing at the point f^i the south-western boundary of the said Parish opposite the middle j * Seymour's Survey, Vol. IL , 1735. 12 Present Wards. of Moreton Street, and drawn thence in a north-easterly direction along the middle of Moreton Street, to and along the middle of Chapter Street to the middle of Regency Street, and northwards along the middle of Regency Street to the middle of the Horseferry Road, and northward along the middle of such road and along the middle of Strutton Ground to the north boundary of the said Parish at the point at which the same crosses the middle of Strutton Ground. Ward No. 2.— All such parts of the said Parish as are bounded as follows (that is to say) : — Bounded towards the north by the boundary line dividing the said Parish of St. John the Evangelist from the Parish of St. Margaret, Westminster, from the point at which the same crosses the middle of Strutton Ground to the eastern extremity of the said boundary line in he River Thames. Bounded towards the west by the boundary line of Ward No. i, hereinbefore described, from the point at which the parish boundary crosses the middle of Strutton Ground to the point in the middle of Regency Street opposite the middle of Page Street. Bounded towards the south by a line drawn from the last-mentioned point to and along the middle of Page Street to its eastern end, from thence east to the eastern boundary of the said parish in the River Thames. Bounded towards the east by that part of the parish boundary in the River Thames lying between the eastern extremities of the southern and northern boundaries of the said Ward No. 2, hereinbefore described. Ward No. 3. — All parts of the said Parish of St. John the Evangelist which are not included and described in the Wards Nos. i and 2. A reduced facsimile of the plan to which reference i.s made in the Instrument of the Commissioners of 1724 has been made expressly for incorporation herein, and is placed opposite a modern map of the parish, corrected as nearly as possible to date, and showing the sub-division into Wards. In the excavations for the foundations of the Victoria Tower, at the south end of the Houses of Parliament, the workmen came upon thick layers of peaty soil. A similar dis- covery was made during the preparations for the constructio of Millbank Prison, which was erected on such "shiftini l^i sand " as to necessitate an exceptionally costly foundatic( of piles and concrete. These experiences confirm th| assertion of an engineer who was extensively engaged ii' \ji .w to Reduced copy of the plan of the Parish referred to i?i the Instrument of ly^. ^ (See page lo.) H Plan of the Parish in i8g2, sho7ving the Wards as set out in iSf.^^. Subsoil and level. 1 3 connection with excavations for the sewerage system of Westminster, nearly half a century ago, that beneath the surface soil in many parts of the parish was to be found evidence that before any artificial obstructions or drainage existed the storm waters carried with them towards the river enormous quantities of sand, which now forms a thick stratum underlying a great part, if not the whole of the parish. Mr. Ridgway, in his Gem of TJiorney Island^ (i860), says that from the hills of Highgate and Hampstead " the ground declined more gently until it subsided into a deep morass, extending over the whole of that fashionable locality known to us as the aristocratic Belgravia. Between this barren waste and the river lay a still more hopeless marsh." These views are borne out by a report presented to the Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers in 1848. From this it appears that " the ground forming the present surface is artificial to a depth of from four to eight feet, partly the accumulation of ages," and partly, it may be added, by the deposit of a portion of the soil excavated in the formation of St. Katharine's Docks, whence it was conveyed in enormous quantities by water to Millbank. "The subsoil is composed of a layer of vegetable earth of a peaty nature, beneath which, to a depth of about 40 feet, to the blue clay forma- tion, it is sand intermixed with gravel. This thick bed of sand," continues the Commissioners' Report, "from its permeability, is constantly charged with a large quantity of water which, being acted upon by the pressure of the tide, rises and falls somewhat with it." A large portion of the parish is only slightly above the level of high tide; much lies below it. Millbank street is said to be four feet four inches above high water mark, Old Pye street five-and- a-half inches above, and the vicinity of Cobourg row just twelve inches below that standard. In superficial area Ward No. i is .58 acres; Ward No. 2, d'j acres; and Ward No. 3, 86 acres; the whole area being rather less than a third of a mile. The exact measurement, 1 4 Population. 211 acres, corresponds with that of St. Margaret's parish and the Close of St. Peter, exckisive of Knightsbridge. At the constitution of the parish in 1724 the number of houses was computed to be 850, the estimated population \ at the time being 4,2 50; the Census Commissioners' Reports furnish the followine fieures: — I Census. Inhabited Population — Houses. — I8OI 1,261 8,375 I8II * 1,407 10,615 I82I 2,089 16,835 I 83 I 2,807 22,648 I 841 3,073 26,223 I85I 3,503 34,295 I86I 3,723 37,483 I87I 3,715 38,478 I88I 3,610 35,496 I89I 3,867 34,092 In 1724 the number of houses and persons to each acre was slightly over 4 and 20 respectively; in 1891 it was 18 and 162. The decrease which took place between 1871 and 1 88 1 was caused by the demolition of many small houses in the overcrowded neighbourhood of Orchard-street and Old Pye-street, under an Order of the Home Secretary, and the erection, on the site, of a tnuch larger number of so-called "model dwellings." A reliable calculation of the average number of persons resident in each house cannot be made, inasmuch as the Census Returns for 1891, by way of example, put the number of inhabited houses at 3,867, while the parish rate books give the number of assessments at 4,717. It will be observed, however, that during the last ten years the houses increased by 257, while the population decreased by 1,404. In addition to the sub-division into Wards for civil pur- * Mr. Walcott's statement that the parish contained i,6oo houses in 1735 appears to have been made on the authority of Seymour's survey. Ecclesiastical Siib-divisioiis. i 5 poses, there are five ecclesiastical districts, not includini^ that reserved to the parish church, viz. : — St. Mary the Virgin, Tothill-ficlds, Holy Trinity, Bessborough-gardens, ' St. Matthew, Great Peter-street, St. Stephen, Rochester- ^ row, and St. James-the-Less, Upper Garden-street. The reader will be asked to take a passing glance at each of these districts and churches in the course of his ramble round the parish. On the way to our starting point, which will be at the parish church, we may recall Sir Roger de 1 Coverley's observation in one of his water journeys from the Temple Stairs to the Spring Gardens, Vauxhall, he having, as usual, engaged a waterman with a wooden leg.* After a short pause the old knight turned his head I to take a survey of the great Metropolis and bade his com- panion observe how thickly the City was set with churches, while there was scarcely a single steeple on this ^ side of Temple Bar. "A most heartrending sight," said Sir I Roger, " there is no religion at this end of the town. The fifty new churches will much mend the prospect ; but church work is slow, church work is slow." * " You must know," said Sir Roger, " I never make use of anybody to row me that has not either lost a leg i>r an arm. I would rather bate him a few strokes of his oar than not employ an honest man that has been wounded in the (Queen's service. If I was a lord or a bishop, and kept a barge, I would not put a fellow in my livery that had not a wooden leg." /i 1 6 TJic CJiurch. Chapter II. THE CHURCH. I ' What is a Church ' '? Our honest sexton tells ' 'Tis a tall building, with its tower and bells ; ' Where priest and clerk, with joint exertion strive ' To keep the ardour of their flock alive ; ' That, by his periods eloquent and grave ; ' This, by responses and a well-set stave ' : 'Tis to this Church I call thee, and that place Where slept our fathers when they'd run their race." Crabbe, " Then I remembered 'twas the Sabbath day. Immediately a wish arose in my mind To go to church and pray with Christian people. • • • So entering in, not without fear, I passed into the family pew. And covering up my eyes for shame. And deep perception of unworthiness. Upon the little hassock knelt me down Where I so oft had kneeled." Lamb. Enquiry by Royal Commission- -Purchase of Site — Date and Cost o^ Erection — Consecration — Ornaments — Destruction by Fire — Resi L toration — Sir John Vanbrugh and Thomas Archer — Various Opin- ions on Architecture— Services— Organ— Damage by Lightning- Internal Restoration and Alteration— the Church Plate— Windows — Monuments and Inscriptions — Clock — Vaults. A RRIVED, as by gravitation, at the one edifice m which every parishioner may be said to have a sacred interest, we pause before entering, not to ask the date of its foundation, nor to comment on the source! where the cost was provided. These give rise to no uncer- tain speculations ; they are ' public property.' Rather we pause to reflect upon the circumstances which led to the erection of a church, with a civil parish, within the smah^ area (422 acres, exclusive of Knightsbridge), over which the mother parish and the precincts of the Abbey extended. Who advised the choice of a site so near the mother church ?( What was the condition of the parish that such a division,: Church acconiniodation. 1/ was rendered necessary ? To the first of these questions an answer, ready to hand, is given hereafter ; but a dih'gent search among the records, aided by the courteous assistance of the Hbrarians at Lambeth Palace, at the Record Office, at the House of Commons, at the Privy Council Office, at the Diocesan Registry and elsewhere, has failed to supply an answer to the second. The report of the Royal Commis- sion, whose labours will be referred to presently, appointed to enquire in what parishes new churches were necessary, is not accessible ; but the possibility of the Commission having adopted the suggestions of Convocation is not over- looked. In the parish church of St. Margaret, the accommoda- tion had, at this time (1708), only recently been enlarged by the construction of Sir John Cutler's gallery ; there was near at hand the Broadway Chapel (now Christ Church) with more than 1,000 seats, easy of access to the parishioners living in and about Strutton-ground, Peter- street, Orchard-street, and Pye-street. Besides this the Duke-street Chapel and the Queen-square Chapel were newly available for public worship, while the smaller ! chapels of Emanuel Hospital, Emer}^ Hill's Almshouses, the Grey Coat Hospital, Whicher's Almshouses and I Palmer's Almshouses, by meeting the requirements of the ' inmates, relieved to a corresponding degree the pressure on the space in the mother church and the Broadway Chapel. At first sight we might be inclined to conclude that these ' two spacious edifices were equal to the parochial needs ; but I it is only necessary to say that the population of the mother I parish was estimated at 16,000 souls. Reluctantly abandoning the search for information re- I lating directly to the moral and spiritual condition of 1 Westminster, wc find abundant evidence relating to the Metropolis generally which, in the absence of an\' alhisioii to exce[)tional circumslanccs, may be taken as app!}-iiig to Westminster. 1 8 Ecclesiastical disagreements. The opening of the eighteenth century found the more prominent Divines much engaged in controversy and debate, with jealousy and disagreement prevaiHng between the Upper and Lower Houses of Convocation. As a conse- quence, the religious habits of the people became relaxed and presented an unedifying spectacle. Nevertheless, the period was not wholly without more cheerful signs in the foundation of the Society for the Diffusion of Christian Knowledge and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; and Addison* bears witness to the institution of charity schools at this time, and applauds it as one of the greatest instances of public spirit the age had produced. The encouragement and liberal assistance given by the Queen in relinquishing her claim to the tenths and first fruits, while it had a great effect on the minds of her subjects,-j- did not allay a widespread uneasiness and murmuring that the established religion of the people was in great danger. On the contrary, this uneasiness was fanned into active excitement by the publication of a pamphlet;j:, which would now be permitted to run its course, but which was then publicly burned before the Royal Exchange. The debates in Parliament showed a singular mixture of politics and religion, which was by no means ameliorated * Spectator, No. 294. t See Hodgson's Accotait of Queen Antii s Bounty, and Wilmot's Queens of Ejigland, from the latter of which the following is quoted : — " The liberality of the Sovereign towards the Established Church goes far to account for the extraordinary veneration in which the donor of Queen Anne's Bounty was held long after her death. Her Majesty, on her accession, was entitled to the first-fruits and tenths of every benefice or dignity conferred by the Crown. With praiseworthy self-denial, Anne, instead of appropriating these gains to the amplification of her personal power or magnificence, formed with the money a fund to augment the miserable stipends which often fall to the lot of the most excellent of our clergy, and it has been carrymg on its good work from that day to this. . . The extent of Anne's privy purse charity was unknown till after her death, for she gave without ostentation, and no flatterers were employed to trumpet her goodness. If she was frugal, it was to enable her to be generous, and all she could spare was returned to the people as her right. All this was done without anything that looked like sordid saving— no retrench- ing her servants at their tables, allowances or perquisites ; the hospitality within doors was equal to the charity without." + " A Memorial of the Church of England." The Queen issued a prcjclama- tion offering ^1,000 reward fur the discovery of the author, but without success. Sacheverell, A tterbury. 1 9 by a sermon preached before the Lord Mayor by Dr. Henry Sacheverell, Chaplain of St. Saviour'.s, Southwark, of which 40,000 copies were sold, nor by his impeachment before the House of Commons. The trial and the riots connected with it had their effect upon the public mind, and exercised an immediate influence on the new Parlia- ment and on Convocation, which met on the same day. Wordsworth thus refers to the state of public feeling at this time : — " Fears, true or feigned, Spread through all ranks ; and lo I the sentinel Who loudest rang his pulpit larum bell. Stands at the bar. High and Low, Watchwords of party, on all tongues are rife ; As if a Church, though sprung from Heaven, must owe To opposites and fierce extremes her life — Not to the golden mean, and quiet flow Of truths that soften hatred, temper strife." Amongst the many matters recommended by the Queen for the consideration of Convocation was the drawing-up of a representation on the state of religion, with regard to the excessive growth of infidelity, heresy and profancness. A statement was accordingly drafted by Dr. Atterbury, Dean of Carlisle,* who had been elected Prolocutor in preference to the nominee of the Archbishop. It reviewed at great length the license of the press, the frauds of pagan and popish priests, the selling of mock catechisms in the streets, the ill-effects of the revolution of 1688, the profaneness and licentiousness of the stage, and the gradual defection from piety and virtue to irreligious ignorance. After prolonged deliberation, the statement was adopted by the Lower House as answering the purpose intended by the Queen ; but the Bishops rejected it as magnifying the grievances and corruptions of the day. A counter representation agreed upon by the Upper House was discarded by the Clergy, and finally nothing was determined upon. * Atterljviry was not installed in the Deanery of Westminster until 1713. 15 2 5o Queen An?ie intervened. In a letter addressed to Convocation by the Queen* her Majesty writes : " It is with great grief of Heart Wee ob- " serve the scandalous Attempts which of late Years have " been made to infect the minds of our Good Subjects by " loose and prophane Principals openly scattered and pro- " pagated among them. Wee think the consultations of the " Clergy particularly requisite to repress these daring At- " tempts and to prevent the like for the future." The letter goes on to express a hope that the Queen's good inter - tions in that behalf " may not be defeated by any unrea- " sonable disputes between the two Houses of Convocation " about unnecessary Forms and Methods of proceeding." In a subsequent letter the Queen writes " I have done my " part, and expect that you will lay aside what may hinder " the good effect of my license, and apply yourselves heartily to those weighty matters." An active participator in these proceedings was Dr. Onley, Prebendary of St. Peter's, and for more than twenty years Minister-|- of St. Margaret's. To his life-long con- nection with Westminster (he had been educated at West- minster School), and to his watchful interest and foresight, may probably be attributed the benefit Westminster derived from the accidental extrication from the deadlock just described. A violent storm, which occurred on the 28th November, 17 10, caused much damage to property in London and the suburbs. The parish of Greenwich suffered by the total destruction of the church, already, by its ruinous condition, an easy prey for the hurricane. The inhabitants thereupon * Proceedings of the Lower House of Convocation, 1710 — 11. M.S. Lib. II, fo. 5 — 7, Lambeth Palace Library. t The Rectory of the parish vested in the Dean and Chapter. Nicholas Onley became a Westminster scholar through a singular accident. His father was the porter at a tavern in the Strand, and was one day sent on an errand by a gentleman of good family and fortune of the same name as himself- Struck by this coincidence, and pleased with the old man's appearance, the gentleman adopted young Nichcjlas, the porter's only son, sent him to school and left him his fortune. Dr. Onley died Septemlier 2Sth, 1724, aged 84. ■ Parliamentary enquiry. 2i petitioned Parliament for assistance to rebuild. In dealing with this petition the House took the opportunity of enquiring into the general subject of church accommoda- tion in the Metropolis, and were informed that the London churches, though numerous, were, with few exceptions, exceedingly small, and rather resembled village churches than such as were adapted to the rapidly growing popula- tion of a city like London. It was also asserted that in the suburbs there were 200,000 persons more than could possibly find accommodation in the existing churches. The House of Commons immediately appointed a Com- mittee, by whom the proffered co-operation of Convocation was readily accepted.* The Queen also sent a special message to Parliament on 29th March, 1 7 1 1 : — Anne R. Her Majesty having received an Address from the archbishop, bishops, and clergy of the province of Canterbury, in Convocation assembled, to recommend to the Parliament the great and necessary work of building more Churches within the Bills of Mortality, is graciously pleased to approve so good and pious a design ; and docs accordingly very heartily recommend the carrying on the same, to this House, particularly in and about the cities of London and West- minster ; and does not doubt but effectual care will be taken in this matter, which may be so much to the advantage of the Protestant religion, and the firmer establishment of the Church of England. On the 6th April a report was presented by the Com- mittee, " that in the several parishes in and about the suburbs of the cities of London and Westminster fifty new churches are necessary, .... computing 4,750 souls to each church." The report having been referred to a Com- mittee of the whole House, and considered, the Speaker, with the House, waited on the Queen at St. James's, on 9th April, with the following address : — Most Gracious Sovereign, — We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament assembled, have, with the utmost satisfaction, received your Majesty's gracious message, recommending to us the great and necessary work of building fifty new churches in and about the Cities of London and Westminster. * Cobbett. Parliamentary History, vol. vi. Burnet. Hist, of His Own Time, vols, v, and vi. Boyer Keigit of Queen Anne. 22 Cotmnission appointed. We are sensible how much the want of them hath contributed to the increase of Schism and Irreligion, and shall not therefore fail to do our parts towards the supplying that defect, being entirely disposed to promote everything that is for the interest of the established Church, and the honour of your Majesty's reign. Neither the long expensive War in which we are engaged, nor the pressure of heavy debts under which we labour, shall hinder us from granting to your Majesty what- ever is necessary to accomphsh so excellent a design, which we hope may be a means of drawing down blessings from heaven on all your Majesty's other undertakings, as it adds to the number of those places where the prayers of your devout and faithful subjects will be daily offered up to God, for the prosperity of your Majesty's government at home, and the success of your arms abroad." The piety and liberality of the vote of Parliament is said to have given great public satisfaction. The Act (9 Anne, cap. 22), which was passed to give effect to the vote, im- posed duties upon coals and culm brought into the Port of London, and directed that the income therefrom be applied for the building of fifty new churches, for the purchase of sites, and for the provision of church-yards and burial places in or near the cities of London and Westminster, or the suburbs thereof The Act also empowered the Queen to appoint Commissioners to enquire in what parishes new churches were necessary, and to report to the Queen and to Parliament before 24th December, 171 1 ; but no provi- sion was made for the formation of new parishes. In its enthusiasm, Parliament had under-estimated the time in which the Commission would be able to complete its enquiry and agree upon its report. Another Act was therefore passed in the following year (10 Anne, cap. 1 1), to enlarge the time and extend the powers previously granted. The Commission did not, however, await this further legislation before setting about their trust in earnest, for on the 4th October, 171 1, they addressed a letter to the Vestry of St. Margaret, intimating their desire " to proceed in see Useful and Pious a Work with all possible expedition," and calling for a return of the number of inhabitants, and of suitable sites for a church and church}'ard, also enquiring whether there were any chapels within the parish fit to be \ Statement by St. Margarets Vestry. 23 made parish churches. The aid of the Burgesses and their Assistants was at once invoked in obtaining an enume- ration of the residents within the different wards ; but before this could be completed, and within a month from the date of their first letter, the Commission complained of the delay, and pressed for an immediate answer. This the Vestry agreed upon without delay : — To the Most Rev^- Father in God Thomas Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Hon''ie Com''s appointed by her Matie Pursuant to a late Act of Parliam' (Intituled an Act fo'r granting to her Matie severall Duties upon Coals for Building 50 New Churches in and about the Cities of London and Westminster). The Representacon of the Minister Churchwardens and Vestry of the Parish of St. Marg" Westm"- in the County of Midd'" in Answer to a Letter Rccd. bearing Date the 4th of Octob"" 171 1. That the Number of Souls in the Parish of St. Marg" Westm'' as near as can be Computed is about Twenty Thousand. That the Condicon of the Inhabitants is such that the Rates with other monys allotted to the maintenance of the poor amount at this time to Three Thousand pounds p. ann. & is still likely to encrease. That in sev" of the out parts of the sd Parish there are great number of Poor people which will make it very difficult to allow due proporcons of the Poor and Rich in case it shall be thought fit to erect any new Parish or Parishes within the said Parish of St. Marg" Westminster. That there is a peece of Ground of about Seaven Acres near Milbank in the said Parish which is freehold and the Estate of Henry Smith Esqt'e who has Declared his willingness to Dispose of an acre and a Quarter of the said Ground for the sume of Five hundred Pounds. That there is alsoe another peece of Ground at the end of Marsham Street being the Freehold Estate of vSir Robert Marsham, Bair Containing about an Acre fit for the same use, which (nound Sr Robert has sent word to the Vestry he is willing to part with but he being not in Town the Vestry dont know the price thereof There is in the said Parish one Church commonly Called the New Chappcll which holds upwards of 1200 People & in our Judg- ment the said Chappell is fit to be made Parochial. 24 Purdiase of site. That there are Two other Chappells one in or near Queen Square & the other in Duke Street, neither of which in our Judgments are fit to be made Parochial. Cha : Battely, Thomas Bhssett, Tho : Wisdome, Edward Tufnell, Sam" Brown, Emery Arguis, Geo : Mortimer, Robert Jeffes, Edward CHft, NICHO. ONLEY, D.D. JAMES HUNTER, "^ Church [Copie.] RICHD- FILER, > Wardens. It is desired by this Vestry that the Rev^ D'' Nicho: Onley with the Churchwardens wait on the said Com""^ & p'sent the said Representacon. On 1st June, 1713, a contract for sale and purchase of a parcel of ground was executed between Henry Smith, Treasurer to the Commissioners, John Lowndes, Secre- tary to the Treasury, and the Commissioners, for the sum of £yoo, which included sufficient land to form a new street, forty-five feet wide, to com- municate with Millbank-street, and an additional plot for the erection of a house for the minister of the intended new church. Seymour's Survey (1735) states that the church was commenced in 1721 ; but the " Declared Accounts " in the Public Record Office show that nearly ten thousand pounds had been paid to the builders before December, 171 5. The items relating to St. John's Church have been extracted for insertion here : — Cost of the Building of St. John's Church ; Extracted from the Declared Accounts of the Treasurers of the Fu7tdfor building ffty New Churches in London and West- minster, 1712 — 1 7 41 J Audit Office, Bundles 4jy, 4jS, &= 4jp, preserved at the Public Record Office. Bundle 437, Roll i (10 July 1712 — 25 Mar 1714. H. Smith, Treasurer). Henry Smith, Esq, for a piece of Ground for ye Scite of a Church & Ministers House Situate in ye Pish of S' Margts Westm^ in ye County of Midd^ as by c like Warrt and the Agte of the said Mr. Smith ... vij//. Pay incuts to Imildcrs. 2$ * More to ye s^ Thos Hues and Wf" Tuffnell, Brick- layers, employ'd to Build the New Church erecting wti^in the parish of St. Margarett, Westminster being p'^ & advanced to them by way of Imp^' for ye sd Service by a like Warr' dated the xi'h of Nov- emb"" 17 1 3 as by the sd Warr' & their Receipts ... viij//. Roll 2 (25 Mar. 1714 — 9 Dec. 1715. H. Smith, Treasurer). Samuel Wood, Watchman, employed at the New Church erecting in the parish of St. Margarett, Westminster. By like Warrant and Acquittance ... ... xxxiiij//. vij. More to the said Thomas Hues and William TufifncU, Bricklayers, employed to Build the New Church erecting within the Parish of St Margarett West- minster being paid and advanced to them by way of Imprest for the said Service by a like Warrant dated xi'h of November 17 13. As by the said Warrant and c their Receipts ... ... ... ... ... ... viij//. Thomas Hues and William Tufifnell, Bricklayers, Em- ployed in Building the New Church in the parish of St. Margaretts Westminster Imprested to them upon Accompt of Bricklayers work by them done there, t t By Three Warrants, etc. etc M.M.c.//. Edward Tuffnell and Edward Strong, Masons .... work by them performed at the said Church, &c., &c. v.M//. John Skeat in part and upon Accompt of Smith's work by c him done at the said Church, etc. etc. ... ... viij'//. Robert Jefifes and John James, Imprested to them for c Carpenter's work done at the said Church, etc. etc. iiij//. George Norris by way of Imprest for Digging the ffoun- dation of the said Church, etc. etc cxxx//. Roll 3 (9 Dec. 1715 — 24 June 1717. J. Leacroft, Treasurer). Edward Strong and Edward Tufifnell, Masons, for Masons work by them done and Materials Used in building the Church at Westminster within the years 17 13, 1714, 1715 and 1716 ^\ c xij. vj. Ixvj//. XVlj.f. John James and Robert Jeffes, Carpenters, for Carpen- ters work by them done and Material used in build- ing the said Church in the years 17 13, 17 14, and I7I5 C XX vj. iiijxvij//. xiiij.y. viijc/. John Grove another Carpenter for Carpenters work by him done and Materials used in building the said Church in the year 17 13 Ivj//. xv.y. * Previous payments for work at the churches at East Greenwich and St. George-tho-Martyr. Nearly every one of the earlier tradesmen employed (in- cluding Hues and Tuffnell) were of the parish of St. Margaret. 26 Payments to builders. Thorn Hues and William Tuffnell, Bricklayers, for Brick- layers work and Materials used in building the said Church in the years 1713, 1714, 1715, 1716 t t t c M.M.M. vij. ]U. xvjj. ]d. John Skeat, Smith, for Smith's work by him done and Materials used in Building the said Church in the years 1713, 1714, 1715, 1716 t c . M. vij. xj//. xvijj-. )a. George Osmond, Plumber, for Plumbers work in the years 1714, 1715, 1716 ..?. .^^ mj. nij. xix/z. xvj'. v^. George Norris, Digger, for work by him done and Materials used, etc. in the years 17 13, 17 14, 171 5 cxxijV/. xviijj. \]d. Roll 4 (24 June 1717 — 29 Sept. 1718. J. Leacroft, Treasurer). John Grove, Carpenter, of the Parish of St. Clement Danes in part and upon Account of Carpenters work by him done at the new Church erecting in c the Parish of St. Margaret, Westminster ... ... \h. [A payment on account to Edward Strong and Ed. Tuffnell, Masons, for work executed at six Churches then in course of erection including St. John's, Westminster, ^5,000.] [A payment on account to John Skeat for Smith's work at all the new Churches then building, ^400.] [A payment on account to John Grove for Carpenters work at the new Churches in the Strand and at Westminster, ^500.] William Tuffnell, Bricklayer, on account for Bricklayers work at the new Church at Westminster ... ... xl//. Roll s (10 Jan. 1721-2 — 25 Dec. 1723. Nath. Blackerby, Treasurer). John Skeat; for Smith's work and Materials delivered at the said Church ... ... ... ... ...xxxiijZz". xjj". xjrtT Edward Strong and Edward Tuffnell for masonry per- formed at the said Church ... ... cxxij//. xiiji-. \]d. Thomas Hues and William Tuffnell for Bricklayers work c ix. xix//. xvj'. \]d. c John Grove for Carpenters work ... ... iiij' Ixxviij//. iij\s". '\]d. George Norris, Digger, for digging and levelling of earth about the foundations of the said Church ... xxx//. xvs. John Reynolds, Painter, for Painting the Windows of the said Church ... ... ... ... ... viijV/. Wis. Richard Marples, Plumber, for Pig Lead for Running Cramps and Joints for the Masons work ... xij//. ijs. ujd. Thomas Hinton for money by him paid to John Mayfield, Labourer, for bringing the Cuttings of Lead from off the said Church and laying them into the Vault vij//. xvjs. Payments to builders. 27 Bundle 438, Roll 6 (26 Dec. 1723 — 25 Dec. 1725. N. Blackerby, Treasurer). John Skcat, Smith, for work done and materials used ... ... ... ... ... ... yXwIi. \\]S. viijc/. WilHam Tuffnell, Bricklayer ... ... ... ...ccxiiij//. xvj. John Langlcy, Joyner, for fiframing the Timber and Pew- ing the Gallery of the said new Church ... ... viij//. viij.y. John Lock, Carpenter ... ... ... ... cclx.xiij//. xiiji". vjV/. Roll 7 (26 Dec. 1725^25 Dec. 1727. N. Blackerby, Treasurer). To the Artificers and others undernamed employed in Building the New Church at Westminster : — ^ Edwd. Strong, Mason Mccclxix//'. vijj-. viijrt'. William Tuffnell, Bricklayer ccciiijv/z. xvj-. \\\]d. to John Lock, Carpenter Mviij " Ixxv//. \\\\s. \d. William Langley, Joyner, and his ^ Executors John Cleave, Smith Thomas Goff, Smith John Boson, Carver Isaac Mansfield, Plasterer James Preedy, Painter John Reynolds, Painter Geo. Osborn, Plumber Charles Scriven, Glazier ... John Turner, for Charcoal Roll 8 (26 Dec. 1727—25 Dec. 1729. N. Blackerby, Treasurer). c Edward Strong, Mason vliij//. xviij.y. viij9io 9 9 283 13 '> 20,035 13 10 1,339 I 5 96 5 1 1 572 15 7 250 3 597 5 4 141 4 I 34 6 38 9 6 ^40,875 14 o Mr. Walcott records that "the title of the sacred building was derived from the chapel of that name in the Abbey ; for St. John the Evangelist was the patron saint of King Edward the Confessor, the pious founder of the mother church of St. Margaret, in which was held a fraternity of St. John." But it is not at all improbable that in dedicating the Church to St. John the Evangelist, the Com- mission were guided by Dr. Onley, who could not have taken an active interest for forty years or more in St. Margaret's and in the Abbey, without having gained some knowledge of the chapel dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, which had been lost to Westminster for nearly two centuries. During the reigns of Edward III. (1327) and Richard II. (1377) a chapel dedicated to St. John the Evangelist had existed in Westminster. Mr. J. T. Smith, in his Antiquities of Westminster, 1807, refers to a con- tention as to jurisdiction between the Abbot of St. Peter's and the Dean and Canons of St. Stephen's, which difference was settled by deed of compromise in 1394. In that deed the chapel of St. John the Evangelist was specially reserved. After a clo.se examination of local details the author of the valuable work just named (pp. 104 and 127) JO Consecration. Ornaments. fixed the position of the chapel as being to the south of the chapel of St. Stephen, and on the site of Cotton Garden, close to the Painted Chamber. The chapel, which was sup- pressed by Edward VI. (1547), had an annual revenue of i^i,o85 los. 5d. Seventeen years elapsed between the purchase of the site and the consecration ceremony. The building operations, which occupied fifteen years of this time, were prolonged by difficulties which the porous nature of the subsoil occa- sioned, and which, as will be hereafter seen, caused an alteration in the design. Early in 1728 the structural work was completed, and the parishioners, with others who had been impatiently awaiting the withdrawal of the workmen, welcomed the assembling of the Commissioners, the neigh- bouring clergy, and the choristers from the Abbey, over whom, as They entered now the aisles so tall. The darkened roof rose high aloof On pillars lofty, and light and small. Scott. The ceremony of consecration, which took place on 20th June, 1728, was performed by Dr. Bradford, Bishop of Rochester and Dean of Westminster, assisted by Dr. Gee, Minister of St. Margaret's, and Dr. Charles Pinfold, on behalf of the Dean and Chapter. The sermon was preached by Dr. Denn, Minister of Shoreditch,* and son-in-law to the Bishop. The Proctor's bill of costs incidental to the cere- mony was ^28 I2s. The church was not opened for public worship until lOth November — nearly five months after the consecration ceremony. As soon as the congregation had had time to survey the fine proportions of their new church, the Vestry appointed a committee to ascertain what ornaments should be provided. At their meeting on 25th September, 1730, the committee agreed upon their report : — The Committee after enquiring into the matters referred to them by * The London Journal, June 22, 1728. Minor and major troubles. 31 the Vestry, and having consulted the Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical and Articles commonly exhibited to Churchwardens to make their Presentments, found the several things following which con- cern the Church, and which the Parish arc obliged to procure, wanting, viz : — "A Box for Alms. A carpet and fine linnen cloth for the Com- munion Table. A Flaggon. Cups and Covers for Bread. Lord's Prayer, Creed and Commandments in fair letters and at the East End of the Church. King's Arms set up. A Table of Degrees of Marriage. A Chest with three locks. A Register Book in Parchment. Besides these things they agreed that Two Dishes were wanting for the collection of Alms at Sacraments and upon Briefs, and that two more Surplices should be provided. The Committee were of opinion that the Carpet for the Com- munion Table should be made of Velvet and have a Gold Lace and Fringe and that there should be two Cushions of the same with Gold cords and tassels and two Common Prayer books finely bound and gilt, a Velvet Cushion and Vallance for the Pulpit, two Silver Flaggons two Chalices and Pattens, and one Silver Dish. The Committee were also of opinion that a large Double Branch of Brass for Candles would be a usefull ornament as would also be Cur- ains to the East Windows. Resolved that it is necessary to have a large Table for the Vestry Room, two dozen of Chairs, one Elbow one and a Carpet, all which things they think may be procured for about ^300 or thereabouts." On the 25th March, 1731, after the church had been open two years and five months, an order was given for the articles scheduled by the committee to be obtained, the de- lay having been occasioned by the collection of subscriptions to defray the cost. Four years later (22nd May, 1735) the Vestry accorded a vote of thanks to Mr. Thomas Churchill and Mr. Pratt " for the King's Arms given by them to the Church." An unexpected but short-lived trouble was now experi- enced — a trouble which " Old Westminsters " would fain expunge from the official records, were it not that the school of to-day can well afford the comparison with its out-door conduct of 1739. " When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, . . . nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice." 32 Minor and major troubles. Let the Vestry minutes speak for themselves : — Sih May, I739-* The windows of this Church having been frequent- ly broke and the Inhabitants put to continual Expenses and otherwise very much annoyed by some of the scholars belonging to Westminster School, Ordered that a Memorial be drawn up and presented to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster for redress of the said grievances. We now have to chronicle a real misfortune. On Sunday, 26th September, 1742, as morning service was about to be conducted by the Rev. Charles Churchill, father of the poet, an alarming outbreak of fire was caused by " part of the timber of the roof lying in or too near the funnel of the chimney in the Vestry." Such extinguishing appliances as could be requsitioned in time were of no avail until the fire had consumed the communion table and rails, pews, pulpit, desks, galleries, roof, and everything combus- tible in the Church and vestry. The " fire brigade " then, for the first time, became of service in cooling the piles of debris from the fallen roof Nothing but the walls, with three of the towers or pinnacles, remained intact ; even the twelve magnificent stone columns were damaged beyond repair, the heavy iron work of the roof was rendered useless, and the south-west tower was left in an unsafe condition. The conflagration was thus reported in Rayners London Morning Advertiser oiWednesddiY, Sept. 29. 1742 : — " Sunday morning last, about Ten of the Clock, a terrible Fire broke out in the Vestry Room of St. John the Evangelist's Church at Mill- " It is not improbable that the mischief complained of was practised as the boys returned from their ditch-jumping expeditions in the open fields. There were 339 boys in the school at the time. Among those who passed on to the Uni- versities and afterwards occupied Important and distinguished positions were : — Edward Smallwell (Curate of St. John's, Chaplain to the King, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Bishop of Oxford), T. Franklin (Professor of Greek at Cam- bridge, Chaplain to the King, Vicar of Ware, and Rector of Brasted), Lewis Devisme (Ambassador to Sweden), Thomas Cornthwaite (Rector of Hackney), Nicholas Brady (Rector of Tooting), Richard Parry (Rector of Whichampton), John Powell (Vicar of Sheedy Campe), David Tanqueray (Rector of Tingniffe), Samuel Markham (Vicar of Leatherhead), George Maitland (son of the Earl of Lauderdale), and Thomas Barnard (Dean of Derry and Bishop of Limerick). The ChnrcJi in ruins. 33 bank, Westminster, just before Divine Service, which burnt with that Fierceness that in about two Hours it entirely consumed all the inside of the said Church and the Roof thereof, and left nothing standing but the Stone Walls, though all possible Diligence was used by the Fire- men ; but Water was very scarce, none being to be had, but what was drawn upon Sledges from the River Thames." A large picture of the Church while in ruins was pre- sented to the parish by Godsalve Crosse, Esq., on 8th February, 1787, and has since remained in the Vestr)-. On its re/noval, recently, for cleaning and restoration, a reduced copy was made by photo-gravure for insertion here: — Although fire insurance offices had been transacting business in London nearly sixty years, the authorities had C 34 Efforts to rebuild tlie Church. not protected the parish in any way against such a loss. The parishioners were consequently at their wits' ends to devise means for defraying the cost of restoration, which was estimated at £z^7S7- The Vestry was called together on the first possible day following the fire ; but after ap- pointing a committee of investigation, adjourned owing to the absence of Dr. Willes, the Rector, on his diocesan duties at St. David's. In six weeks' time his lordship returned to town and attended the Vestry. He gave no encourage- ment, however, to a proposal to provide a temporary place of worship b)' fitting up " the piazzas under the new dormi- tory " of Westminster School for the performance of Divine service. An appeal to the First Lord of the Trea- sury was agreed upon ; but Sir John Crosse,* to whom the presentation of the petition had been entrusted, reported that the Government were not disposed to assist. An ap- plication was then made to the Churchwardens of St. Margaret's to call a meeting of the two Vestries. This was also fruitless, as the Churchwardens, while declaring their willingness to join in the promotion of a subscription, felt themselves unable to convene a meeting of the Vestries. The Vestry of St. John's thereupon abandoned the proposal to solicit a public subscription. Twelve months' delibera- tions having failed to produce a solution of the difficulty, another petition to the Treasury was resorted to as the only expedient. After reciting the damage done, and the es- timated cost of repair, the petitioners set forth that they were charged with the rate for the Rector's maintenance while there was no Church for them to attend, and that many of the inhabitants were quitting their houses on that ac- count. The Rev. Joseph Sims, who had entered upon the Rectory shortly after the fire had occurred, had waived his claim to the rate. His predecessor. Dr. Willes, who had by this time been translated from St. David's to Bath and * His father had been elected M.T. for Westminster four times. Sir John became member in 1754. Parliamentary gra)it toivards the cost. 35 Wells, was less considerate, for he increased the jjerplexities of the Vestry by pressing for his quarter's stij^end due at the time of the disaster. There being no funds in hand, a tcmjjorary relief from this minor difficult)- was afforded b}' one of the members, who advanced the sum claimed b}- the Bishop. Under the guidance of the new Rector, who seems to have taken up his residence in the parish, and to ha\'e distinguished himself for a time by his activit}-, the second appeal to the Government proceeded more hopefully, and the Vestr}^ were encouraged b)- the Rector's report that Mr. Pelham, who was then First Lord of the Treasur)-, had promised his support to the prayer of the petition. On the 20th February, 1744 (new style), the Vestry was jubilant with the news brought across from the House that Parlia- ment had voted ^^4,000 to restore the church, for which exuberant votes of thanks were pas.scd to the First Lord of the Treasury, to Sir John Crosse, and to Sir Robert Grcsvenor. The money was shortly afterwards received, less the House fees, amounting to £^0^ 17s. 8d. The one obstacle having been overcome, the Rector, Sir John Crosse, Sir Robert Grosvenor, with the two Churchwardens (Mr. Charles Crosse and Mr. Samuel Price) were constituted a Committee to carry out the work of reparation, and the advice of Mr. James Home was secured in drawing up the specification. This provided inter alia for the removal of the twelve pillars, which had been damaged beyond the possibilit}'" of repair, and for the disposal of the other materials destroyed, for which a facult)- was decreed b\' the Dean and Chapter — " The columns must share the builders doom : Ruin is theirs, and his a tomb." Competition was subsequently invited for the i)iuchase of the twelve pillars with the lead and iron fixed thereto, and for the removal of the same. The highest offer, six pounds, C 2 ^6 T/w CJiurcJi restored and re-opened. was accepted. In December, 1745, just seventeen years and-a-half since " Amid that dim and smoky light, Chequering the summer sunshine bright, A Bishop by the altar stood. With mitre sheen and rocket white " at the consecration ceremony, and three years and-a-quarter from the date of the fire, the artizan again gave place to the worshipper. The total outlay upon the restoration was ^3,920 8s. 8d. ; and it is remarkable that while the details of this are entered with great minuteness in the parish books, no account of the re-opening services is preserved. Nor is there a note of dissatisfaction at the internal altera- tions which had been made during the reconstruction — " Not but that portions of the pile, Rcbuilded in a latter style. Showed where the spoiler's hand had been." The south-west tower, which was the only part of the exterior destroyed by the fire, was restored to the strict lines of the original, so that, from an external view, the effects of the conflagration were scarcely noticeable. Our observation easily extends itself from that faithful reproduction to the architectural features of the structure generally, on which a remarkable diversity of opinion has been expressed by numerous writers. The design has been attributed severally to Sir John Vanbrugh, who was one of the Commissioners, and to one of his pupils, Thomas Archer. The majority of the critics favour the view that the latter was the architect, and the doubt seems to be set at rest by the fact that the former, acting as Commissioner, in conjunction with several of the Bishops signed some of the warrants* for the builders' payments on the architect's certificates. While it was incompatible in one of the Commissioners to act also as architect, it was Vide Treasury Papers, 1715 to 1723. Sir John Vanbrngh. %j most natural that the master mind should be reproduced by the pupil. Sir John Vanbrugh, architect, poet, and dramatist, born 1666, was of foreign lineage, his grandfather having come over to England from Ghent, at the time of Alva's prosecu- tion of the Protestant Netherlands. According to some anecdotes told of him, he studied architecture in France ; but it is to be regretted that no satisfactory account of his early life has come down to us, for it would be instructive to learn how an architect of such a peculiar taste formed a 'style' which may be called his own. He must have acquired some reputation for architectural skill previously to 1695, for he was then appointed one of the com- missioners for completing the palace at Greenwich, when it was about to be converted into a hospital. About the same time he began to distinguish himself as a dramatic writer. Considered merely as literary productions his plays of the ' Relapse ' (1697), the ' Provoked Wife' (1698), and the 'Confederacy' (1699), are entitled to unqualified ad- miration; but so libertine are they in plot and sentiment, as to be banished not only from the stage, but almost from the library ; and he \\'ho might have been the Molicre of our dramatic literature is now consigned (sa)'s Knight) to comparative oblivion. He built inter alia Castle Howard, Duncombe Hall, and Grimsthorpe, Yorkshire; King's Weston, near Bristol ; Oulton Hall, Cheshire ; and Blenheim for the first Duke of Marlborough. His architecture, which cer- tainly is heavy, brought down upon him the ridicule of Swift and Pope, more especially as he was so many-sided, and poached on their domains as a poet and wit. Vanbrugh at one time held the office of Clarencieux King of Arms, which he afterwards disposed of Hence Swift's satirical verses : — " Van (for 'tis fit the reader know it) lb both an Herald and a Poet ; No wonder then if nicely skill'd In lioth capacities to build." 38 T J 10 mas Archer, the ArcJiitcct of the Church. As Herald he can in a day Repair a House gone to decay ; Or by achievements, arms, device, Erect a new one in a trice ; And as a Poet he has skill To build in speculation still." And Pope speaks of him (Sat. v) — " How Van wants grace, who never wanted wit." Sir John died at his house at Whitehall (built by him- self), March 26, 1726. Despite his licentious pen, his private character appears to have been amiable and his conduct tolerably correct (Knight) ; and even his opponents Swift and Pope admitted that he was both ' a man of wit and man of honour.' Thomas Archer was the .son of Thomas Archer, M.P. for Warwick in the time of Charles II. He held the office of ' groom porter ' under Queen Anne, George I., and George II., and is so styled in the Gentlenians Magazine, where his death is recorded (23 May, 1743). About 1705 he built Heythorpe Hall, Oxfordshire, said to have been his first \\'ork ; St. Philip's Church, Birmingham, begun in 171 1 and finished in 1719 ; Cliefden House, which was destroyed by fire ; and many other buildings, of which there is sufficient record in the Dictionary of the Architectural I\iblication Society. The date of his birth is not known ; but at his death, in 1743, he must have reached an advanced age. He is said to have left i," 100,000 to his youngest nephew, H. Archer, Esq. member for Warwick.* Among the earliest references to the architectural features of the church is that of Chamberlain, in his New and Coniplcat History and Survey of London and Westminster, iy6g, in which he states that the edifice — " Is remarkable only for having sunk while it was building, which oc- casioned an alteration in the plan. On the north and south sides are magnificent porticoes, supported by vast stone pillars, as is also the roof of the church. At each of the four corners is a beautiful stone * Dictionaiy i^f National Biography. ' Criticisms on the architecture. 39 tower and pinnacle ; tliesc additions were erected that the whole mi;4ht sink equally, and owe their magnitude to the same cause. The parts of this building are held together by iron bars, which cross within the isles." In connection with other mishaps in the neighbourhood, the 'sinking' of the structure is referred to by Pope in his Satire ii : — " Right," cries his lordship, " for a rogue in need To have a taste is insolence indeed : In me 'tis noble, suits my birth and stale, My wealth unwieldy, and my heap too great." Then like the sun, let bounty spread her ray, And shine that superfluity away. Oh, impudence of wealth 1 with all thy store, How dar'st thou let one worthy man be poor ? Shall half the new-built churches round thee fall ? Make quays, build l)ridges, or repair Whitehall I John Northouck, in A New History of London, including Westminster and Southiuark, 1772)^ informs us that: — " This church was erected in anjirea on the north side of V^ine-street, Millbank, and was finished in 1728 ; but the low swampy nature of the soil it was founded on caused it to sink while it was building, and pro- duced an alteration in the plan. On the north and south sides are magnificent Doric porticoes, supported by vast stone pillars, as is also the roof of the church. The chief aim of the architect was to give an uncommon, yet elegant outline, and to shew the orders in their greatest dignity and perfection, and indeed the outline is so variously broken, that there results a diversity of light and shadow, which is very uncommon, and very elegant. The principal objections against the structure are, that it is so much decorated that it appears encumbered with ornament ; and that the compass being too small for the design, it ajjpears too heavy." The Rev. Joseph Nightingale, in his entertaining and comprehensive Beauties of Eng/and and Wales, 1815 (///. London and Middlesex, Vol. 3, part 2), makes an interest- ing reference to the church : — "This is one of the most singular, not to sa\- whimsical, Ijuildings in or near the metropolis. it is one of the fifty two new churches built soon after the time ot Sir Christopher Wren ; but the reader, who has seen it, will not need 40 The Church. Criticisms on the architecture. to be informed, that no pupil of his was the architect. It is the work of Mr. Archer, who has certainly shewn no little skill, or power of invention, on this occasion. At each of the four angles is a beautiful stone tower and a pinnacle. It is said that these additions were erected, that the whole might sink equally, and owe their magnitude to the same cause. If this is the true reason given for the erection of this tower, and pinnacles, are we to suppose, that the architect anticipated a second accident, or suspected, after all, the solidity of his foundation ? And could he calculate on the certainty in case it should again give way, of its sinking in every part equally ? This, indeed, would appear to be the case, for the various parts of the whole fabric are fastened together by strong iron bars, which intersect even the aisles. On viewing this church at a distance one is reminded of the towers of Moscow ; or the massy ornaments of Constantinople ; but on approaching it, the numerous pillars, porticos, and pilasters, crowded into a small space, and almost hiding and intersecting each other in one solid mass, confuse and almost confound the view ; and certainly, in my estimation, produce every sort of sensation but those that are inspired by grandeur of design and simplicity of execution. It has been attributed to Vanburg ; and the weight of the building would seem to justify the assertion ; but this, however, is not the fact. Some forty or fifty years ago, this edifice was much injured by fire ; and the work was thought to have suffered so as to endanger the roof It was not, however, till within these three years, that the roof was propped up by four pieces of square timber, over which not even a plane appears to have passed. They are placed in the body of the church, and remain to this day, to disfigure the interior. The interior is dark and heavy ; nor are there any monuments of interest within its walls. The organ, however, is a very excellent one. One of the best descriptions of the building is that given in Peter Cunningham's History of London,\o\. iv., p. 234: — " This magnificent building differs from the g'eneral arrangement of ecclesiastical edifices. The plan is an oblong square, the two narrowest ends of which are contracted by means of sweeps in the walls, forming quadrants of circles, and having porticoes flanked with four scjuare towers attached to the other sides. The north and south sides of the edifice contain the entrances, beings, contrary to usual practice, the principal fronts of the building ; they are uniform with each other, and the description of one will therefore suffice for both. The elevation commences with a lofty double flight of steps leading' to a winged por- tico of the Doric order, composed of five divisions, the three central ones being recessed, and comprising two columns ; the side divisions are marked by anttt ; in every division is an arched doorwa)', with a window of the same form above it ; the whole is crowned with the en- tablature of the order, surmounted by a pediment broken above the centre of the front to let in an arch, flanked by pilasters of the Ionic Architectural description. 41 order, and covered with a pediment, behind which tlie churcli also finishes with a second pediment ; above the side divisions, the towers commence with square stylobates, which taking their rise from the raking cornice of the broken pediment, forcibly add to the character of instability, for which the towers of this church are remarkable. Above the stylobate the towers take a circular form, and are encir- cled by four insulated columns rising from the angles of the scjuare portion of the design ; in the north and south elevations are arched windows with circular ones above them ; in the other two inter- columniations are parallelogrammatic openings flanked by pilasters, the whole is crowned with an entablature ; the columns are of the Corinthian order, and the entablature over them is whimsically enough made to assume the circular form ; by means of the latter, the columns are united to the cella ; the roof of each tower is covered with lead forming a bell-shaped cupola ; owing to the defective construction of the building, the whole is greatly out of order ; the perpendicular is lost in some instances, and the columns defaced by being bound to each other, and to the walls of the building by bars of iron. The east and west fronts are uniform ; the elevation commences with a stylo- bate, in which are windows and entrances to the vaults ; the super- structure is made into four divisions by pilasters, and finished by the entablature, which is continued round the entire building ; in the central division is a large arched window, and in the side ones smaller windows recently walled up in the east front. The attic is raised above the entablature of the order supported by trusses ; in the centre is a niche between grouped antit, covered with a pediment ; in each flank is a circular headed window of recent construction ; the west end has no windows in the flanks, and those in the side divisions are still open ; the sweeping walls which connect the four fronts commence with a stylobate, and are finished with the continued entablature ; in each are arched windows as before. The church is now covered with an unsightly roof, which was substituted after the fire, for one more ap- propriate to this splendid building, which before that unfortunate accident was perhaps the most magnificent church in the metropolis after the cathedral ; the roof is now covered with slates. The interior is approached by small porches within the principal porticoes ; in its present state, it shews a large and handsome area unbroken by pillars or arches. The order is Corinthian, which is carried round the side walls in pilaster, surmounted by a rich entabla- ture ; the grand groups of columns, which formerly occupied the angles of the building, in the style of St. Mary, Woolnoth, were destroyed by the fire ; the small windows in the lateral divisions of the east and west fronts being designed to throw a light behind the columns and prevent the gloom which their great size might otherwise create. The ceiling is horizontal, panncllcd into square compartments by flying cornices, the soffits enriched with guillochi ; in the midst of the ceiling is a large circular pannel with a magnificent boss in the centre, the soffits of the pannels are painted a cerulean blue ; the ornamental portions stone colour ; an oak gallery, sustained on insig- 42 TJic ChurcJi. nificant Ionic columns, occupies the west end and the north and south sides ; this gallery is not coeval with the church ; in the western portion is the organ. The chancel is a large recess, which has been only completed at the late repair, having been in an imperfect state ever since the fire ; it now makes a splendid appearance, owing to the judicious ornaments which were at that time added to it. The east window is enclosed in an enriched architrave, copied from the architecture of the temple of Jupitor Stator, with the addition of a sweeping range of minute cherubic heads round the arch in imitation of statuary marble, and which were copied from a monument in St. Margaret's church ; the new windows in the flanks have also architraves enriched with roses ; the altar screen is composed of five divisions ; the central is occupied by a painting of ' C/in'st bearing his Cross,' after Carlo Dolci ; this is situated between two Ionic columns, the shafts imitating Sienna marble ; the other divisions are made by pilasters, and contain the usual inscriptions on pannels, in imitation of various marbles ; above the central division was formerly a pediment interfering with the window ; this has been altered to a light pedimental cornice enriched with honeysuckles. The arched ceiling has a gilt glory in the centre ; the two pilasters at the entrance of the chancel are painted to imitate Sienna marble, and the capitals, modillions, and other enrichments are gilt. The pulpit and desks are situated in one group in front of the altar rails. In the new pcwing of the church at the last repair free seats were constructed, but with a contemptible spirit of aristocratic pride, a line of bronze ornamental honey-suckles was constructed to distinguish the humble occupants of the new free seats from the more favourite tenants of the pews — a distinction inimical to the spirit of the Church of England — utterly at variance with Christian benevolence, and disgraceful to any building for religious purposes, in which the 'rich and poor meet together,' or ought to do so. The font is situated in the north-west angle of the church ; it is a neat basin of veined marble on an octagonal pillar." Commenting in 1815 on the architecture of the church, " An Architect," writing in T/ie London iMagasine, .says :- — " Notwithstanding Vanbrugh appears to have been indifferent as to what point he placed the altar end of his chapel at Blenheim, he on this occasion has been scrupulously correct, as we find hie West end, North entrance. South ditto, and East or altar end. Our Knight's es- saying to wield the pen as well as compasses, each with equal power, raised against him many enemies as scurrilists, lampoonists, and doggrel mongers : among their keen hits in this way this comparison seems to have taken the lead ; " St. John's Church bears the idea of an elephant thrown upon its back," ever concluding in one general character as marking all his works — " Lie heavy on him, Earth, for he Laid many a heavy load on thee I " * * The concliulint; lines of Dr. Evans's epitaph. Criticisms on the architecture. 43 On our part we must observe, if solidity, ])()ldncss of features, original design, and one prevailing tour of grandeur which governed his hand wherever he laid down his mighty load., what genius then is free, what art can merit praise, or what superior skill ever truly receive the meed of universal approbation ? With us the turn of thinkmg is far other- wise ; we venerate the name of Vanbrugh, we laud his labours, and we duly appreciate his every architectural example, and none perhaps with greater satisfaction than the article before us. Thus our opinion may, m some degree, either dispel the cloud of obloquy hanging over his memory, or consign our own perverted predilections with those of the good Knight's, to be crushed under one common censure, heaped upon us both by scribblers and wall constructors, supposing they claim no other designation." A long description of the architectural feature.s, in tech- nical term.s, follow.s the above, and the comment is directed to the interior of the church in an article in the same magazine of 18 19, p. 519 : — " A lamentable falling off in regard to architectural gratitication from what the exterior so higlily raised expectation of, by a progressive ratio of increasing embellishments ; but we are told from the tradition of the place that a fire destroyed all St. John's internal performances ; this may be credited, as what little is bestowed is of the meagre parsimonious parish cast, consisting chiefly of pews and galleries to answer the usual purposes, — conveniency, remuneration, and profit. However, as the conflagration did not affect the walls, their heights are maintained by Corinthian pilasters set at first against the piers between the windows. Their effect is certainly noble. Here all praise is closed, and in reluctant train we thus proceed. Door- ways and windows plain, pews and galleries in plain panncl work, the latter supported b\- extreme slender Corinthian fluted columns ; organ-case of the usual large unnecessary dimension, hiding west window, and of the usual cast ; pulpit he.xangular, rather enriched, and with the reading-desks turned, according to present mode, direct against the altar, which altar is of .the commonest degree.'' Bohn, in his verj- independent Pictorial Handbook of LofidoN, notices the church : — "The visitor should not neglect the exterior (only, for the interior is. e.xcessively poor) of St. John's, Westminster, which is noble in its general form and arrangement, though disfigured in the detail b)- conceits more false and corrupt than this country ever saw before or since, till within the last few years. The criticism copied into every account of this church, we believe since its erection, is a cajjital instance of what, in England, passes for taste. It has been the fashion to say nothing of its abominable details, but object to its really fine form, as 'resembling a parlour table upset, with its legs in the air.' The rescmblanrp consists in havini; four summits — 'There is a river in 44 Tlic CJiurcJi. Macedon ; and there is moreover a river at Monmouth' —there are four legs to a table, and four turrets to St. John's ; but further from this we cannot conceive what inverted table could bear the most distant likeness to this building (though most modern tables would certainly very closely represent the cornice, parapet, and pinnacles of the stereotyped Anglo-Gothic church-tower ; but of this resemblance we hear nothing). As for the principle of the objection, it is obvious that, if it be worth anything, St. Paul's and all domes must be at once condemned as resembling inverted basins ; all the Gothic spires, as resembling extinguishers ; all columns, as resembling posts ; and in short, all straight-lined objects must be banished for resemblance to furniture, and all carved ones for resemblance to pottery. Even if those forms only which other arts have borrowed from architecture are to be forthwith abandoned by her (as fashionables abandon a garb when it has descended to the vulgar), what refuge remains? and what becomes of truth in design if noiielty is to be the main object? Meanwhile, the result of a total absence of real criticism is that the richest city in the world erects and (what is worse) boasts of, such works as the Coal Exchange." Yet another opinion is offered in Knight's London (1843):— " Archer's well known production is St. John's Church, Westminster, finished in 1728 ; and which if it were possible to designate by any single phrase it must be some such as — Architecture run mad. If one could imagine a collection of all the ordinary materials of a church in the last century, with an extraordinary profusion of decoration of porticoes and of towers, to have suddenly dropt down from the skies, and by some freak of Nature to have fallen into a kind of order and harmony and fantastic grandeur, — the four towers at the angles, the porticoes at the ends and in the front, — it would give no very exag- gerated idea of St. John's. Vanbrugh, says Pennant, had the discredit of the pile." Peter Cunningham, in his Hand-book for London^ Past and Present ( 1 849), quotes * from Walpole's A necdotes : — " St. Philip's Church, Birmingham, and a house at Roehampton (which, as a specimen of his wretched taste, may be seen in the ' Vitruvius Brittanicus ') were other works of the same person ; but the chef d'oeuvre of his absurdity was the Church of St. John's, with four belfreys, in Westminster." In a footnote it is stated that — " Mr. Archer's design of the Church, as it was agreed upon by the Commissioners, is a very different design from the existing Church. Many alterations were subsequently made without the knowledge or consent of the architect." * P. 446. The date of the cunsecralion is erroneously given as 1738. Criticisms on the arc/iitectuj'e. 45 Mr. Walcott, in his Me7nonals of Westminster, p. 312, (1849), alluding to the architecture of the church, saj's : — "When we call to mind the upper part of the western towers of the Abbey, and the mutilated exterior of St. Margaret's — the deformities of the last anti-Gothic century — it would seem as though the ancient architects, having completed their own beautiful work, broke the mould. We, therefore, can only rejoice that an exotic architecture — then studied and in vogue — was adopted in building St. John's, in preference to a motley mimicry of that native but dormant style — the Pointed — which is more strictly ecclesiastical." Readers of Our Mutual Friend {Y^ook II., chap, i) will recollect the impres.sion the mind of Charles Dickens received from the church and its immediate surroundings : " Bradley Headstone and Charley Hexam duly got to the Surrey side of Westminster Bridge, and crossed the bridge, and made along the Middlesex shore towards Millbank. In this region are a certain little street, called Church Street, and a certain little blind square, called Smith Square, in the centre of which last retreat is a very hideous church with four towers at the four corners, generally resem- bling some petrified monster, frightful and gigantic, on its back with its legs in the air. They found a tree near by in a corner, and a black- smith's forge, and a timber yard, and a dealer's in old iron. What a rusty portion of a boiler and a great iron wheel or so meant by lying half-buried in a dealer's fore-court, nobody seemed to know, or want to know. Like the Miller of questionable jollity in the song, They cared for Nobody, no not they, and Nobody cared for them. After making the round of this place, and noting that there was a deadly kind of repose on it, more as though it had taken laudanum than fallen into a natural rest, they stopped at the point where the street and the square joined, and where there were some little quiet houses in a row." It was in one of these small houses that — Miss JENNY WREN, Dolls' Dressmaker. Dolh nttcttdcd nt their oivn residences. otherwise Fanny Cleaver, who befriended \a7.7AC Ilexairi after her father's death, had her fictional abode. Mr. J. Heneage Jesse, in Me))iorials of London {x'^^'j), remarks that : — " Near the south crid of College Street is the fantastic-looking church 46 The Chiinii. of St. John the E\angchst, with its four pinnacles, one at each corner, which form such prominent objects from the chfifercnt points of the metropolis at which they are visible. This church, the work of Sir John \'an])ruyh, was commenced in I72i,and completed in 1728. I cannot discover that any particular interest attaches to it. It has been much censured for its excess of ornament, but it is not altogether destitute of architectural beauty, and the portico, supported by Doric columns, has been deservedly admired." In London ; its Celebrated Characters and Remarkable Places (1871), thi.s author corrcct.s hi.s "Memorials" by ob.serving that Sir John Vanbrugh " u.sually had the dis- credit " for the building" ; " but the real architect was a person b}' the name of Archer." He does not appear to ha\c noticed that his contemporaries have set down the four foremost architects of the time as Vanbrugh, Archer, James, and Flitcroft. A still more recent writer, Mr. A. J. C. Hare, author of Walks in London (18/8), in his allusion to Westminster, goes on to sa)- : — " In the poverty-stricken cjuarter, not far from the river, is St John's Church, the second of Queen Anne's fifty churches, built from designs of Archer, a pupil of Vanbrugh. . . Lord Chesterfield compared it to an elephant on its back, with its four feet in the air. The effect at a distance is miscral^lc, but the details are good when you approach them." Admirers of the characteristic romances of Lord Beaconsfield (" one of the few, the immortal names that were not born to die ") will recollect how intimately the great statesman and author had become acquainted in his later writings with the Church, the Rectory House, and the surroundings. In his Sybil, or the Two Nations — the work which is prefaced by his beautiful inscription to Lady licaconsfield — he makes repeated reference to them. For our present purpose we turn to the chapter in which Egremont, having met Sybil in the Abbey, accompanies her home to the Rectory House. " Making a circuitous course through this tranquil and orderly district, they at last found, themselves in an open place, in the centre of Criticisms on the architecture. 47 which rose a church of vast proportions, and built of hewn stone in that stately, not to say ponderous, style which Vanbrugh introduced." Mr. Walford, in his Old and New London, speaks of the church as " a singular building which a stranger would never be likely to take for a church. . . . Its architect certain!)' seems to have defied all the rules of architecture, loading the heavy structure with still heavier ornamenta- tion, by building at each of the four angles a stone tower and a pinnacle of ugliness that passes description." The same author quotes from A Neiv Reviezv of the Public Buildings (1736) that " the new church with the four towers at Westminster is an ornament to the city," and states that the writer of the article " deepl)' regrets that a vista was not formed from Old Palace Yard so as to bring its beaut)- fairly into view." The description of the Church and its vicinit)' by Dickens in Our Mutual Friend, which has already been given, is thus reviewed by Mr. Alfred Rimmer in \\\<^ About England ii-'ith Dickens ( 1 883) : — " In this region are a certain little street called Church Street, and a certain little blind square called Smith Square, in the centre of which last retreat is a verj' hideous church, with four towers at the four corners, generally resembling some petrified monster, frightful and gigantic, on its back with its feet in the air." This is the description of St. John the Evangelist, a church that occupies all the centre part of Smith Square. Yet the church was the work of an architect who enjoyed great honour in his day, and whose designs figure worthily among stately elms in some of the most beautiful parts of England. By some strange mutation in affairs the architecture that exercised Dickens is again coming in vogue, and the Church of St. John the Evangelist is greatly admired by architects and artists. A happy issue even this is, out of the iconoclastic spirit that has within the last half century destroyed the interest and beauty of some — it is supposed nearly eighty per cent. — of the parish churches of England. The quaint high pews that are now so prized among artists and antiquarians, and that are unhappily becoming so rare, were of the date of this church ; and the details of the church itself are chaste and good. Probably the revived interest in this style may preserve the remnant that re- mains of our old parish churches; they arc nearly all destroyed, but, some portion may escape." 48 TJic OiurcJi. After the Restoration. With the judgment of one other author, the reader will have sufficient diversity of opinion to enable him to deter- mine the true architectural merits of the building. This last extract is from A History of London, by W. J. Loftie, 1883, and shows that the different views so freely expressed more than a century ago are as widely estranged as ever: — " The last parish formally separated from St. Margaret's was St. John's, Westminster. Its church is l^y Vanbrugh's pupil. Archer, and is in a most eccentric style. It resembles, according to one author,* ' a parlour table upset, with its legs in the air.' . . Archer built Cliefden, a handsome pile, and one or two other great houses ; but his designs, some of which were engraved in the ' Vitruvius Brittanicus,' do not entitle him to further notice. The parish is very densely popu- lated, and has several district churches ; but the visitor who seeks for anything of interest in it, will probably be disappointed. . . The epitaph on a lady in Fulham Churchyard will apply : — ' Silence is best.' We now leave the survey of the exterior for a time to take a general view of the interior as it was restored after the fire. All the " ornaments " were replaced, including the sounding board, which was increased twelve inches in diameter " to try whether it will help the voice from the pulpit." For the first twenty years the services of the Church were led by the hautboy, the fiddle, the flute, and the bass viol, or were — " Left to the singing singers With vocal \ oiccs most vociferous In sweet vociferation, to out-vociferise Ev'n sound itself" — (Carev.) unaided by instrumental music. In October, 1749, the Vestry resolved " that it is proper to have an organ." A fortnight later Henry Porter submitted a proposal to pro- vide and erect a " great organ " with twenty stops, without any expense to the parish, and to cause it to be played in a proper manner during the lifetime of his wife and sister, on condition that £}^o per annum be paid during their res- pective lives. In consequence of an objection by Sir John * Cunningham. Handbook for London ; Past and Present, p. 446. Organ and organists. 49 Crosse and Sir Robert Grosvenor, the matter stood in abeyance for twelve months, at the expiration of which it was agreed to on the understanding that the organ should be of the minimum \-aluc of iJ^jOO in the opinion of two experts. On 24 September, 175 i, these experts, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Kelway, certified the completion of the instrument in ac- cordance with the agreement. Twenty years' wear brought complaints of the condition of the organ, which was de- scribed as being " very foul and much out of repair ; it was so full of dust that it was impossible for the pipes to speak." A thorough repair was consequently carried out, and the annuit)' of ^^^30 was continued until the decease of Mrs. Porter in 1793. Mr. Zinzan, Junr., of Brentford, was thereupon appointed organist at ;^20 per annum ; but after occupyingtheposition for fifteen years, in which theduties had been performed by deputy, this gentleman was called upon to answer complaints of the inefficient services so rendered. He immediately undertook to attend personally for a month and to find a more competent substitute or to relinquish his office " in consequence of his residing at Brentford, and of his numerous other avocations." Mr. Zinzan's salary was shortly afterwards increased to £10, and he continued in office until his death, which occurred in 1824.* Hcnrj- Boys was then appointed to the position. In 1 8 19 the organ was again repaired and improved at a cost of i^ 1 80, which was defra)'ed out of the church rate; in March, 1841, £\\2 were expended upon further repairs, and in 1890 the expense of similar work, amounting to ^.^"165 was raised by public subscription. Before leaving the west galler>-, in which the organ was placed, we may menticMi that the congregation had so over- grown the accommodation in 1756 that, in order to provide additional .seats, galleries were constructed along the north * In Pietas Londiitensis, 17 14, "Mr. Nicolas Zinzan" is named as the Rector of St. Martin Outwich and Lecturer of St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street. There is a headstone to the memory of several persons named Zinzan in Ilanwell Churchyard. D 5o An unlucky pinnacle and an empty purse. and south sides at a cost of iJ^400. This sum was raised by appropriating part of the bequest of Richard Farwell, and by a gift of iJ'ioo bySir John Crosse, then member of ParHament for Westminster. A further extension of the seating was made in 1808, when a gallery for "the charity children" was constructed on each side of the organ at a cost of ^100. The south-west pinnacle, \\'hich replaced that destroyed in the fire of 1742, was again placed in jeopardy on the morning of i8th October, 1773, when a violent storm broke out over the centre of the parish. — " Then sudden, through the darkened air, A flash of hghtning" came ; So broad, so bright, so red the glare, The tower seemed on flame." Scott. Damage was also sustained by that part of the roof im- mediately contiguous, a committee of the Vestry being instantly empowered to carry out the repairs. Seventy years having elapsed since the restoration of the church, the necessity for a general repair of the interior and exterior now pressed itself upon the attention of the Vestry. A survey made in the autumn of 18 12 led to a report that the roof, "tye beams," and towers were decayed and dangerous, and that the work required to be executed would cost i^8,500. The aid of Parliament was solicited towards raising the sum ; but this having failed, two eminent counsel were called in to advise upon the legality of levying a church rate to raise the funds. A proposal made at a joint meeting of the two Vestries, to levy a rate of eighteen- pence in the pound, was rejected by the Chairman. An application to the Court of King's Bench for a mandamus followed, and a rate of eightpence was in October, 18 15, levied upon the t^^'0 parishes for the repair of the Church. The improvements were then proceeded with so far as the funds permitted; but increasing demands for seats revived the question, and led to a re-arrangement of the pews, and to the general completion of the repairs in 1824-5. The Description of alterations. 5 ^ outlay on this occasion was ^^4,280, of which ;^58o was for heating apparatus, and ^^^450 for " new flooring under the pews." The alterations are thus described in a letter to the London Magazitie of Januar)', 1826: — " Since I last addressed you on the subject of Westminster Improve- ments numerous others have taken place. The population of the parish of St. John the Evangelist having materially increased of late years, the Church became insufficient to accommodate the parishioners. The Select Vestry of the parish, an- ticipating that they should be under the necessity of erecting a New Church, or of re-modelling and repairing the present magnificent one (the most expensive built in the reign of Queen Anne) ; and consider- ing the expense that would attend the erection of a new Church and establishment, and their inadequate means of sustaining the same, resolved to adopt the latter course. Plans and specifications were ac- cordingly made by W. Inwood, Esq., and put to competition about the middle of June, 1825, when Mr. James Firth, builder to his Majesty, was chosen to perform the necessary alterations. The principal ob- jects were to increase the accommodation for the poor, give extra light to the body of the Church, properly to warm the same in winter, and to admit a change of air in the summer seasons. Previous to these alterations the Church would not contain more than 1,200 persons, in- cluding about 50 free sittings ; but at present accommodaticjn is afforded for about 1,800, including about 500 free sittings. These repairs I will now endeavour to describe, first examining the Exterior. Under the north and south porticoes new square headed door-ways have been opened to the western towers. Their uprights have but three members in the capital : in this respect differing from the up- rights of the door-wa)-s in the centre, which are capped by four mouldings ; and again differing from the door to the corresponding tower on the east side, which is destitute of either capitals or plinths. At the east end the parallelogram, windows collateral with the semi- circular headed window s, have been blocked up with stone, and two additional semi-circular headed windows have been introduced on the north and south sides of the chancel, and glazed with ground and stained glass. The alterations, additions, and improvements in the Interior are so conspicuous, that many parishioners can scarcely recognise their original place of worship. The pews which were formerly of different lengths and widths, have been entirely taken down ; several hundred loads of rubbish, caused by the fire which destroyed the in- terior of the Church about 80 years ago, removed from under the same, to admit a free circulation of the air ; and four double rows of I) 2 52 Description of alterations. air-flues built to heat and ventilate the Church. New floor and joists were put all over the ground plan, and the pews refixed, leaving a spacious nave, and the western portion of the aisles for free sittings. All the projecting- seats and pilasters are cleared away to widen the aisles. From the boss in the centre (which is superior to almost any other of the kind, being about 18 feet in diameter and pendent from ihe ceiling about 5 feet from the centre) was formerly suspended a brass chandelier. There is now no entrance to the galleries from the interior of the Church ; the places where they stood being converted, the one on the north-west corner to the christening-pew, and the other on the opposite angle, into free sittings. The font, removed from a pew (the site of which is now occupied by that for the Churchwardens on the north- west corner of the nave) is railed in from the sponsor's pew. The furnaces to warm the church are erected in the crypt, according to Mr. Silvester's plan. Vestr)'-room provided with a large closet with iron doors. The alterations in the Chancel or Sacrarium are very conspicuous. The two parallelogram windows on each side of the painted window have been blocked up, and a new semi-circular headed window, with handsome architraves, ornamented with roses, introduced on each re- turn wall. To furnish room for these windows, two beautiful mural monuments were removed to the galleries. The centre window repre- sents our Saviour bearing the Cross, supported on his right by St. John the Evangelist, and on his left by St. Paul. It was presented to the parish by T. Green, Esq., of Millbank-row. The upper compart- ment has been replaced by dark clouds, with the descending dove, surrounded by glory. The beautiful architraxe of this window is copied from one in the Temple of Jupiter Stator at Rome. Around the semi-circular head is a range of cherubim, cast from the beautiful sculptured ones on a monument in the neighbouring parish church of St. Margaret. These alterations having been completed, the Church was opened Decemljer 18 with a sermon preached by the Very Rev. the Dean of Westminster, in support of the fund for rebuilding Westminster Hos- pital. A sum, amounting to about 45/, was collected after the sermon." Tlic iron railings and gates enclo.sing the steps at the north and south entrances, were supplied and fixed by Messrs. Burt, at a cost of .;^202, in 1828. Notwithstanding the large expenditure on the works carried out in 1815-16 and 1824-5, the Church appears to have fallen into a deplorabl}' dirty condition in 1841, when An exhortation to Cleanliness. 53 the Archdeacon called attention to the necessity of a thorough cleaning. No improvement having taken place, Archdeacon Sinclair wrote to the Churchwardens in 1844, referring to the appeals made by his predecessors, Arch- deacon Hale and the Bishop of Lichfield, remarking that " the interior is as much in need of being cleaned as that of any church I remember to have seen," and calling upon them to restore " the sacred edifice to a state more worthy of its holy purpose, and more suitable to the respectability of the parish." The Churchwardens having taken the Vestry into council, the latter attributed the delay to the fact that they had no power to make a church rate without the co-operation of their brethren of St. Margaret's ; but the Archdeacon having sent a further remonstrance in January, 1845, negotiations took jilace between the two Vestries, which resulted in a church rate of 3d. in the £ being levied to raise £2,100, apportioned as to i, i ,400 on St. Margaret's and as to i^/oo on St. John's. In October, 1846, a letter from Archdeacon Sinclair was read in which he expressed his satisfaction at the manner in which the work had been executed. In April, 1864, ^^1,000 were drawn from the parish purse to pay for cleaning and painting the interior, on which also, including the modern- ising of the seats, upwards of i^ 1,000 were expended in 1884-5, the sum being raised by a public subscription. Happily there is no ground for complaint of the use of churchwarden's whitewash in all these repeated re-decora- tions — in this respect " old times are changed, old manners gone." We may now turn aside into the Vestry and examine the church plate, carefully kept in the iron closet. According to an inventory entered upon the Vestry Minutes in 1770, it was valued at .2^128 i8s. 5 i^d., and consisted of : — (1/. UWTS. One silver cup, gilt ... weighing 23 11 One silver salver to ditto ... „ 9 7 One other silver cup, gilt ... „ 23 6 OZ. DWTS weighing 8 5 7? 6i 8 5) 62 1 1 ?) ■ 5 lO i8 i8 54 The CJiurcJi Plate. One silver cover to ditto One silver chalice, gilt One other silver chalice, gilt . One large silver dish, gilt One small salver, gilt One silver handle knife, gilt ... „ — — One silver spoon, gilt ... ,, — — One silver chalice and cover, for private sacraments ... ,, — — This plate was annually transferred to the custody of the Churchwardens upon their appointment, and in 1788 was insured against burglaries in the sum of i^ioo. The custo- dians were at the same time requested to make the doors secure, and " to discover offenders and bring them to justice," from which may be inferred that an attempt at purloining the silver had been made. In a return prepared by the Churchwardens in 1889, the church plate, ornaments, furniture, etc., are thus specified : — SCHEDULE of Platf:, Bells, 0rc;an, Furniture, Linen, Coverings for the Lord's Table, etc., and Decorations, Painted Windows, and Pictures belonging to the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster, made by order of the Bishop of the Diocese, 29th September, 1889. Rc-viscd 2 Sill June, iSg2. Communion Plate. (a) Two Chalices, silver gilt. Height, 10 inches ; diameter of bowl, 4j^ inches ; diameter of foot, 4 inches ; Inscriptions : " The gift of Sir RicJiard Gfosvcfior and Sir Thomas Crosse^ Baroftet, tlic two first Churchwardens of this Parish." Coats of Arms of the donors. Date, 173L Weights,* 22 oz. 8 dwts. and 22 oz. 3 dwts. respectively. (b) Two Patens, silver gilt. Diameter, t^}( inches ; diameter of foot, 2^ inches. Weights, 8 oz. 3 dwts. and 9 oz. 6 dwts. respectively. Inscriptionasabove,with coatsofarmsof donors. Date, 1731 (c) Two Flagons, silver gilt. Height, 13X inches ; diameter at foot, i\)i inches. Same inscription and coats of arms as above. Date, 1731. Weights, 62 oz. 11 dwts. and 61 oz. 8 dwts. respectively. * These weights have been very kindly verified by Mr. Thomas Scudamore, of Great Chapel-street, Plate ; Font ; Bells, Organ. 5 5 (d) Two Alms Basons, silver gilt. One 14^^ inches in diameter, weighing 52 oz. 10 dwts. One 9;?^ inches in diameter, weighing 18 oz. 16 dwts. Same inscription, coats of arms, and date as abo\e. (c) Two Alms Basons, silver gilt. Diameter, 13^^ inches; weights, 45 oz. 10 dwts., and 45 oz. _ 3 dwts. respectively; Date, 1784. Inscriptions :" 77/6' _^/// of Mrs. Mary Paccy to the C/mrch of St. John the Evan- gelist, Westminster., by Richard Pea/re, Esq., her Executor, Ann: Don: I/S4. The AV7"^- Ro/?ert Poole Finch, D.D., Rector., Morris Marsault, 1 r-r / j d „ ^ ' > C/iiirchwardens. George Uravcs, J (f) Two Alms Basons, copper gilt. Diameter, 13 inches ; no inscription. (g) One small Chalice, silver gilt. Height, 5)^ inches ; diameter of bowl, 2j^ inches; diameter of foot, 2^ inches ; Inscrip- tion: " The gift of Mr. Joseph Harding, Gent: to ye Church of St. John ye Evangelist, Wesf" Coat of arms of the donor. Weight, 5 oz. 15 dwts. One small Paten, silver gilt. Diameter, 3 inches ; diameter of foot, \% inches ; weight, 2 oz. 18 dwts. Same inscrip- tion as above, with Crest. (h) Two Chalices, silver, modern. Height, 8^ inclics ; diameter, 4^ inches; diameter of base, ^% inches weights, 16 oz. 8 dwts. and 150 14 dwts. respectively ; no inscription. Two Patens, silver, modern. Diameter, 7^ inches. Inscrip- tions : " To the Glory of God. In memory oj Lionel Charles Thynne." ''^ Christus vi/a non lucrum." Weights, 5 oz. 19 dwts. and 5 oz. 18 dwts. respectively. (i) One knife — silver handle. One spoon, silver, perforated Weight, 2 oz. 2 dwts. ; no inscription, but bearing the crests of Sir Richard Crosvenor and Sir Thomas Crosse. (j) Two glass Cruets. 2. Font. — White statuary marble with carved angels at the four corners. No cover. i^Sce page 59.) 3. Bell.s. — Five Bells in all. Three in one turret for the Clock. Two in one turret for Church use. 4. 0r(;.\N. — Three manuels — work by Father Sclniiidt and .\\ery ; added to by Hill. {See page 48.) 56 CJuircJi fHrnitiirc and ornaments. 5. Furniture. Two moveable Chairs used for Sedilia ; Lectern ; Pulpit ; Fald- stool ; Altar ; Credence Table ; brass Altar Cross ; two large brass Candlesticks ; two small brass Candelabra ; four brass Flower Vases ; one Processional Cross ; one Altar Desk, ■ brass ; two brass Brackets for the Pulpit ; one Verger's Staff, silver head, inscription: " 6V. John the Evangelist^ West- minster., lySg. I no. Groves. ') m j 7, ,„;) -^ ^, , \ Cliiirchwardens. Robert Clarke^ ) 6. Altar Cloths. Two white, embroidered silk. One red, embroidered silk and velvet. One purple, with white orphreys. Three sets Sanctuary hangings, white, red, purple. One set Curtains. Two Funeral Palls, one purple and white for adults ; one white for infants. One Press for Altar Cloths, etc. 7. Linen. Altar cloths ; corporals ; chalice veils ; palls. 8. DecoR-VTIONS — no sculptures or other decorations. 9. Windows. Three stained glass ""'ndows. (See pages '^'S> and y).) 10. Pictures. One as an Altar piece. (Sec page 58. j One in the Vestry. (See pag- ^^.j The curious and interesting uiece of parish plate, com- monly known as the " St. John's Snuff-box," which is also deposited in the iron closet in the Vestry, is described in the section assigned to the notice of the Churchwardens, to whom the box belongs. The registers, through which we take a hurried glance before quitting the Vestry Room, contain none of the curious notes and memoranda to be found in those of parishes of earlier date ; indeed there is little worthy of notice besides the instances of longevity in the burial re- gisters to which reference is made in Chapter V., and the following which, leave scope, however, for speculation as to why they should find a place among the burials : — • " The recantation of Margaret Starling, on Thursday, Jan. 6, 1774, the Feast of the Epiphany. I, Margaret Starling, wife of William Starling, of the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster, having been Ijrought up and educated in the principles of the Church of Rome, upon Rccantatuvis ajid Baptisms. 57 serious consideration and real conviction of mind, do now in the presence of God and this congreg^ation, renounce the errors of that Church, and embrace the Protestant religion as by law estab- 'shed in this kingdom called England. Thomas Bennett, Curate and Lecturer. Joshua Flcetivood, (Lay Clerk.) Ann Roberts, (Vestry Woman.) Riehard Sharp. Ann S/iarp. "August 13, 185 1. The Recantation of Timothy Downey and Bridget Downey, his wife, in the Church of St. John the Evange- list, at si.\ o'clock in the evening on the above day. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy (ihost. We, Timothy Downey and Bridget Downey, husband and wife, having been brought up and educated in the principles of the Church of Rome, upon serious consideration and real conviction of mind, do now in the presence of God and of this congregation utterly renounce the doctrine of the Church of Rome concerning Purgatory, Pardons, worshipping and adoration as well of Images as of Reliques, and also Invocation of Saints, and all other erroneous doctrines and superstitions, usages of the said Church, grounded upon no warrant wf Scripture and repugnant to the same, and embrace the Faiih of the Church of England, as now by law established, and we believe the Liturgy, Articles, and Homilies of the Church of Eiii,'land to be founded on the Scrip- tures and to contain all doctrines necessary to salvation. (Signed) Tiiny- Ddii'ney, B. Downey. (Signed) John Jennings., Rector. Witnesses \ ^^'-"^^^ James Jenner I „ Elizabeth Hannah Berioie/;. The frequency with which the baptism of coloured people took place in the middle of the last century, suggests a watchful interest on the part of heads of households in the welfare of their negroes, and reminds us that the possession of a black servant was one of the fashions of the da}-. The following are transcribed as a specimen of the entries to be met with : — 1730. 2 April. John Chaffinch, a Blackamoor, 16 years of age, baptized by Mr. Moore. No money. 1 73 1. Oct. 1 1. Sanders Dover, a Blackamoore boy, aged 13, 1733. Jan. 10. John Brown, a Blackamorc. 1760. 5 Sept. John James, an adult black. 1772. Feb. 5. Andrew Clarke, a .Mulatto of riper years. 58 The East-ivindozv and the Altar-piece. 1773. Aug. 23. Andrew Jones, an adult Blackmoor. 1773. Sept. I. John Johnson, an adult Blackmoor. Sarah Johnson, an adult Blackmoor. 1786. Feb. 10. James Murray Clans, an adult Blackmoor. Returning from the Vestry Room to the interior of the Church, the east window first attracts our attention. It consists of three Hghts, the centra' one of which is a repre- sentation in stained glass of our Lord bearing His Cross. One of the side hghts contains the figure of St. John the EvangeHst, the other that of St. Paul. Mr. Walcott states that the central figure " is said to have been brought from some ancient Church in Rouen," and a loose paper, inserted in the Vestry minute book for 18 18, bears the inscription, " this figure was formerly in one of the windows of the Great Church in Rouen." The figure of St. John the Evan- gelist was presented by Mr. Thomas Green in April, 181 3 ; that of St. Paul was given by the same gentleman in 1818 ; and that of our Lord was purchased by the Vestry for £^2 in June of the same year through Mr. Green's instrumenta- lity. The list of Benefactions states that the two figures given by Mr. Green came from " the Old Church at Rouen." From this, together with the artistic resemblance, it may not be improbable that all three parts of the window were brought from Normandy. The window was formed and completed at the expense of the Church funds in 1818. In February, 1827, Mr. Simon Stephenson, solicitor and vestry clerk to the Joint Vestries of St. Margaret and St. John, presented a valuable painting as an Altar-piece. Mr. Walcott says that this work "although attributed to Morales, is more likely to have been the work of Francisco Ribalta, a Spanish artist, born in 1551." Mr. Stephenson's letter to the Vestry, which must have escaped Mr. Walcott's notice, leaves no doubt as to the facts : — Great Queen Street, yth February., 182^. Dear Sir, — As there will be a Meeting of the Vestry of your parish to-morrow, I have taken the liberty of sending to the Vestry Room a copy which I have caused to be made, of the Chancel ivindoivs. Font. 59 admired painting by Murillo, of Christ bearing the Cross, which decorates the Altar of Magdalen College Chapel, Oxford. It has been executed bj^ Mr. John Bridges, of that city, an artist of acknowledged merit. If the gentlemen of the Vestry should deem it worthy to supply the want of a painting at the Altar of their beautiful Church, I beg the favour of you to present it to them for their acceptance, as a small token of my respect, and an acknowledgment of the distinguished kindness I have invariably experienced from them. I have the honour to remain, (Sic, (Signed) Siimn- Stkphknson. Charles \V. Hai.lett, Esq., Churchwarden of Si. JoJiiis. The Rector, the Rev. H. Holland Edwards, then residing at Llanwrst, in North Wales, was consulted before the Vestr}' accepted the gift ; but not having replied to the letter, the Vestry passed a profuse resolution of thanks to the donor for his splendid addition to the embellishments of the Church, expressive of their high admiration of the talent of the artist and the taste of his patron, and ap- pointed a Committee to wait upon Mr. Stephenson " to mark in an especial manner the feelings of the Vestry on the occasion." The picture, which is concealed by the draping of the Altar during certain of the Church Festivals, v\ as hung under the personal supervision of the artist. On the north and south sides of the chancel are two stained glass windows which can only be seen from the in- terior of the Church by approaching the altar rail. These were given by Mr. (afterA\ards Sir) H. A. Hunt and his brother in memory of their parents. Mr. Hunt also pre- sented the very elegant font and the rails enclosing it. It was erected in 1847 from a design by Mr. Charles Barry, jimior. The carving was the work of the celebrated John Thomas, of Lambeth, the sculptor to the Hou.sc of Commons, and the artist of the lions at the Menai Ikidge. The font is 3 feet 10 inches high, 3 feet 2 inches in diameter at the top, and is of solid white statuary marble, standing on a step of Anstone. The pedestal supporting the bowl is fluted, and ri.scs from a plinth of Sicilian marble. At the four corners 6o MoJiioncuts. of the bowl are winged demi-angels, with their arms crossed upon their breasts or their hands joined in prayer, and the rim is ornamented by a leaf moulding. Having already noticed the organ in the west gallery and the circumstances under which it was built {see p. 48), we return to the east end of the south aisle to commence a survey of the monuments, and to note the inscriptions thereon. MONUMENTS. In the Soicth Aisle ^ East end. "■'I. "David Green, Esq., forty years an inhabitant of this parish ; during which period he served various parochial offices, and was a hljeral contributor to the several charities. An affectionate husband, a tender father, and a faithful friend. He departed this life the 5th day of February, 1837, aged "j-^P Memento Jtonio quia cinis es. [A marble tablet on a slate slab, Poole, fecit]. *2. "Joseph Bennett, for thirty-six yeais an inhabitant of this parish, who departed this life October 30th, 1841, aged 60 years." [A marble tablet on a slate slab, Patent Works, Esher-street, Westmr-] 3. " In the churchyard of this parish is laid all that was mortal of of Jane, wife of the Rev^- John Jennings, M.A., the rector of this parish, who died September 20th, 1833. Through the merits and mercies of her Blessed Redeemer she waits in hope of a joyful resurrection." [A small brass on a slate slab.] *4. ' Stephen Cosser, Esq., one of the Justices of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Middlesex ; whose life was as distinguished by the confidence, as his death by the regrets of his friends ; and whose private virtues, alas ! will be feelingly recollected, though inadequately recorded on this mute tribute of Gratitude. Born at Edinburgh, 2nd Febry., 1754. Buried at Chichester, 2nd July, 1806." [A fine marble tablet, ornamented with fasces encircled by a wreath of oak-leaves, and by the Arms of the deceased — l. Or; between three horses' heads sable, on a chevron, three mullets O)' 2. Party per pale. Gules ; between three crosses fitchees, a chevron argent. Or ; three estoilles issuant from crescents gules.- — Westmacott, junr. , fecit.] 5. " Erected by many attached friends in affectionate Remembrance of Susan O'Brien Smith, who died 24 February, 1879, and of Louisa Stone Smith, who died 5 June, 1S79, beloved daughters of Henry Stone Smith." " Fello'w helpers to the truth.'" [Recessed brass tablet within carved arch.] Monuments. 6\ 6. " Henry Stone Smith, only son of Capt. John Langdalc Smith, R.N., and SARAH, his wife. For 86 years an inhabitant of this parish, born 1795, <-^'ed i88i. He was for 34 years Chief Clerk of the Parliament Office, House of Lords, having' spent 63 years in the Public Service. He lived in honour and he died in peace. Erected by his surviving daughters and grand- daughters.'' [Recessed marble tablet within carved arch identical in form with No. 5.] Af the West cud. 7. The \'en. John Jennings, M.A., Archdeacon of Westminster for fifty-one years rector of this parish. Died March 26th, 1883, in the 85th year of his age. [A fine marlile monument with a faithful and well executed bust of the Archdeacon in basso relievo. — R. Belt, S^-] In the North Aisle., West oid. *8. George Henry William Knyvett, youngest son of Charles Knyvett, Esq''*^, of Sonning, Berks. During the last three years of his life, he was resident in this parish, where the efforts of his fervent charity, and of his unwearied devotion of time and labour to the cause of religion, \\ill long survive him. He died on the 27th November, 1840, in the 28th year of his age, to the great grief of his family, and of the many attached friends, who have dedicated this humble tribute to his memory. [An elegant marble monument ornamented with a relicz'o of hi.s likeness.] /;/ the North Aisle., East end. 10. "Lewis Hertslet, for 58 years a resident in this parish. Died 15 March, 1870, aged 82. Mary Spencer Hertslet, his beloved wife, Died 14 Feb., 1871, aged 61. [Recessed marble tablet.] And on a small tablet below — Hannah Harriet Jemima Hertslet, first wife of the above, died 23rd August, 1828. \\. "John Morris, Esq., of this parish, whose worth and integrity secured for him the appointment of chief clerk under six successive Lord Chief Barons of the Court of Exchequer, at Westminster. He died February, 3rd, 1850, aged 86 years, universally respected and regretted." [Marble tablet on wood— H. Cuttill, Ilolloway.] 12. "By his pupils and fellow teachers in the Sunday .School this tablet is erected as a humble tribute of respect and affection to the memory of Robert Hall, M.A., Barrister-at-Law, Recorder of Doncaster, Member of Parliament for the Borough of Leeds, and for 20 years a teacher in the Tufton-street Sunday School. Born 15th November, 1801. Died 26th May, 1857." " Not slotliful in business ; fcrucnt in spirit., scr7'i/ii^ the Lord" — Rom. XI I., 2. 62 Monuuients. -•'13. "George Tatton, late of this parish. Died 7th July, 1838, aged 85 ; also Mrs. Elizabeth Tatton, died Jany. 17, 1854, aged 91. [Marble tablet on a slate slab, identical in form with No. 15 — J. Gibbs, Millbank-st.] *I4. " Mr. John Bacchus and his family late of this parish, who hath given and left in, trust with the Churchwardens undernamed Four hundred pounds Three per cent. Consolidated Annuities, the Interest arising therefrom is to keep this inscription and the tomb of the family which is in the Burying Ground of this Church in Repair when needful, and when Repairs are not wanting the whole Interest arising from the same is to be given to Ten Poor Housekeepers of this parish of St. John the Evangelist by the Church Wardens for the Time being, and at their discretion upon every Christmas Day. Willm. Barret, Esq., "> ^-i i wt 1 .-,^^ ' \ Church Wardens, 1777. John Williams, ' [A plain marble tablet.] ♦15. " Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Hawkes, wife of Mr. Richard Parker Tillotson, and daughter of George and Elizabeth Tatton, late of this parish. Died 29 September, 1827, aged 47. 16. " Richard Foot, of Parliament Place, in this parish, died 2 January, 181 7, aged 71 ; also Mary, relict of the above, died 8th August, 1834, aged 84 ; also Richard, died 27th June, 1818, aged 4 months ; Ellen, died loth October, 1834, aged 5, children of John and Charlotte Foot, and grand-children of the above. *i7. "Joseph Wood, for.thrty-six years an inhabitant of this paris'h, died 28th day of June, 1828, at his residence, St. Michael's Terrace, Stoke, Devon, aged 62 years.'"' { TJicn folUnos an eulogistic inscripiioti.) [Freestone tablet by R. Johnson.] In tlic South Gallery. *i8. " Mr. Hall Wake, late of Millbank-street, stone and marble mer- chant, who was many years a select vestryman of this parish and by the courtesy of his neighbours was successfully nomi- nated and appointed to execute all the various parochial commissions and offices. Died 17 day of July, 1827, aged 59 years. [A heavy stone monument, with a draped urn on truncated column. — Wood, sculp., Bristol.] * 19. Richard Farwell, esc[uire, a Native of this City, a sincere Chris- tian, a worthy Magistrate, a true Friend, especially to our happy Constitution in Church and State. His remains are de- posited in St. Margaret's Church, to A\'hich Parish and to this MoHHiiients. 63 also He was both living and dying very Beneficent. In respect to his Memory this Monument is put up. But his good Works will more certainly perpetuate the Name of so pious a man. Ob. 25 Feb., 1747. ^t. 70. [A large monument, with a draped urn and weeping cherul). Walcott mentions the Arms — '■'■Sable ; between three cockle-shells rtr^v;/;", a chevron engrailed of the second " — hut this ornamentation, which was no doubt only painted on the marble escutcheon, has disappeared]. 20. Edward Harrack, born i8th October, 1798, died 25 June, 1861. [A brass mural plate]. /// the North Gallery. "21. Jane Sheppard, died 19th August, 1844, aged 41 years. *22. ViRO Reverendo Roberto Pool Finch, S.T.P., Ecclesia: Divi. Petri Collegii Westnionasteriensis Canonico, hujus ParochifE Pastori fidissimo, sacrum, vita ejus e.\imia Religionis Christianit, exemplar proposuit, imitabile ; quod docuit, id exornavit, pius, probus, benevolus ; natus MDCCXXIV' ; denatus MDCCCIII. Nesnon Luciiu uxori optimit ; obiit anno Christi MDCCXCVI, ittatis LXIX. [A marble monument by Nollekens ; Arms — Or : between three griffins passant sahk, a chevron of the second, charged with a shield (?;-; Ijetween three trefoils slipped sable, s. chttyxon gtiles. Mo/ to — Doctus iter melius.] 23. Thomas, sixth son of William Freeman, Esq'^, of Millbank- street, Westminster, who died loth January, 1865, aged 36 years, in hope of eternal life. To record their regret at the early death of one who endeared himself to all classes by his amiable bearing and active benevolence, many friends and neighbours have erected this tablet. [Pedestal surmounted by a Latin cross in basso relievo ; Arms ; Motto — Vigilans et gratus.] (Those marked roil h an asterisk are mentioned by IValeott.) In pursuance of an order of the Vestry on the 15th May, 1800, the following inscription was placed on the front of the western gallery, nearly above the font: — " In Commemoration of their Majesties King Cicorge the Third and Queen Charlotte having on the 22nd day of March, 1800, conferred on the Noble Family of Grosvenor the high honour of being Sponsors in this Church, by their Proxies the Earl Fauconberg and the Countess of Harcourt, together with the Lord Grey dc Wilton in person, to Thomas, the second son of Lord Viscount Belgrave. The ceremony was performed by his Grace John, Archbishop of Canterbury." 64 A verlwsc iiiscription. As originally proposed, the inscription was to have taken the following form : — This Tablet is Erected To commemorate the pious Benignity of Their August Majesties : King George the third, and His Consort Queen Charlotte ; Who, on the 22nd day of March. 1800, IN THIS CHURCH Conferred a singular honour, upon The Noble family of Grosvenor : In becoming Sponsors at this Baptismal Font ; By their Proxies, The Earl of Fauconberg, and the Countess of Harcourt, With Lord Grey de Wilton, in Person : For Thomas, the infant Son of Lord Viscount Belgrave. The Ceremony was performed By His Grace, the Arch Bishop of Canterbury ; And considered by the Rector, Churchwardens And Vestry of this Parish As an event so exemplary : That they unanimously voted this Record ; In the hope that it will have an influence Upon the minds of Parents, of every Rank, To the remotest Posterity. From the fact that the writer in the J.ondon Magazuic in 1825 [see p. 51), does not refer to the inscrip- tion, it may have been obliterated in connection with the works described in that notice. If not at that time, it must have disappeared in 1844, in the course of the re-decoration requisitioned by Archdeacon Sinclair. It existed in 1807,* but several of "the oldest inhabitants" who have been con- sulted upon the subject, have no recollection of having seen the inscription. The church was the first in London lighted b}- gas. The proposal, which included warming, was made to the Vestry by the Gas Light & Coke Company on 14th October, 181 3, the charge to be calculated upon the average cost of coals and can- dles during the three years preceding. The offer, as accepted * Malcolm's Londinitini Kedivwiuii, Vol. IV. p. 168, ''Dignified ivith this high honour." 65 in September, 18 14, was limited to the liicn." 1 1 3 years. He died suddenly in Northamptonshire in October, 1825, in his 88th year. ^77^- J DOWNES. 1776. John Hiscox. Died at Dartford, Kent, 17th February, 1789. 1789. Christopher Scott ; of Queen's College, Cam- bridge, B.A., 1761 ; M.A., 1764. 1802. Richard Glover; of St. John's College, Cambridge, B.A., 1767, M.A., 1771; instituted to the vicarage of Dagenham, Essex, 13th June, 1811. Died at Ilford, June, 1824. 1805. William Davis, B. A. {Sqq corrigenda). 1805. Thomas Longlands ; of Trinity College, Cam- bridge; B.A., 1801; M.A., 1804; vicar of Porchestcr, Hants, 1806 ; Vicar of Great Camfield, E.s.sex, 18 10; vicar of Damerham, Wilts, 1822 ; died 1 856. 1810. D'Arcv Hagcitt ; Fellow of Pcterhou.se, Cam- bridge; B.A., 1796; M.A., 1800; instituted to the vicarage of Pershore, St. Andrew, Worcestershire, lOth May, 1825; died at Bruges, 1850. 1810. Johnson Atkinson Busfield ; of Clare College, Cambridge; B.A., 1796; M.A., 1800; D.D., 1812 ; instituted to the rectory of St. Michael, Wood- street, London, 4th May, 1821 ; died 1849, aged "Jl. 1 8 17. Charles Wodsworth ; of Pembroke College, Cambridge, B.A. 1814; M.A., 1817 ; rector of In- goldesthorpe, Norfolk, 1826; prebendary of Port- pool in St. Paul's Cathedral, 1828; vicar of Hard- ing-stone, Northamptonshire, 1834; vicar of Audley, Staffordshire, 1842, and chaplain to Viscount Palmcrston. Mr. Wodsworth died 28th March, 1844. 18 18. William Johnson. Two contemporary clergymen of this name have been traced — the first of St. John's College, Cambridge, B.A., 1791 ; the second H 1 14 TJie Curates and Lecturers. of St. Alban Hall, Oxford, B.A., 1803 ; M.A., 1821 ; instituted to the rectory of St. Clement, Eastcheap, 19th October, 1820 ; vicar of Mottram, Cheshire, 1826. Died 2nd December, 1840, aged 72. No reliable information is obtainable as to which of these two gentlemen held the curacy of St. John's. 1818. William Johnson Rodber ; curate of St. Mar- garet's ; rector of St. Mary-at-Hill, London, 7th October, 1825 ; died 1843, aged 53. 1 8 19. George Stokes; of Trinity Hall, Cambridge; LL.B., 181 2 ; Vicar-General to the Bishop of Killala. Died, July, 1833. (This gentleman and his immediate predecessor severally signed the Registers as " Officiating Minister "). 1825. Joshua Nussev; of St. Catharine's College, Cam- bridge; B.A., 1822; M.A., 1825 ; in.stituted to the rectory of Poughill, Devonshire, 22nd March, 1837; vicar of Oundle, Northamptonshire, 1845. 1831. Henry Atcheson ; of Jesus College, Cambridge; M.B., 1823 ; M.L., 1825 ; ordained deacon, 1828, priest, 1830; instituted to the vicarage of Kings- bury, Middlesex, 20th December, 1833. 1832. Jenkin Hughes; fourth son of — Hughes of Lledrod, Cardiganshire, gentleman ; of Jesus College, Oxford, matriculated 24th June, 1824, aged 22; B.A., 1828; M.A., 1831 ; master of Abergavenny Grammar School, 1828-32; vicar of Alconbury, Hunts, 1838, until his death on the 23rd April, 1870. 1835. Philip Parker Gilbert ; of Magdalene College, Cambridge; B.A., 1835; M.A., 1839; ordained deacon, 1835, and priest, 1837, by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol ; vicar of St. Mary's, Hag- gerston ; rector of St. Augustine with St. Faith, London, 1853-7 ; vicar of St. Giles, Cripplegate, 1857-1886, " JV/io, earnest in the se7-vice of their God." 1 1 5 1837. Henry Lloyd Oswell ; third son of Rev. Thomas Oswell, of Westbury, Salop ; of Christ Church, Oxford, matriculated loth November, 1831, aged 18 ; B.A., 1835 ; M.A, 1838 ; incumbent of Stoul- ton, Worcestershire, 1843-51 ; vicar of Leighton, Salop, 185 1-9 ; incumbent of Bobbington, Stafford- shire and Salop, 1859-62 ; vicar of St. George's, Shrewsbury, 1866-72; rector of Llandinabo, Here- fordshire, 1872-88 ; living 1892. 1838. Thomas Stone ; of St. John's College, Cambridge ; B.A., 1829 ; M.A., 1834 ; admitted ad eundem at Oxford 26th January, 1837; curate of Felstead, Essex. Died 12th March, 1850. 1839. Abraham Borradaile ; eldest son of Abraham Borradaile, of Clapham ; of Christ Church, Oxford ; matriculated 25th October, 1832, aged 18 ; B.A., 1836; M.A., 1839; vicar of St. Mary's, Tothill- fields, 1 84 1, until his death on 30th January, 1873. 1839. George France ; second .son of William Bcckwith France, of Hammersmith ; of Exeter College, Ox- ford ; matriculated 23rd January, 1834, aged 18; B.A., 1837 ; M.A.. 1840 ; rector and patron of Brockdish, Norfolk, 1842 ; living 1892. 1840. William Tennant ; of Trinity College, Cambridge; B.A., 1836; M.A., 1839; first vicar of St. Stephen'.s, Westminster, 1847, until his death in 1880. 1840. Frederick Style; second son of Thomas Style, of Thames Ditton ; of St. John's College, Oxford ; matriculated 30th April, 1834, aged 18 ; B.A., 1838 ; M.A., 1841 ; Head-master of Thames Ditton School ; vicar of Leigh, Surrey, 1878, until his death on 2nd January, 1884. 1840. James Bandinel ; only son of James Bandinel, of Chelsea ; of Wadham College, Oxford; matriculated 30th March, 1833, aged 18; B.A., 1836; M.A. H 2 1 1 6 TJie Curates and Lecturers. 1844; vicar of Cogges, Oxford, 1856-62; rector of Elmley (or Emly), Yorkshire, 1863-81 ; living 1892. 1843. Henry Stretton ; eldest son of Henry Stretton, of St. Luke's, Middlesex, gentleman ; of Magdalen College, Oxford ; matriculated 24th April, 1839, aged 24 ; B.A., 1843 ; M.A., 1846 ; Head-master of St. Alban's Grammar School, 1866-70; vicar of Eastville, Lincolnshire, 1876 ; joint author with the Rev. Sir W. H. Cope, Bart., of Visitatio Infirinoruin ' Offices for the Clergy,' etc., 3 editions, 1848. 1843. William Jephson ; of Corpus Christi College, Cam- bridge; B.A., 1841; M.A., 1847; rector of Hinton- Waldrist, Berkshire, 1853-80 ; Diocesan inspector of schools. Diocese of Oxford, 1856-/6 ; Rural Dean of Vale of White Horse, 1876-7 ; chaplain at Geneva, 1877-81 ; living 1892. 1846. James Langton WiCxLESWORTH ; of Magdalene College, Cambridge; B.A., 1846; M.A., 1850; curate of Hanslope-with-Castlethorpe, Bucking- hamshire, 1869. 1847. Charles Felton Smith; of Queen's College, Cambridge; B.A., 1839; M.A., 1854; domestic Chaplain to Viscount Combermere, 1840; incum- bent of St. John's, Pendlebury, 1843 I vicar of Crediton, Devon, 1854; prebendary of Exeter, 1856 ; living 1892. 1849. Alfred Jones; of King's College, London ; Theo- logical Associate, 1849; created B.D. by Arch- bishop of Canterbury, 1877; chaplain of Aske's Hospital, 1854-74 ; secretary of the Sunday Rest Association, 1860-76; vicar of Carrington, Cheshire, 1877-82. 1849. William Henry Davies ; chaplain of St. George's Hospital, 1859. (See corrigenda^ ' "■All agreeing in earnestness." 117 1849. John Back ; second son of John Back, of St. Giles, Cripplegate ; of Trinity College, Oxford ; matricu- lated 19th May, 1845, aged 18; B.A., 1849; M.A., 1852 ; rector of St. George-the-Martyr, Blooms- bury, 1858-77; vicar of Horsell, Surrey, 1878-84. Died in August, 1891, and was buried at Horsell. 1853. Laurence William Till; eldest .son of Richard Till, of Clapham, gentleman ; of Pembroke College, Oxford ; matriculated i6th November, 1848, aged 20; B.A., 1852; M.A., 1856; vicar of Chertsey, 1857-73 ; and of St. Paul's, p:ast Moulsey, 1873, until his death, 6th October, 1878. 1854. Henry Edmund Phillips; vicar of Chri.st Church, Leeds, 1859; died 15th June, 1859, aged 28. 1854. William Henry Turle. (See "St. Matthew's, Great Peter-street," Chapter VHI.) 1859. Henry Warwick Hunt; of Trinity College, Cam- bridge; B.A., 1858; M.A., 1861 ; curate of St. Anne's, Soho ; rector of Steppingley, Bedfordshire, 1869-70; now, and since 1872, rector of Sherman- bury, Sussex. 1865. George Miller. (See " Holy Trinity, licssborough Gardens," Chapter VHI.) 1866. Arthur George Warner; .second .son of George Warner, of Horn.sey ; of Christ Church, Oxford ; matriculated 3rd June, 1857, aged 19; B.A., 1861 ; M.A., 1865 ; vicar of St. Mary's, Tothill-fields, 1873-87 ; now, and since 1887, rector of St. Mary- le-Bow, Cheapside. 1871. Henry Hugh Beam.S Paull ; eldest son of Henry Andrew Paull, of Doctors' Commons; of Magdalen Hall, Oxford; matriculated loth May, 1845, aged 25. 1871. GusTAYUS John Jone.s ; of St. John's College, Cambridge; B.A., 1871 ; M.A., 1874; now, and since 1882, vicar of Christ Church, Iu:)rest Hill. 1 1 S TJie Qi rates and Lecturers 1873. Henry Dealtry Thomas ; eldest son of the Rev. Henry Thomas, of Calcutta ; of Wadham College, Oxford; matriculated 13th October, 1866, aged 19; B.A., 1870; M.A., 1873 ; vicar of Longdon, Wor- cestershire, 1885. 1881. Frank Charles Jarvis (now Arnold-Jarvis) ; of Trinity College, Dublin ; B.A., 1880; M.A., 1883; curate of Ealing, 1883-6; of Petersham, 1886-91 ; and since 1891 of Worlabye, Lincoln. 1882. Charles Reeve Taylor of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; B.A. and LL.B., 1868; M.A., 1872; curate of St. Peter's, Berkhampstead, 1869-71 ; of Southwell, 1874-5 ; of Christ Church, Ealing, 1875-7 I St. Luke, Kentish Town, 1878-9 ; acting- chaplain to the Forces, at Aldershot, 1 879-80 ; St. Saviour, Hoxton, 1880-81 ; lecturer in Public Reading and Speaking, King's College, since 1887. 1883. J H Franklyn. 1883. Howard Gurney Daniell-Bainbridge; third son of Richard Percival Daniell, of London; of Trinity College, Oxford; matriculated i8th October, 1875, aged 17; B.A., 1878; MA., 1882 ; of Cuddes- don Theological College, 1879; curate of Shepton- Beauchamp, Somerset, 1880-83; now, and since 1890, Minor Canon and Sacrist of Westminster Abbey. 1883. Henry Maitland Ellls; second son of Rev. Phillip Constable Ellis, of Penmon, Anglesey; of Worcester College, Oxford; matriculated 15th October, 1878, aged 18; B.A., 1881; M.A., 1885; curate of Moordown, Hampshire, 1885-7, ^i^d since 1887 curate of Beaulieu, Hampshire. 1883. Edmund George Lionel Mowbray; third son of Sir John Robert Mowbray, Bart., of Mortimer, Berkshire; of New College, Oxford; matriculated nth October, 1878, aged 19; B.A.. 1882; M.A., 1885; curate of St. Bartholomew, Dover, 1887-90; now, and since 1890, rector of Durley, Hampshire. " To knou', to esteem — and tJien to part'' 1 19 1884. George Herbert Dawson Davies; of Jesus College, Cambridge, and Cuddcsdon Theological College; curate of All Saints, Shrewsbury, 1882-4, of the Holy Redeemer, Clerkenwell, 1886-8, and of Kelsale, Suffolk, 1888. 1885. Ernest Austin Hammick ; fifth son of Rev. Sir Vincent Love Hammick, Bart, of Milton x'\bbott, Devonshire; of Exeter College, Oxford; matriculated i8th May, 1869, aged 19; B.A., 1873; M.A., 1876; rector of Forrabury and of Minster, Cornwall, 1877-85; archdeacon of Zululand, 1886-9; living, 1892. 1886. George Napier ; seventh son of Rev. Charles Walter Albyn Napier, rector of Wiston, Sussex; of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford; matriculated 7th February, 1878, aged 18; B.A., 1 881; M.A., 1889; curate of St. John, Truro, 1882-5, and of St. Mary, Truro, 1885-6; now vicar designate of St. Mary's, Tothill-fields. 1887. Bernard Wilkinson; second son of Rev. John Bourdieu Wilkinson, of Westminster ; of Lincoln College, Oxford, matriculated 29th January, 1879, aged 18; B.A., 1882 ; M.A., 1887. 1888. John Primatt Maud, Junr. ; son of Rev. John Primatt Maud, Vicar of Ancaster, Lincolnshire ; of Keble College, Oxford ; matriculated 14th October, 1879, aged 19; B.A., 1883; M.A., 1887; vicar of Chapel Allerton, Yorkshire, since 1890. 1890. Francis Roiunson Phelps ; eldest son of Rev. Joseph Francis Phelps, of Newfoundland ; of Keble College, Oxford; matriculated i8th December, 1882, aged 19; B.A., 1886; M.A., 1889; curate of St. Philip's, Battcrsea, 1887-90. 1891. I1i;nrn' ]U)EN Olivier; third son of Rev. Dacres Olivier, rector of Wilton, Wilts ; of New College, Oxford; matriculated 16th Januar)-, 1887, aged 18 ; B.A., 1889. 1 26 TJic Burial Ground. GlIAPTER V. THE BURIAL GROUND. Let's talk of graves, and worms, and epitaphs." " Richard II. '' Who hath not loitered in a green churchyard. And let his spirit like a demon-mole. Work through the clayey soil and gravel hard. To see skull, cofifined bones, and funeral stole ; Pitying each form that hungry Death hath marred. And filling it once more with human soul ?" Keats. Purchase of Site. — Fees. — Torchlight funerals. — Overcrowded con dition. — Proposed enlargement. — Ground raised. — Enlargement. — Closed by Order in Council. — Claims by the Rectors. — " Body- snatching." — Conversion of the ground into a Public Garden. — Burial Registers. — Longevity. T MMEDIATELY after the Church had been opened for public worship, the Vestry appointed a Committee " to consider several pieces of ground offered as proper for cemeteries." Their report, presented to the Vestry in April, 1729, recommended a site in Wood-street, with a passage into North-street, the property of Mr. Henry Smith, from whom the site of the Church had been pur- chased. Without further communication with the Vestry, the Commissioners acquired a small plot of ground in the Horseferry-road, which was in due course laid out, though it was not enclosed for more than twenty years afterwards. In July, 1731, the Vestry petitioned the Dean and Chapter " to get the burying ground consecrated," and to approve of a table of fees proposed to be charged. The ceremony was performed on 29th July by Dr. Wilcocks, Dean of West- minster and Bishop of Gloucester, who was translated to Rochester the same year. The apparitor's bill of fees and costs incidental to the occasion amounted to i^i6 lO^. 2d. Funereal customs of last century. i2l In the first list of fees an extra chari^e of five shillings was prescribed for all interments after ten o'clock at night. Subsequently (in 1748) this extra fee was imposed upon funerals taking place after nine o'clock. Orders were also passed prohibiting interments after midnight, and direct- ing that mourners' lights should not be taken into the church. These were the days in which the custom of lying in state and burial by torchlight was general among the well-to-do. The bodies of merchant.s and tradesmen were laid among black velvet hangings, with wax candles around the coffin, and the houses were left open for the admission of the neighbours to the chamber of death. Besides the " searchers," who were appointed by the parish authorities to see that the body bore no marks of foul play, " the plumper " was called in " to bedizen the body,* and to make what the ladies used to call 'a charming corpse.'" Torchlight funerals, to which Pope refers in the well known lines: — When Hopkins dies, a thousand Hyhts attend The wretch who, h\ing, saved a candle's end — • were continued in St. John's until late in the last century. As many as thirty men were sometimes employed t(j assist at one of the.se dismal pomps, and more than half a hundred weight of wax candles, which then cost three shillings per pound, were used at one procession. It was also considered a breach of decorum for any mourner to appear at a funeral without a sprig of rosemary. Irrespec- tive of the searchers' fees, which varied from 2s. 6d. to /s. 6d. each, and exclusive of the undertaker's proper charges, the cost of this melancholy display was often as much as £\2 or ^15. A striking contrast to this ostenta- tion is furnished by an order of the Vestr}', that the bearers should not wear their silk bands at pauper funerals, and that the pall to be used on such occasions should be of cloth instead of velvet, and inscribed with the words, * The Oxford and Cambridge Monthly Miscellany, September, 1750. 122 Overcrowded state of the burial-ground. " Buried at the expense of the Parish." This stigma was removed in 1807. The Commissioners had so underestimated the mortaHty of the parish, that within twenty years from the consecra- tion the overcrowded condition of the burial ground became the cause of much anxiety. A proposal to enlarge the area by acquiring a piece of land on the west side had to be abandoned in consequence of the exorbitant price, and the deposit of three feet of earth over the whole site, at a cost of ^125, was accepted as a remedy. Seven years later (1758) the process of 'raising' had to be repeated, though the expense was less, owing to a large quantity of mould and rubbish being available from the excavation in connection with extensive alterations then being made at St. Margaret's Church. The fees were also raised at this time with the view of reducing the number of interments. A further increase of charges was resorted to in 1784, when it was reported that the ground was " exceedingly full, owing. to the low fees attracting interments from other parishes." A brick wall was erected in this year to enclose and embank the ground. Between 1803 and 1823, many entries tell of the troubles occasioned by the extent to which the death-rate had overgrown the small burial ground. One report declares " the uppermost corps to be scarcely more than two feet below the surface," and records an unsuccessful attempt to induce Lord Grosvenor to sell " a part of the fields adjoining the present burial ground ; " another minute records yet a further " raising of the ground " at a cost af ^^265, besides ^^24 for beer for the men. Then follows an order that the fees be quadrupled ; but this expedient having failed, an urgent report was presented to the effect " that the part of the ground allotted for the poor is buried all over four or five deep ; that 5,126 graves had been dug in ten years ; that 5 or 6 coffins are placed in every grave where eight feet in depth can be obtained, and that many of the bodies are less than two feet from the surface " ! Additional land purchased. i53 With this impartial and indisputable testimony before us, the description in Bleak House of the burial, in just such another place, of the unknown man, who was very good to Jo, which we might have regarded as being severely drawn, recalls itself with realistic accuracy : — Then the active and intelHgent (beadle), who has got into the morning papers as such, comes with his pauper company to Mr. Krook's, and bears off the body of our clear brother here departed, to a hemmed-in churchyard, pestiferous and obscene, whence mahg- nant diseases are communicated to the bodies of our dear brothers and sisters who have not departed ; while our dear brothers and sisters who hang about official back-stairs — would to Heaven they had departed ! — are very complacent and agreeable. Into a beastly scrap of ground which a Turk would reject as a savage abomination, and a Caffre would shudder at, they bring our dear brother here departed, to receive Christian burial. With houses looking on, on every side, save where a reeking little tunnel of a court gives access to the iron gate — with every villany of life in action close on death, and every poisonous element of death in action close on life — here, they lower our dear brother down a foot or two : here, sow him in corruption, to be raised in corruption : an avenging ghost at many a sick-bedside : a shameful testimony to future ages, how civilization and barbarism walked this boastful island together. In 1823, Lord Grosvenor relieved the parish from its dis- creditable position by surrendering a plot of land adjoining the original ground, upon payment of ;^2,o50, or 25 years' purchase, the compensation for the leasehold interests being fixed by arbitration at ;^2,2 58. This additional space was consecrated on 23rd June, 1823, immediately upon which the "poor" ground was closed entirely against further inter- ments. By this time the number of military funerals had become considerable, owing to the existence of the three soldiers' hospitals in the parish; }'et in September, 1853, when the new ground had been in constant requisition for thirty ye?.rs, the Vestry offered the strongest possible resistance to Lord Palmcrston's proposal to close the entire ground against fin-ther burials. His Lordship rc])lietl, how- ever, that " the ground had had deposited in it about six times the number of bodies it was properly fit to hold, and 124 T^^^^ Burial Gfound. Claims by the Rectors. had become a great public nuisance." The closing Order was issued on 31st October, 1853. A loss to the revenue of the Church of ;^240 followed, in consequence of which the salaries of all the Church officers were reduced, and other economies adopted. In 1 77 1 the Rector, the Rev. Joseph Sims, claimed the ground as his glebe, and alleged that he was entitled "to receive all moneys paid to the Churchwardens for grave- stones, vaults, herbage, etc. Seven years later, Dr. Blair, who had succeeded Mr. Sims in the rectory, asserted a similar claim. To both these pretensions the Vestry, after having consulted counsel, offered a resolute resistance, in consequence of which nothing more was heard of the subject. {See page 6'S>.) Readers of Dickens's Tale of Two Cities will recollect the skilful pourtrayal of the " Resurrection-man " in the character of Jerry Cruncher, the messenger at Tellson's, who, as "a honest tradesman, accustomed to make his wayquietly," supplemented the income of his position by "going afishing" with a sack, a convenient crowbar, a rope, and some chain as his tackle. When challenged with having " an unlawful occupation, of an infamous description," Cruncher described himself as " an agricultural character " and pleaded that " wot with undertakers, wot with parish clerks, wot with sextons, and wot with private watchmen (all awaricious and all in it) a man wouldn't get much by it even if it was so." The abominable offence of stealing dead bodies for dis- section, which is said to have commenced in the autumn of 1777, at the burial ground of St. George's Church, Blooms- bury, soon gave rise to trouble in St. John's. In 1781, the Vestry appointed two watchmen for night duty, to prevent such outrages ; subsequently they presented a petition to Parliament calling attention to the necessity of better secur- ing burial grounds and of the "more effectual punishment of violators of the rights of sepulture." As the offence became less prevalent, the watchmen were dispensed with ; Felonious disinterments. 125 but one morning in November, 18 14, a spade, a sack, and a great coat being found upon the ground, led to the infer- ence that thieves had been disturbed at the commencement of their operations. The watchmen were thereupon re- instated, armed with pistols, and supplied with powder and ball for their protection, the brick wall was raised, and a dwarf wall, with tall iron railings and gates, was erected at the Horseferry-road front. All these precautions were of little avail, however, as two men and a woman were shortly afterwards detected in the act of disinterring a body. They were all three convicted and sentenced to hard labour, after which there is no record of a repetition of the outrage. This is somewhat remarkable in view of the extent to which the offence was committed in Lambeth, with which parish there was constant communication by boat from the Horse Ferry. In October, 1794, a hackney coachman who was apprehended in the act of conveying dead bodies from the burial ground in High-street, Lambeth, was brought before the Magistrate at Union Hall, Borough. At the time the coach was seized, the body of the late porter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, that of a young womaii, and those of two children, were in it. The discovery caused such consternation among the inhabitants that they obtained permission for the friends of those recently buried to examine whether or not the bodies remained in the graves. " Shocking to say,* upwards of two hundred of the coffins taken up were found to be empty " (!). Large rewards were offered for the apprehension of the thieves, and a public remonstrance was afterwards, on sanitary grounds, made against the re-opening of the graves. With this information before us we are less disposed to criticise Hood's sketch o{ Jack Hall when he says — By day it was his trade to go Tending the black coach to and fro ; And sometimes at the door of woe, With emblems suitable, He stood with brother Mute, to show Tliat life is mutable. * Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. LXIV. , p. 274. 126 Bii7-ial in woollen. But long before they passed the ferry^ The dead that he had helped to bury He sacked — (he had a sack to carry The bodies off in) ; In fact he let them have a very Short fit of coffin. Night after night, with crow and spade, He drove this dead biit thriving trade. Meanwhile his conscience never weighed, A single horsehair ; On corses of all kinds he preyed, A perfect corsair. The use of woollen material for shrouds, which was made compulsory by an Act of Parliament passed in 1667-8 (Charles II.) was enforced in this parish so lately as 181 1, as shown by an entry in the Churchwardens' Accounts under date of 28th March in that year : — Received a moiety of the penalty for Mrs. Christie being buried in linen ... ... ... ... £z 10 o The object of the Act was " the encouragement of the woollen manufacture of this kingdom, and prevention of the exportation of the moneys thereof for the buying and importing of linen"; but the penalty of £'^ did not prevent the frequent breach of its provisions. In detestation of the law "Nance Oldfield," the celebrated actress, who spent her early life in Westminster, gave directions in her last moments for her interment in full dress — directions noticed by Pope in his Moral Essays (Epistle I., line 246): — " Odious ! in woollen ! 'twould a saint provoke ; " (Were the last words that poor Narcissa spoke) " No, let a charming chintz and Brussels lace Wrap my cold limbs, and shade my lifeless face : One would not, sure, be frightful when one's dead — And — Betty t —give this cheek a little red." From lack of funds, owing to the Order in Council for the closing of the ground having effectually cut off the income, the place soon began to wear a neglected appearance. Walls, railings, vaults and gravestones, all fell t A reference to Mrs. Saunders, Mrs. Oldfield's confidential friend. TJic ^dreadful spot' improved. 127 into decay, and for five and twenty years the spot wore the gloomy aspect in which Esther, to quote from Bleak House again, found the burial ground to which she was conducted after her night's journey through the thawing snow — "where one lamp was burning over an iron gate, and where the morning faintly struggled in. The gate was closed. Beyond it was a burial ground — a dreadful spot in which the night was very slowly stirring; but where I could dimly see heaps of dishonoured graves and stones hemmed in by filthy houses, with a few dull lights in the windows, and on whose wall a thick humidity broke out like a disease." Improvement came about, however, in a somewhat un- expected manner. In 1878, the Westminster District Board of Works, having been long impressed with the need of a public mortuary, proposed to erect such a building upon the disused ground. The voice and vigour of the Rector were soon exercised in opposition to the project ; but it was approved by 74 votes at a meeting of parishioners. Not- withstanding a generous offer made by the Duke of Westminster to grant a freehold site for the structure elsewhere, the application for a faculty was persevered with, but it met with refusal. The offer of a site was never- theless confirmed by the Duke of Westminster, and the project bore other good results in that it aroused to activity the interest of the parishioners in their burial ground. A committee of inhabitants was instituted in 1880 to lay out the ground, to take the necessary steps to convert it into a public garden, and to rai.se funds for the purpose by an appeal for public subscriptions. Their efforts were aided by a faculty granted by the Consistory Court, and by the passing of the Metropolitan Open Spaces Act, by which the Westminster Board of Works was enabled to take over the maintenance of the ground. A further encouragement to the adoption of this course was offered b}' the Duke of Westminster who, besides contributing liberal 1)- to the funds raised by the inhabitants' committee, placed a more suitable site for 128 Bronipton cemetery. mortuary buildings than that at first proposed, at the dis- posal of the Board, upon the expiration of the short residue of the lease. The committee lost no time in carrying out the work, in connection with which a strip of the ground was surrendered for the widening of Horseferry-road. The whole was completed at an expense of i^ 1,622, irrespective of the cost of the street improvement, which was defrayed by the Board, and the ground publicly opened and dedicated as an open space on the 23rd May, 1885, by the Duke of Westminster. In December, 1866, Mr. (now Sir) F. Seager Hunt (M.P. for Marylebone), undertook to erect a shelter or pavilion in the centre of the garden. The structure was completed in April, 1887, at a cost of ^200. Long before the issue of the Order in Council for the closing of the ground in 1853, a company had obtained power from Parliament (i Vict., cap. cxxx.) to provide a cemetery at Brompton for interments from Westminster. By section 22 of the Act, a fee of ten shillings was reserved to the Rector of St. John's upon every interment from his parish in the consecrated portion of the cemetery. By an Act passed in 15 & 16 Vict. (cap. 85), the cemetery became vested in the Crown; but the fees in respect of the entire civil parish of St. John's continued to be paid to Archdeacon Jennings until his death, when they were distributed among the vicars of the several ecclesiastical districts into which the mother parish had been divided. A perusal of the burial registers from 1731 to 1853, dis- closes little of interest beyond the evidence of longevity in the parish which they furnish. No less than 107 nonoge- narians and seven centenarians* are registered. Of the former, seven had entered upon their 99th year, and 26 * In 1783, Elizabeth Smith, widow, aged lOO years, was an unsuccessful candidate for admission to the Emanuel Hospital. She renewed her applica- tion two years afterwards; but again failed to obtain the charity. Her burial is not entered in St. John's registers. On the 27th May, 1784, died George Sims, of Great Peter Street, aged 102 years, Longevity. A doubtful case. 129 died in the workhouse. The names and addresses of the seven centenarians have been extracted : — Year. Name. Address. Age. 1787 . . Nicholas Gentle . The Workhouse 100 iZoo . . Catherine Fraser .. . St. Ann's street .. 107 1817 . . EHzabeth Hearn . St. Ann's street .. 100 1828 . . Elizabeth Shuan . 44, Old Pye street 100 1833 • . Susannah Forg-ain .. . The Workhouse 100 1834 . . Mary Purdy . 9, Esher street .. 100 1838 . . Elizabeth Stanley .. . The Workhouse .. lOI No stone or tablet in the burial ground marks the resting place of either of these. The only stone which records an age of more than 100 years, is that of Christopher Shephard distiller, of Peter-street, who died on the 5th April, 17X2, aged 146 years. The stone, which lies on the east side of the ground, reveals, on close inspection, a clumsy piece of carving in the " i " prefixed to the "46." There is also the appearance of the figure preceding the " 2 " having been defaced so as to prevent the entry being easily checked by the registers. A search extending over sixty years discovered the entry of the burial as having taken place in 1732. No ages are given in the register ; but as odd memoranda are in some places added on commonplace subjects, it is remarkable that so great an age was not thought worthy of note. An application was made to the Vestry on 25th April, 1732, for leave to construct a vault, and £^ 5s. was paid for the concession ; but although the particulars entered on the Vestry minutes are in other respects full, there is no mention made of the age. Walcott states that the burial ground contains the ashes of an Indian Chief, who, having been brought to England in 1734 by Mr. James Oglethorpe, died of small- pox, and was buried in the presence of the 'emperor Toma,' after the custom of the Karakee Creeks, .sewn up in two blankets, between two deal boards, with his clothes, some silver coins and a few glass beads. The same author also mentions a tomb bearing an inscrip- I 130 The Burial Ground. tion to the memory of Donald Grant, D.D., "whose ecclesias- tical emoluments during a ministry of forty-four years in the Established Church amounted to ;^743, or an average of rather less than £1^ per annum. Yet, with no original patrimony he was enabled to preserve through life the independence of a man, and the respectability of a clergy- man ; to supply the decencies of a comfortable mediocrity ; to spare something for the wants of Genius, Industry and Worth, and to leave a benefaction for the education of two young men in his parent University!" Owing in all proba- bility to the displacement of the stones during the laying out of the ground, the tomb is not now traceable. On the east side of the ground stands an unsightly monument in granite, clumsily inscribed in huge letters to the memory of " Ch""- Cass, Master Mason to His Maj.'s Ordnance. Died Apl. 21, 1734. Aged 58." He was employed on the construction of St. John's Church, and on several of the other churches built by Queen Anne's Com- mission. He was also one of the original vestr}'men appointed by the Commission. A plain headstone marks the resting place of James Caldwall, a celebrated designer and engraver, who died 9th March, 1822, at the age of 84. He applied his talent mainly to portraiture, in which he obtained commands from Catherine, Countess of Suffolk, Sir Henry Oxenden, Bart., Sir John Glynne, Admiral Keppel, Mrs. Siddons, and other distinguished persons. He was also an exhibitor at the Society of Artists and at the Free Society between 1768 and 1780. There is nothing in the other inscriptions to encourage us to make a " Fond attempt to give a deathless lot To names ignoble, born to be forgot,". for besides the railed tomb of John Bacchus, which was repaired and painted until 1889 by the Trustees of his Alderman Johnsons tombstones. 131 charity,* and a plain flat gravestone inscribed " Aid"- J. J.," to the memory of Lord Mayor Johnson, who was church- warden in 1845, there are no other stones deserving of special notice here. The inscription on the large granite slab, which has been placed on the south side of the ground to supersede, as it were, the last named modest stone, is copied in the reference to Alderman Johnson in the next chapter. But it is time to bring to a close a visit already, perhaps, too protracted, lest we prompt the enquiring complaint — • Wherefore all this wormy circumstance ? Why linger at the yawning tombs so long ? * This obligation has not passed to the Trustees appointed under the Scheme of the Charity Commission. See Chapter xvi. I 2 132 ^^ Here's a zvisc office?:" Chapter VI. THE PARISH OFFICERS. " And honour's thought Reigned solely in the breast of every man." " Henry V." " They pursue the pebbly walk That leads to the white porch the Sunday throng, And posied churchwardens with solemn stalk And gold-bedizened beadle flames along." Hood. " It often happens that those are the best people whose characters have been most injured by slanders, as we usually find that to be the sweetest fruit which the birds have been pecking at." — Poi'E. The Parish Beadle. — The Churchwardens ; List of — ' Churchwarden's day.' — Fines for non-acceptance of office. — A funeral. — An impri- sonment. — A procession. — Mr. Taverner John Miller. — The Church- wardens' ' Snuff-bo.x.' — The Treasurers. — The Overseers ; List of — The Overseers' ' Tobacco-bo.x.' — Vestry Clerks. /^UR survey of the burial-ground being ended, we turn to mingle again with the living and to consult with some of those who have distinguished themselves as office bearers in the parish. With this object we direct our steps in search of the parish clerk ; but our progress is arrested by a husky voice as we leave the silent acre. The owner of this voice overtakes us. He is short, with a disposition to corpulent rotundity, and with an infirm gait which has invoked the aid of a thick stick. If the assumed air of officious gravity and importance had failed to inform us of his dignity and power, the profusion of gilt band upon his broad-brimmed hat * and of gilt braid upon his wide red collar, \\'ould soon have warned us that we were confronted by no less a functionary than Scowler, the beadle ! If we had had any doubt, it would at once have been set at rest * The annual charge for the beadle's hats was £/^ 19s. od. — £t, 3s. od. for the " Cocked Hat and gold lace complete," and £1 i6s. od. for the " Round, Hat and gold lace complete." The payments were continued so lately as 1845. The parish beadle. 1 3 3 by the awe-inspired alacrity with which two Httlc children sped across the road to avoid his threatening eye. Having gratified his curiosity as to our business in the burial-ground, we had no difficulty in exciting his garrulity, in which the dignity and responsibility of his office were in no way im- paired by absence of effort on his part to maintain it. We soon learned that his special errand at the time was to bear a draft handed him by Mr. Seater, the rector's church- warden, to present to the Treasurer in exchange for cash to meet the payments due to the parish clerk, the sexton, the organist, the pew-openers, the bearers, the searchers, the collectors, the watchmen and others on the parochial staff, besides furnishing the overseers with the small change needed to relieve the large demands of the idlers, the miserable and the deserving poor who had attended ' the board ' at the King's Head overnight. Having endeavoured to impress us with his importance, Mr. Scowler lost no time in spreading before us his tale of hardship and grievance — how he was overworked and underpaid — as if it were pos- sible for a parish beadle not to be so ; how his asthma had been worse ever since he was called up at midnight, to take the engine to a fire which only burnt in the imagination of the youths of the parish, and how the sexton had induced Mr. Gatherbutton, the people's warden, to order him to as- sist in lighting the fires in the church stoves every week in- stead of every month. A generation had passed away since his election, which was only remembered by a few of the older inhabitants. It had occasioned nothing of the parochial convulsion which had recently occurred in the parish of St. Margaret.* * A packet of letters from applicants for the office of beadle, when the posi- tion was vacant in St. Margaret's in 1790, was found a short lime ago. Nearly every candidate urged as his peculiar qualification the number of his family. The letters, and the proceedings of the Vestry in making the appointment, vividly recalled the inimital)le sketch by Dickens and the placards he describes: • — "Rung for Beadle. Five small children I Hopkins for Headlc. Seven small children ! ! Timkins for Headle. Nine small children ! ! ! Spruggins for Beadle. Ten small children (two of them twins) and a wife 1 1 1 1 " 134 The parish officci's. In the days of his prosperity, his position as a 'respectable tradesman ' had obtained him a seat upon the Vestry ; as the day of his adversity began to overshadow him he had resigned his seat in order to compete for the office of parish clerk ; but that appointment had been given to the son of the outgoing bed-ridden officer, upon condition that the son allowed his father one half the salary and emoluments of the office for the remainder of his life. Scowler's day of opportunity dawned, however, when it was told throughout the parish that Wheezy, the beadle, who was greatly en- feebled by age, had died somewhat suddenly as the result of over-exertion. In his efforts to drive towards the green- yard two straying young porkers expelled from their havoc in a Vestryman's garden, Wheezy had fallen, helpless, into a stagnant pool, drained into a hole in the highway from the cattle sheds at the rear of the Pig and Pattens. Although he was extricated and conducted home by the friendly potman, (who had many times assisted him in the same direction when incapable from other causes,) the in- defatigable officer succumbed to the effects of the excite- ment and partial immersion.* Here it became necessar}' for us to wrench ourselves from Mr. Scowler's loquacity, and to betake ourselves again to the parish books for such particulars as might be there gleaned of the forefathers and colleagues in office of Messrs. Seater and Gatherbutton. By the Canons of the Church (89 and 90, 2 James I., 1603-4) churchwardens were to be chosen every year by the joint consent of the minister and parishioners in Easter week, on the day which the minister shall appoint and publicly notify in the church the Sunday before ; but by virtue of an immemorial custom in the parish of St. Margaret, both the churchwardens were chosen annually by the Vestry on the Thursday next before Whitsunday, and Tiie last recorded election of beadle took place in 1S47. JV/io has the office ? " 5b by virtue of sec. xxi. of the Act lo Ann.u, cap. II., the custom became observable in the parish of St. John the Evangelist. The choice of both churchwardens by the Vestry continued to be exercised until 1853, when an Act (16 and 17 Vict., cap. 225) was passed "for the appoint- ment and regulation of Vestries in the parishes of St Margaret and St. John the Evangelist, Westminster." This Act prescribes that, in case there shall be a difference of opinion between the rector and the Vestry as to the choice of churchwardens, "the Rector shall nominate and appoint one of the churchwardens, and the majority of the Vestry- men present shall then and there elect the other church- warden." Although no " disagreement " is recorded, the rector has, since 1854, invariably appointed one of the churchwardens, and the Vestry the other. The rule thus established is ob.served at the present time, and in the district churches. The following is a List of the Churchwardens. 1729- 2i^. Sir R. Crosvenor Sir T. Crosse '734- Sir R. Grosvcnor John Crosse 1735- John Crosse William Ayrcs 1736. William Ayres Major J. Rusden 1737- Major J. Rusden Samuel Harvey 1738. Samuel Harvey Henry Dagley 1739- Henry Daglcy Benjamin Barker J740. Benjamin Barker Roger Jackson 1741. Roger Jackson IVIatthew Fisher 1742. Matthew Fisher John Smallwell 1743- John Smalhvell Charles Crosse 1744- Charles Crosse Samuel Price 1745- Samuel Price Joseph Pratt 1746. Andrew Parsons W^illiam (^allant 1747- William (^allant Hammond Crosse 1748. Hammond Crosse William Pacey 1749- William Pacey Robert Howard 1750. Robert Howard Charles Kerwood 1751. Charles Kerwood Henry Conyers 1752. Henry Conyers John Powell '753- John Powell (* Robert Wright I Henry Conyers Died during his term of oflfice. 136 Tlie parish officers. The ch?irchwardens. 1754. John Powell 1755. Robert Benson 1756. John Parquot 1757. William Cowley 1758. John Bacchus 1759. Richard Pearce 1760. Benjamin Barker 1 76 1. Edward Hill 1762. John Vaughan 1763. Thomas Clark 1764. Thomas Fisher 1765. John Whitehead 1766. John Waker 1767. Thomas Lloyd 1768. Timothy Carter 1769. John Simpson 1770. William Leigh 1 77 1. William Harrison 1772. John Price 1773- John Fells 1774. William Stratford 1775- John Bradley 1776. Matthew Nesham 1777. William Barrett 1778. John Williams 1779. Thomas Gayfcre 1780. George Byfield 1 78 1. George Byfield 1782. Matthew Wiggins 1783. James Arrow 1784. Morris Marsault 1785. George Graves 1786. Morris Marsault 1787. Charles Clarke 1788. Charles Clarke 1789. John Groves 1790. Robert Clarke 1 791. Thomas Pearce 1792. James Ellis 1793. John Ansell 1794. Thos. Dickinson 1795. J- A- Schwenck 1796. Stephen Cosser 1797. Joseph Moser i798.*George ElHs 1799. Thomas Boys Jeremiah Maiden John Parquot William Cowley John Bacchus Richard Pearce Benjamin Barker Edward Hill John Vaughan William Byfield Thomas Fisher John Whitehead John Waker 1 Thomas Lloyd Timothy Carter John Simpson William Leigh William Harrison John Price John Fells William Stratford John Bradley Matthew Nesham William Barrett John Williams Thomas Gayfere George Byfield William Eves Matthew Wiggins James Arrow Thomas Greenaway George Graves Morris Marsault John Marguard William Davis John Groves Robert Clarke Thomas Pearce James Ellis John Ansell John Fenwick J. A. Schwenck Stephen Cosser Joseph Moser George Ellis /William A. Wallinger I Thomas Boys William Turner Died during his term of office. This is u'orsJiipful society!^ 137 1800. William Turner /'*Jordan James Arrow \ Edward Medley I80I. Edward Medley Charles Slater 1802. Charles Slater /*John Price I James Sheppard 1803. James Sheppard Benjamin Hodges 1804. James Allen William Ginger 1805. William Ginger Thos. Glover Holt 1806. Thomas G. Holt Jonathan Hitchins 1807. Jonathan Hitchins Henry White 1808. Henry White Benj. John Johnson 1809. Benj. John Johnson Hall Wake I8I0. Hall W^ake Joseph Wood I81I. Joseph Wood Thomas Boys I8I2. Thomas Boys James Watts I8I3. James Watts Joseph Sanders I8I4. Joseph Sanders Charles P. Jones I8I5. Matthew Jenkinson John Slater I8I6. John Slater Thomas Sheppard 1817. Thos Sheppard Leonard Turney 1818. Leonard Turney Joseph Lyon I8I9. Joseph Lyon David Green 1820. David Green Thomas Daniel I82I. Thomas Daniel James Veal 1822. James Veal Richard Maskell 1823. Richard MaskcU James Firth 1824. James Firth (jeorge Henry Malme 1825. George H. Malme John Shepherd 1826. C. W. Hallett W. H. Jackson 1827. W. H. Jackson David Shuter 1828. David Shuter Thomas Baker 1829. David Shuter Archibald Michie 1830. Joseph Bennett George Pink I83I. George Pink James Hunt 1832. James Hunt William Evans 1833- William Evans Joseph Carter Wood 1834. Joseph C. Wood Jonathan Sawyer 1835. Jonathan Sawyer John Johnson 1836. John Johnson James Lys Seager 1837. W. Burridge, jun. J. A. Walmisley 1838. W. Burridge, jun. James Elyard 1839. James Elyard Samuel John Noble 1840. Samuel J. Noble Taverner J. Miller I84I. Tavcrner J. Miller James Howell 1842. James Howell Thomas Wright 1843. Robert Stafford A. L. .Mc Bain 1844. Robert Stafford Samuel Hemmings * Died (luring their term of office. i:;8 The parish officers. The churdnvardcns. 1845. Samuel Hemmings 1846. Joseph Bennett 1847. Thomas Eversfiekl 1848. Thomas Eversfiekl 1849. WiUiam Woolley 1850. John Downey 1851. Lieut. Henry Coode (R.N.) 1852. Lieut. Henry Coode (R.N.) 1853. Fredk. S. W. Sheppard 1854. John Norris 1855. Taverner John Miller 1856. John Norris 1857. John Norris 1858. John Norris 1859. John Billing i860. John Billing 1 86 1. John Billing 1862. John Billing 1863. John Billing 1864. Thomas Horn 1865. Thomas Horn 1866. William Sims Pratten 1867. George Burt 1868. John Jobson 1869. Frederick Seager Hunt 1870. Henry Bingley 1 87 1. George Taverner Miller 1S72. George Taverner Miller 1873. George Taverner Miller 1874. George Taverner Miller 1875. George Taverner Miller 1876. George Taverner Miller 1877. George Taverner Miller 1878. George Taverner Miller 1879. George Taverner Miller 1880. William Sugg 1 88 1. William Sugg 1882. George Taverner Miller 1883. George Taverner Miller 1884. George Taverner Miller 1885. Michael Holman Bishop 1886. Michael Holman Bishop 1887. Michael Holman Bishop 1888. Michael Holman Bishop 1889. Michael Holman Bishop 1890. Michael Holman Bishop 1891. Michael Holman Bishop 1892. Michael Holman Bishop Joseph Bennett William R. Gritten William Woolley William Woolley John Downey Lieut. Henry Coode (R.N.) " Fredk. Sampson William Sheppar Fredk. Sampson William Sheppard John Norris Robert Boyd Robert Boyd Henry Stephen Ridley George Ray Job Cook William Bottrill James Howell James Howell Thomas Horn Edward Grove Thomas Henry Hartley Thomas Henry Hartley George Burt John Jobson Frederick Seager Hunt Henry Bingley George Taverner Miller John Dalton John Dalton George Adams George Cook William John Bennett William John Bennett James Margrie James Margrie Harry Nelson Bowman Spink Harry Nelson Bowman Spink Harry Nelson Bowman Spink Thomas Joseph Tayton Thomas Joseph Tayton William Henry Baker Thomas Holder Thomas Holder Chas. Christmas Piper Chas. Christmas Piper Herman Olsen Hamborg Herman Olsen Hamborg John Hayler Thos. Wm. Davies " Their functions and their offices." 1 39 The two "well-bclovcd and trusty," whose names stand at the commencement of this long" hnc, and whose arms arc given on the next page, were appointed in the first instance by the Commissioners acting under the Act of 10 AnncE, cap. II., sec. 19. They were first elected by "the parishioners in Vestry assembled " on the 22nd May, 1729, when the proceedings were conducted, as the records inform us, " according to the custom of St. Margaret's pari.sh." To these, their first churchwardens, the parishioners are indebted for the church-plate, described at page 54. In his humorous sketch of " Our Parish," Charles Dickens excluded the churchwardens from his description of the parish officers "because all we know of them is that they are usually respectable tradesmen who wear hats with brims — inclined to flatness, and who occasionally testify in gilt letters on a blue ground, in some conspicuous part of the church, to the important fact of a gallery having been enlarged and beautified, or an organ re-built." Without questioning the accuracy of this description, so far as it goes, we might add two qualifications — they must be caj^able of gently sibillating their respective patronymics in the Archidiaconal car, or in that of the Diocesan secrctar)', and of" presenting all such things as arc b\' law presentable," — including the visitation fees. For much the same reason as that assigned by the great master of fiction, we do not propose to encumber these pages with genealogical or biographical notes upon the two hundred and fifty individuals who.se names we have just enrolled ; but as there were some few who achieved distinction in various ways, we shall return to them presenth', lest it may be thought they have been overlooked. An important institution in the parish u.sed to be " Churchwardens' da}\" Besides the ringing of the bells, the playing of the organ, the processions up the Church, the transfer of the keys and plate, the declaration by the rector, and the other formalities observed in immediate connection 140 The anus of Sir Robert Grosvcnor and Sir Thomas Crosse. TJlc parish officers. Churchwardens" Day. 141 with the annual elections, the day was marked for many years by the " parish parade," in which the bearers, grave diggers, pew openers, gallery keepers and others mustered, and in which excitement was raised to its highest pitch by the fire-drill. Then all became bustle. The little boys would rouse the neighbourhood as they ran shouting at the tops of their voices to the engine-house, then to the beadle's house, thence to the public-houses in succession, until they had found the beadle. This accomplished, the beadle would run — a feat only performed once a year — for well nigh a dozen paces, when exhaustion would compel him to support himself by the nearest railings for some few seconds. Arrived at the engine-house, the perspiring beadle would dispatch some of his juvenile assistants to his house for the key, while he seated himself on the dwarf wall close by to await their retuM. After some delay the forerunner of the youths would return shouting, " There's no one at home," which would put the decrepid beadle under the rare necessity of " hurrying " to procure the keys himself; but before he would be seen again the bystanders would have drawn the hasp; the engine would be run out amidst a shout, and would be rumbling along the footway at fully three miles an hour to the point of call. Another bevy of small boys would next be sent off in search of Aquarius the turncock. This indispensable functionary having at last been brought to the spot, and the right fire-plug having been discovered and opened after much patient effort, a gentle stream of water would begin to flow and to elicit the cheers of the youthful spectators. The bus)- beadle, who had by this time put in his second appearance, would now superintend and direct the disentangling and coupling of the twisted hose, and the eager hands of the larger boys would, at his terrible bidding ' man ' the pump, but only to find that the hose had become so perished and cracked as to be useless. An order would be given on the spot for the hose to be forthwith put under repair at the parish cobbler's, 142 " Lefs to dinner ; coifie, let's to dinner.' and the display would terminate in a manner impatiently awaited by the church servants, and which is regularly inscribed in the accounts for many years prior to 1830, in some such form as the following : — To the six bearers, grave digger, engine keeper, two gallery keepers, bell-ringers, pew-openers, beadle, organ blower and vestry-keeper on the day the churchwardens were elected ... ... ... £2 5 o For the next scene in continuation of the day's pro- ceedings we must adjourn to the Salutation tavern, where the ' business ' is to conclude with " the churchwardens' dinner." " And feeding high, and living soft Grew plump and able-bodied ; Until the grave churchwarden doff'd. The parson smirk'd and nodded." As fashion has fixed the dinner hour ?i?;»^hree o'clock* we proceed at once to this second Vestry meeting of the day Supported by the outgoing and incoming wardens, by the overseers, by the Vestrymen in full force, and by the prin- cipal officials, — " The Rector at the table's front presides, Whose presence a monastic life derides ; The reverend wig, in sideway order placed, The reverend band by rubric stains disgraced, The leering eye in wayward circles roll'd, Mark him the pastor of a jovial fold, Whose various texts excite a loud applause, Favouring the bottle and the good old cause." Here, amid the clattering of plates and dishes and cutlery, and as course after course of substantial English fare would appear and disappear, our parish fathers would discuss parish matters : — And mix sobriety with wine And honest mirth with thoughts divine. * In the JVcckly Journal o{ i^\\\ January, 1735, there is an order to the Band of Clentlemen Pensioners, in which three o'clock is mentioned "as the usual time of his Majesty retiring to go to dinner." " We go to-morrow to walk in Richmond Gardens, and they are all to dine here at three o'clock." — Earl 0/ March to George SelwYUj/tine, lyOy. The cJiurcJnvardcns dinner. 143 The sight of the first tureen of steaming soup would remind the adv^ocate of " retrenchment and reform " of his intention to move at the next Vestry for " a copy of the recipe from which the paupers' soup was prepared, together with the documents relating thereto," while a newly elected Vestryman, disappointed in having failed to obtain a seat on one of the committees, would declare his determination to oppose the introduction of knives and forks into the workhouse* as being an unnecessary, extravagant, and dangerous innovation ; but as the tables became relieved of their lightened dishes, and as the foreheads became relieved of the perspiration provoked by the stuffy at- mosphere, those who had at first shown a disagreeable disposition, became remarkably bland, until complete unanimity prevailed in accordance with the clever parody of the well knfyvvn passage in Twelfth Night (Act I. Sc. I):— " If Lobsters l:>c the Sauce for Turlaot, heap on, Ciivc mc another plate — that so the appetite May gormandize before the season's out, That smack again ; — it had a kiscious rehsh ; Oh, it came o'er my palate like sweet jelly, That doth accompany a haunch just touch'd, Stealing and giving odour ; enough, — no more — O pamper'd taste ! how quickly cloy'd thou art, That, notwithstanding my capacious eye Is bigger than my paunch, nought enters there Of what high price and rarity soever, But turns to chalk-stone, and the gnawing gout, Even in a minute I such pains do lurk unseen In dishes seasoned high, fantastical." t Grace having been said, there would follow the " toast and sentiment," in which the Chairman would introduce " the * According to a newspaper paragraph knives and forks were provided for the use of the paupers in a country workhouse, for the first time, at their Christmas dinner in 1888. t Gentleman's Ma^^azinc, Vol. LXIV. I'art II., p. 654. 144 After dinner. King — and his speedy recovery," or the " Prince Regent," or " the Wooden Walls of Old England." Then Round went the flasks of ruddy wine, From Bordeaux, Orleans or the Rhine ; And all was mirth and revelry. And then the churchwarden pipe and the " Tobacco Box " would add to the social cheer, in the course of which — The chairman pledged his welcome guest. The cup went through among the rest. Who drained it merrily. When the services of the outgoing warden had been duly recognised, one gentleman would ask another " Hob and Nob ? " The other would politely acquiesce, and the two gentlemen would then touch their glasses together and invoke health on each other. In this little courtesy the challenger would usually put the rim of his glass a little below the rim of his friend's, who, as a matter of compli- ment, would make a feint of resisting the honour by lowering his own. The early summer evening had not cast its shade as this second vestry meeting would rise, and the company disperse in little groups, some to stroll under the willows of Millbank, and across the fields, to continue their pro- menade in the ' genteel walks ' of Ranelagh ; some to take the ferry across to the Spring Gardens at Vauxhall to enjoy Dr. Arne's music or the fireworks, and others to take their accustomed corner at their favourite coffee-house, to learn the latest intelligence from the Gazette Extraordinary. With the exception of the invitations for the officials, the expense of which was charged against the parish, the cost of these annual entertainments was defrayed either by subscription or by the churchwardens. In course of time, however, the pecuniary liability on account of Churchwarden's Day was regarded as somewhat burden- some. By way of remedy, an allowance of ^ 1 2 was annually voted, for many years, to each churchwarden '' towards the extra expense they are at in serving " / do not like the office" 145 the ofifice ; " but the grant did not remove an indis- position to accept 'the honours of office.' Between 1768 and 1 8 16, no less than £340 were carried to the parish credit in the form of fines of i^20 each imposed upon seven- teen Vestrymen who declined to serve when nominated as churchwardens. One of these was Thomas Churchill, a relative of the poet (1769), another was " Lord Viscount Belgrave" (1796), a third was Admiral Ommaney (1798), a fourth was Mr. Thomas Green, the parish treasurer, who paid the fine rather than accept the office for two months upon a vacancy being caused by death in 1801, and a fifth was Mr. James Ellis, the parish attorney, in 1807. Two gentlemen paid ^20 each in 1794, and three forfeited the same amount each in 1798 to be excused accepting the position. An endeavour to impose the honours of office and the penalty for non-acceptance upon a reluctant Vestryman, was successfully contested in 1801, when Thomas Sibell pleaded that he was the assignee of a certificate* duly granted to John Doney of his having apprehended and prosecuted to coiu'iction two men for a burglary in his dwelling house and stealing therein goods of the value of fourteen shillings and ninepence, " such certificate discharg- ing the said John Doney from all manner of parish offices." Being unable to realise the possibility of exemption under such circumstances, the Vestr)- referred the claim to the parish attorne}-, upon whose advice it was allowed. In 1796 a custom was established of presenting each out- going churchwarden with " a folio pra}-er-book, handsomely bound in morocco, gilt, and lettered with his name thereon," as a memento of his year of office. The custom ceased, owing to lack of funds, nine years ago. It was not sus- * These certificates were known as "Tyburn Tickets." They were assign- able once, and exempted the receiver or his immediate assignee from all offices within the parish or ward where the felony was committed. In some parishes they would sell for ^■25 or ^{^30, in otheis from ^15 to ;^i8, according to the importance of the parish, K 146 The Paris] I Officers. A funeral. pended even though, in 1818 the Vestry passed a vote of censure upon the churchwardens " for not meeting the Ves- try at the time of its being called and keeping it waiting nearly half an hour." In the long " roll of fame " we have just passed are the names of many to whom Dickens's description would have applied. There are also the names of many professional men, gentlemen, and merchants — laymen whose services were highly prized by the clergy and the parishioners — whose strong desire for reverential decency in the services of the Church, was only equalled by their unswerving recti- tude and dignity in the conduct of the public affairs of the parish. An entry in the Vestry Minutes of March, 1801, testifies to the respect in which the Churchwardens of the " respectable tradesman " class were held : — Mr. Church Warden Turner wishing to pay a Tribute of Respect to the Memory of his late colleague, Mr. Church Warden Arrow, waited in person upon the Gentlemen of the Vestry, requesting their Attendance in the Vestry Room, on Friday the 6th of March instant, being the day appointed for his Interment, ^\'hen being assembled, and the entrance to the Church being lined with the Volunteers of the Saint Margaret and Saint John's Association commanded by the Right Honorable Lord Viscount Belgrave in person, it was agreed to meet the Body on the steps leading up to the Church — That the Wand of the deceased should be placed on the coffin — And after the Mourners had passed to proceed in the following Order — 1st. The Bedle with the Top of his Staff entwined with crape. 2nd. Mr. Church Warden Turner alone with his Wand (the Ensign of Office) entwined with crape also. 3rd. The Gentlemen of the Vestr)- two and two, beginning with the Juniors. 4th." The Vestry Clerk. After the usual Service in the Church, an appropriate part of the 39th Psalm, was solemnly sung by the Children of the Green Coat and Grey Coat Hospitals — and the Children of the Blue Coat School, who attended for that purpose. The procession moved in the same Order to the Burying Ground, escorted by a party of the Association, and followed by the Westminster Cavalry dismounted (of which the deceased was Adjutant and Secretary) with all. the customary Forms and Solem- nity, usual on such Occasions, his Horse being arrayed in Black. The whole was closed bv A past-cIinrcJiwardcn in trouble. 147 Major Elliot. Commander of the Westminster Cavalry, a Party of whom fired three Vollies over the Grave, with their pistols, which concluded the avvfull ceremony — after which the Vestiymen returned to the Church in the same order, followed by the Cavah)'. The Gentleman's Magazine of the time notes that the deceased was " joiner to his Majesty's Board of Works," and that the funeral was conducted with great mihtary pomp. Mr. James Hunt, churchwarden in 1831 and 1832, was the donor, in conjunction with his brother, the late Sir Henry Hunt, of the coloured glass windows, and the font (see page 59J. His colleague in office in 1832 was Mr. William Evans, whose active interest in public life led to his election as Sheriff of London and Middlesex .shortly afterwards. The responsibilities of this office, and his determination to discharge its duties conscientiously, while they brought upon him an unenviable notoriety, elicited the warmest sympathies of his fellow parishioners. In 1837 an action was brought by John Joseph Stockdale against Messrs. Hansard for the recovery of i5"50,0O0 damages for the publication of certain parliamentary papers. The defendants petitioned Parliament for its pro- tection, upon which two resolutions were passed. The first declared that the power of publishing such of the reports of the House as should be deemed necessary or conducive to the public interest, was an essential incident to the con- stitutional functions of Parliament ; the second avowed that the prosecution of any suit for the purpose of bringing the privileges of the House before any court or tribunal el.se- where than in Parliament, was a high breach of such privilege, and rendered all parties concerned amenable to its just displeasure, and to the punishment con.sequent thereon. The proceedings were thereupon stayed ; but they were revived, with some alteration of form, as an action for libel in the Court of Queen's Bench, in 1839. In November of that year a writ of enquiry was directed to the Sheriffs, the under sheriffs and the deputy under-sheriff. 148 TJie Parish Officers. whose attention was, at the same time called to the resolu- tions of the House. The sheriffs thereupon made an application to the Court to enlarge the return to the writ until after the meeting of Parliament; but Mr. Justice Littledale refused to make any order. Having no alter- native left them, the sheriffs empanelled a jury, by whom damages were assessed at ;^6cxd. Still hesitating to move between the two fires, the sheriffs made no return to the writ until the plaintiff obtained a rule from the Queen's Bench compelling them to do so. This was followed by the plaintiff lodging with the sheriffs a writ of fieri facias., in pursuance of which the sheriffs' officers entered upon Messrs. Hansards' premises and sold goods and chattels by auction to the amount of ^^695. The defendants being unable to prevent the sale, applied for an injunction to restrain the sheriffs from parting with the proceeds to the plaintiff, while the plaintiff proceeded against them by judge's sum- mons and eventually by an application for a rule in the Court of Queen's Bench to compel them to deliver to him the proceeds of the sale. Parliament having met by this time, the defendants presented a petition setting forth all the circumstances. The House thereupon ordered Stock- dale, the sheriffs, the under sheriffs, their deputy, and the other officers concerned, to attend at the Bar of the House. Stockdale was found to have been guilty of high contempt and of breach of privilege, and was committed to the cus- tody of the Sergeant at Arms. In the examination of the sheriffs and their assistants, which extended over several days, Mr. Sheriff E\'ans declared that " if in the exe- cution of their painful duty they had done anything which had incurred the displeasure of the House, they deeply deplored it." On 21st January, 1840, they were ordered to restore to Messrs. Hansards the sum received at the sale, and a protracted debate, which was adjourned, took place on a motion to commit the sheriffs and their assistants for contempt and breach of privilege. On the " Let me be pi-ivilcgcd by viy place'^ 149 next day a petition was presented by the sheriffs expressing " sorrow and concern at having incurred the displeasure of the House, and praying that they might not be annexed of their moneys or imprisoned in their persons for having honestly and fairly acted in discharge of a duty cast upon them by law, according to the best of their ability and judgment, and to what in their consciences they believed to be the solemn application of their oaths." Eventually, by a majority of lor on a division, the finding of the House was against the sheriffs, and they were forthwith committed to the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. The plaintiff, still relentless, resorted to an extraordinary expedient upon the Order of the House being carried into effect. Three days only having elapsed, the Sergeant-at-Arms reported that he had been served with a writ, directing him to produce the bodies of the sheriffs in the Court of Queen's Bench. Thereupon the House ordered that the Sergeant- at-Arms make a return of the circumstances under which he held the bodies of the sheriffs, and the plaintiff found himself not only overpowered, but committed to Newgate for a high contempt and breach of privilege — a precisely similar offence to that for which the sheriffs stood com- mitted, with the additional ignominy and discomfort of confinement in the common gaol. Taking leave of Mr. Stockdalc thus securely provided for, we return to West- minster to find a motion made on 4th February, 1840, for the release of the parliamentary prisoners. The question was negatived, however, by 132 to 34. On 12th February, the House was informed that Mr. VVheelton, Mr. Evans's co-sheriff, was extremely ill. His medical man having attended at the Bar of the House, by order, and deposed that his patient was so dangerously ill that he would not answer for his life from hour to hour, the House granted Mr. Wheelton's release. Mr. Sheriff-churchwarden Evans thus became left in the solitude in which he is depicted in the engraving on the churchwardens' snuff box, as repro- 1 50 TJic Parish Officers. duced at page 177. On the 25th February an appeal was made to Parliament for leave for Mr. Sheriff Evans to quit his confinement temporarily for the purpose of joining his colleagues in presenting an address to Her Majesty, H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent and H.R.H. the Prince Albert on the approaching Royal marriage ; but the permission was with- held. On 3rd March, however. Viscount Mahon informed the House that our churchwarden's health was materially suffering from his continued confinement. His medical attendant, Dr. Freeman, was thereupon ordered to attend at the Bar of the House for examination. An independent medical gentleman. Dr. Chalmers, was also ordered to examine the prisoner, and to attend at the Bar with his report ; but the only action upon the statements of these gentlemen, was to have their evidence printed ! Three days later, after a prolonged and contentious debate, Mr. Evans was discharged " for the present," with an order to attend again on the 6th April. Although he complied with that order, his discharge was not finally granted until the 6th May. x'\fter such an experience of the responsibilities of civic offices, it is not surprising that Mr. Evans sought no further advancement. He appears to have resigned all his public positions, and to have confined his attention more closel)^ to the extensive distillery which to-day bears the name of Seager Evans and Co., of Grosvenor-road and Millbank. In this connection it may be convenient to mention that Sir Frederick Seager Hunt, M.P., who was churchwarden in 1868 and 1869, is a successor to Mr. Evan's business. The son of Mr. James Hunt, whose active interest in the affairs of the parish and the church have already been noticed, he has in many ways given practical proof of the thoroughness with which he has in- herited his father's sympathies in that respect. He was re-elected in July last to represent Marylebone in Par- liament. The next churchwarden to be noticed also achieved a " The Mayor of London comes to greet yon.'" 1 5 i public prominence far beyond the limits of the parish, though in a much more pleasant manner than did Mr. Evans. John Johnson, a proprietor of the premises now occupied by Messrs. Mowlem, at Millbank, succeeded, in conjunction with his brother, to his father's business, as a paviour and contractor for large public work.s. In the same conjunction he inherited a large fortune, the result of the father's speculation in a stone quarry in Devonshire, from which the " Haytor " granite was obtained. He also carried out the contract for the celebrated breakwater at Plymouth which, with other profitable speculations, placed him at the head of the stone trade. In the midst of his active atten- tion to his extensive business, he found time to bear his share in the local administration, being elected a vestry- man in 1 8 17, and subsequently chosen as a governor and director of the poor. In 1835 he was appointed church- warden. His conspicuous business capabilities had by this time fixed the attention of his fellow citizens upon him, and in 1836 he was called upon to fill the office of Sheriff of London and Middlesex. In 1839 he was called to the Aldermanic gown for the Ward of Dowgate, and in 1845 he was elected, after an exciting contest, to fill the civic chair. Wild expre.ssions of disapprobation on the one hand, and enthusiastic cheering on the other, greeted the declaration of the result. In the interval which preceded Lord Mayor's Day, the opposition had subsided, so that on the loth November, 1845 (the 9th falling on a Sunday), the procession to Westminster, favoured by fine weather, and unmarred b)- a discordant voice, was in every way a great success. Conspicuous positions were a.ssigncd in the pageant to the Worshipful Company of Distillers, to the arms of Mr. Sheriff F^vans, and to the arms of the chaplain to the Worshipful Comjjany of Spectacle Makers, the Rev. lohn Jennings, Rector of St. John the ICvangelist. Vast crowds gathered along the line of route to the place of embarkation at lilackfriars, where, in addition to tlie State 152 TJie Par is J I Officers. and City barges, an enormous number of small boats, cro\\'ded with passengers, was afloat. Arrived and landed at Westminster, the Recorder, in presenting the Lord Mayor Elect to be sworn, recapitu- lated the many public offices Alderman Johnson had held, and attributed his present high station to the efficient manner in which he had filled them. " Mr. Johnson," con- tinued the Recorder, " had undertaken and executed many very great and national works in the construction of bridges, in the formation and improvement of the dock- yards of the country, and, above all, in the erection of that effectual bulwark and barrier against the violence of the ocean, the stupendous structure — the Plymouth Breakwater. It would be alien to the singleness and sincerity of Mr. Johnson's character were he to arrogate to himself the undivided merit of these amongst the noblest and most useful undertakings and efforts of modern times. Mr. Johnson, on the contrary, rejoiced to have had the oppor- tunity of acting under the superintendence, and to have been stimulated by the example, genius, and spirit of enterprise, of the late Sir John Rennie ; and Mr. Johnson at the same time equall}- disclaimed the praise of being the sole orginator and architect of his present ample fortune. He acknow- ledged with feelings of deep gratitude and reverence that the foundation of his fortune had been laid by, and had had its origin in, the ability, integrity, and industry, of his fore- fathers ; whilst in raising and in attempting to carry on upon that foundation a superstructure worthy of those who had preceded him, his efforts had been as honourable as their success had been complete. To avail himself of every opportunity of public usefulness had been the leading characteristic of Mr. Johnson's life. During his shrievalty the defective accommodation of the great metropolitan prison had, in a great measure, been remedied by the im- portant improvements which had been planned and effected by that gentleman in the internal arrangements of the " The proud scene ivas o'er!' i 5 gaol. For these and other vakiable services Mr. Johnson had been greeted on his retirement from the office of sheriff with the unanimous thanks of the hvery, and he had, more- over, received, in token of those services, a vakiable piece of plate from the Corporation of the City of London itself As a magistrate, Mr. Johnson had been exact and inde- fatigable in his attendance, and in the performance of all his duties ; and he now entered upon the new and arduous office of Lord Ma}'or, full}' impressed with the responsibility it imposed, and with all and every honourable feeling of ambition to fulfil to the utmost of his power all its require- ments." Having followed our churchwarden to the attainment of the highest position in the gift of his fellow-citizens, and given this sketch of his public career, we must leave him to return to the Guildhall amid renewed demonstrations of the satisfaction with which he had been received at the com- mencement of his procession. " Pomps without guilt, of bloodless swords and maces, Glad chains, warm furs, broad banners and Inroad faces ; Now night descending, the proud scene was o'er, But hvcd in Settle's * numbers one day more. Now mayors and shrieves, all hushed and satiate la\- Yet ate, in dreams, the custard of the day." Alderman Johnson died on 30th December, 1848, and was interred in St. John's Burial Ground, where a ])lain flat gravestone, graven with the simple letters " Aid" J. J. December 30, 1848," overshadows all the pomp and circum- stance of his position, and tells how " death called him to the crowd of common men " in the 57th year of his agc.f * Settle was the last City Poet. His office was to compose yearly panetjyrics upon the Lord Mayors, and verses to be spoken in the pageants. t In collecting the foregoing particulars, two other Aldermen of the same surname have been met with : — Sir John Johnson, Knight, died 1698, aged 59 ;ind interred in the Church of St. Vedast, Foster Lane. Thomas Johnson, of the Worshipful Company of Coopers, Alderman of Portsokcii Ward in 1840. The Ward Return of his election was rejected three times ; hut he w.is ultimately chosen by the Court. He resigned in 1844. (CithcKS 0/ London and their Rulers, liy li. II. Orridge, iSdy). 154 TJie Paris] I Officers. In 1853 a larger and more pretentious monument, in granite, was placed in the burial ground. It lies near the Page-street gate, and is inscribed : — To the Memory of John Johnson and Catherine His wife and of their Son John Johnson late Alderman of the City of London. The first died January 30, 1829 in the 70th year of his age. The second — March 27, 1846, in the 83''J year of her age. Their Son the Alderman — December 30, 1848, in the 57th )-ear of his age. Inscribed by William Johnson their surviving son impressed with a vivid recollection of their ever warm parental care, and in grateful remembrance of his brother's unremitting kindness. A.D. 1853. Imperfect as this reference to some of the more prominent names in the long roll of churchwardens must necessarily be, it would be inexcusable to pass over one whose de- votedness to all that pertained to the best interests of the parish is yet fresh in the recollection of many who esteemed it a privilege to be associated with him. Mr. Taverner John Miller, of Millbank-street, brought honour to the office of churchwarden in 1840, 1841, and 1855. Among the other parts he bore in the parochial arena may be mentioned the Board of Governors of the Green Coat School, of which he was Treasurer, and the Westminster District Board of Works, by whom he was elected a member of the Metro- politan Board of Works. He was also one of the most constant attendants at the Bench of Magistrates for the St. Margaret's Division, in which the parish of St. John the Evangelist is included. In 1852 he was returned, in conjunc- tion with the late Mr. Du Cane (afterwards Sir Charles Du Cane, K.C.M.G.), to represent Maldon in Parliament. In 1857 Mr. Miller was elected for Colchester, as successor to Mr. Chnrc/i warden T. J. Miller, M.P., J. P. 155 Lord John Manners, now Duke of Rutland. Early in 1867 failing health induced him to resign his seat in the House of Commons, and to relinquish his connection with the Metropolitan Board of Works ; and in March of that year death closed a public career which had been remarkable for its activity, and as distinguished for the keen sense of honour dictating every action, as for the unfaltering and ab- solute confidence reposed in him from the first by his various constituents. In acknowledging" the vote of the Vestry carrying with it the customary present of a Prayer Book as a memento of his term of office, Mr. Miller wrote: — Dorset Wh.vrf, j/h Fchry., 1843. Mv DR Sir, Perceiving that a Meeting is to be held on Thursday next, I avail myself of this, the earliest opportunity which has offered itself, to request that you will be kind enough to convey to the gentlemen of the Vestry of St. John's my warmest thanks for their handsome present of a Prayer Book which they have been pleased to forward to me through you. It will be a source of pride and pleasure to me to retain such a token of their approbation of my humljle services during the two years that I held the office of Churchwarden, and I shall also esteem it as a lasting testimony to the kindness and liberality of the Vestry, to which I shall ever consider I owe so valual^le a memento, rather than to any merits of my own. To you, individually, permit me to express my gratitude for tiie handsome manner in which you carried into effect the Vestry's Resolution, and particularly for your happy choice of a day so much dedicated by the sincerest friends to the interchange of friendship's offerings, And believe me, My dr Sir, J.XMKS HovVEl.r., Esq., \'cry truly yours, Chiirchivardcn. T. J. MILLER. Before taking leave of the churchwardens, we are invited to view the interesting memento of office to which those who served between 1801 and 1844 were subscribers, and which has since been transferred from time to time to the custody of the senior churchwarden. It consists of a circular snuff-box in common horn, to which was added 156 TJie Par is J I Officers. silver ornaments and cases by the office-bearers in the above period, in imitation of the more ancient and pre- tentious ' Tobacco Box ' of the Past Overseers' Society. The original horn box, \\-ith its silver rims and plates o^- dmts weighs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 5 The first case (solid silver) with 'liner' or double lid, and medallions ... ... ... ... ... 10 17 The second circular case, solid silver ... ... ... 8 9 The third (octagon) case, partly covered in silver, with hinged lid ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 17 The fourth (octagon) case, covered in silver, with beads or mouldings, and hinged lid ... ... ... 22 18 Total weight of the box and four cases ... 56 The necessity for a more detailed description is dispensed with by the presentation of fac simile reproductions, in the exact size, of the several boxes, engravings and inscriptions. 157 THE ST. JOHN'S SNUFF BOX. ^. A I fd The Gift of ^ ^ \ JFa&erofli)e Veslry of S^ JoliTi the Evangelist WESTMINSTER h we Members hereof 1801. 1801 \The outside of the horn cover. The circular itiscriptioti is on the silver rim; that in the centre is on the horn.'\ 158 The St. Johns Snuff Box, T^ee^jp m^^j^^^ ^^, Mirden iSaJ Adds this Plate i803 \Silver lining affixed to inside of No. /.] JJic St. Johns Snuff Box. 159 \Bottom of the original horn box, outside. The stippled part represents the unco7'e>-ed horn.] l6o The St. Joints SnuiJ Box. \Engravings on side of first case, with raised medai lions separating same. 1 The St. JoJin's Snuff Box, i6i [Sliver cover to first case enc/osin,s[ on'oina/ t>ox ; outside.] l62 7& St. John's Snuff Box h Jj.ly^ie^:^^^f m aUe^, \ ChnrcliWaTaeiis ^ o. '4 ^ / ^\p {jfi^' {In-side of No. 5-1 The St. John's Snuff Box. 163 7- [Bottom of first case ; out-side. (Inside not engraved)^ L 2 164 The St. Johns Smtf Box, 8. -^UlTCHlNS c \Moveable Liner in first case ; engraved one side on/j.] 7/f6', ^SV. JoJuis Snuff Box. 165 \Cuver of second case; outside ; raised ))iedaUion?\^ 1 66 Tlie St. Johns Snuff Box. lO. onMyyf/i^ey ^^^'^^ts^nycAy .^yiyl^nyi/, t / (/ y^i^^v-^^^ '^cc&ri^ ^^Ma/^^^^ J^&nAUiJx ^i7?p Churchward eiv ^Bottom of secotid case; outsiie'\ The St. John's Snuff Box. 167 1 1. ^^ [Inside of N'o. p.] 1 68 ^ll TJic St. Johns Sjih/J Box. 169 A92f'. C3 FREBEBICIiBriiE oriOHK, S/u.j PL A TE aM^r/ H, Jackson Church Warden. \Six small silver plates on sides of third (octagon) case.\ 170 The St. John's Snuff Box. 14. TWO CHURCH CLOCKS (one AfMM^^y cfy ^^t^iJ^jZ/t'e^y-Mlap^ yfxjtfinnj^ti- '■ — „ MAY F7 1844. COST X463. 8. 5. THE IRON RAILING^' (^TRE^S_& SHRUBS^ ?iy£fy wom-on/ me^ .£m'Ccodc(/i^ ^'^^yv2SJ^Mi'^^teWof the Cmuircm [Top of hinged cover of fourth case.'] TJie St. Jo Jin's Snuff Box. 173 17- 1834. (!riTurri^toJarJ)nt5^.1835. THE Houses of Parliament, Destjwyed by Fire, -^6':^ October; ^834^. 1835. %tirri;Uinr^ni«. 1836. The Bounds OF THE United Pajushes Perambula ted I Plates and moulding on sides of fourth (octagon) case. 174 TJic St. JoJuis Sjiiijf Box. i«. 1836, (Hljittrf J^htariirit0.1837. Elected Sheriff of London. 1837. CiriittrdtUiar5fit^.l838. S'!' Marys Church Vincent Square. Consecrated. \_F/cxfi's and niouldin^s; on sides of fourth (otiagV7i) case. The St. Johns Snuff liox, 19. James ELrAHi^, 1838 alljiu:fI^Urm'dni^.l839. H.M Queen Victoria, Crowned, At Westminster Abbey. ZSfJwne IS33. 175 James En.xAHe, 18:^9. alli,ttrrh>ari>m^.l840. The Duchess of Somer sets Annual Bequest Restored AND Shared by the Poor OF S^ Margaret & S"^ Johns ^S39 \_Fl(Ues and moulding on sides of fourth (octagon) case.^ iy6 The St. John's Snuff Box. 20. 1 840. €hxxi\:pdxhm^,\ 841 . H.M.QUEEN ViCTOB/A. Married, Feb'y J0J''JS40. HRH Princess R/)val. 'born Nov^Zi-'NMO. ij^iit 1841. (!%ird^toarini^.l842. Q B.R.R. Albert Prince of Wales, \Plates and ?nouldings on sides of fourth (ociagofi) case ] The St. John's Snuff Box. 177 21. {Bottom of fourth or outer ease ; outsi'ie.] An absconding treasurer. 179 In the list of churchwardens from which we have just turned are the names of those who bore other important offices in the parish. Before the facilities offered by local banking houses had extended to Westminster, the parish revenues were entrusted to one of the principal inhabitants, either a resident Justice of the Peace or a substantial business man, equally accessible and in constant touch with the paro- chial administration. Upon this 'high officer' would devolve the keeping of the accounts and the cash relating to pew rents, the burial fees, the Rector's rate, the poor rate, and the general receipts and expenditure of the parish. Although the labour and responsibility attaching to the position of parish treasurer were considerable, there was little scope for any such officer to distinguish himself; and although the position was not altogether thankless, the annual recognition of the services by a vote of thanks for the care and attention with which the accounts had been kept assumed almost a stereotyped form. For a hundred years — the account was not permanently transferred to a banker until 1830 — only one exception to the customary form of acknowledgment is recorded. This occurred in 181 5, when the treasurer, having ;^863 of parish cash in his hands, absconded. An " extent " was issued against his estate for ^41,000, his assets being estimated at i^io,ooo. An account was thereupon opened at the Bank of England ; but the inconvenience was such as to lead to a return to the former system within a i&\N months, when the gentle- man who accepted the office volunteered personal security. A brief notice must now be accorded to the overseers who, at the time the parish was formed, were in the zenith of their power, and the personification of all that is now conveyed by the phrase * the parish.' Upon these public spirited and zealous citizens devolved the onerous and arduous duties performed by the relieving officers employed by the Board of Guardians in the present day.* The rates * An essay tracing the changes in the duties of Overseers from 1535, when the office was instituted, to the present time, was incorporated in the book published on " The Westminster Tobacco Box," in 1887. i8o TJie Pai-isJi Officers. made, the defaulters summoned, the distraints levied nowa- days by ' the parish,' were in a great measure controlled by the Overseers. The destitute poor, clamouring for relief, the sick poor needing medical treatment, the dead lying unburied from want of means, the orphan requiring protection or to be ' boarded out,' or the lunatic endanger- ing himself and others until placed under restraint, all occasioned applications to the Overseers as they do now to ' the parish.' The ear of these officers had always to be open to the cry of distressed women and hungry children, their eye had to be quick to detect the impostor, and their hand ever ready to relieve the wayworn and penniless traveller ; while their share in the management of the workhouse, the apprenticeship of children, the dispensing of relief, and the removal of paupers to their places of legal " settlement," necessitated attendances at meetings, and made such demands upon their time as only men of con- siderable leisure could afford : — His house was known to all the vagrant train, He chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain. The ruined spend-thrift, now no longer proud, Claimed kindred there, and had his claim allowed. Nearly all the statutes, from the Reformation period to the present time, provide for the imposition of penalties upon the bearers of the office in case of neglect, default, or malversation ; yet the records of this parish do not contain a single entry of any such penalty having been imposed. There are numerous entries, however, of sums forfeited by those nominated, but declining to serve the office. The penalty, which was £\2 in each case, was credited to the parish funds. A- writer in Notes and Queries (8th. S. ii. p. 117) refers to a ballad, entitled " The Overseer," in vogue some forty years ago, consisting of half-a-dozen verses in the following strain : — Some people are always contending The times are so bad they want mending, And boast of the good they're intending If they could but in office appear. " No great matter in the ditty." i8i Now to me it ne'er matter'd one pin Who was out of office or in, For my part I felt quite 'don't carish,' For I found things went on pretty farish, Till I'd lived a few years in the parish, When they made me an overseer I With a chorus to each verse : — But if you prefer care and vexation, And to work without remuneration, You should aim at parochial station, And get chosen an overseer. A small local newspaper, which had a short-lived circu- lation in the parish in 1848, records that the following lines were written on the wall of a police cell, by a tramp who had been given into custody by the overseers for a breach of workhouse discipline : — May the great God above, In His very kind love. Send down lots o' very sharp chissels, To cut off the ears Of our cruel Overseers, What won't give us poor paupers more wittels. From 1693 to 1728, the year in which the parish of St. John was constituted, the Magistrates had annually appointed six overseers for the parish of St. Margaret. From 1728 to 1749, they continued the practice without distinguishing those appointed in behalf of St. John's. From 1750 to 1752 four overseers were appointed for St. Margaret's and two for St. John's each year. From 1752 to 1827 two were appointed annually for St. Margaret's and one for St John's ; thenceforward, two were appointed, year by year, for each parish. With the exception of a few years in respect of which the accounts have not been preserved, the following is a complete list of the overseers of St. John's parish from 1750 : — 1 7 50- 1. John Williams Richard Harvey 1751-2 1752-3 1753-4 1755-6 1757-8 George Fullock Joseph Carr Thomas Clarke Thomas Sherratt John Ruffe 1754-5- J"lin Niblctt John Niljlctt 1756-7. Timothy Carter Timothy Carter 1758-9. (Accounts missim;;) M 182 The Parish Officers. The Overseers. 1759-60. John Price I76I-2 Matthew Nesham 1763-4 John Cox 1765-6 William Eves 1767-8 Robert Conyers, deed. 1768-9 Morris Marsault 1 770- 1 (Accounts missing) 1772-3 (Accounts missing) 1774-5 George Graves 1776-7 Charles Clarke 1778-9 John Williams 1 780- 1 Samuel Harris 1782-3 Johnson West 1784-5 John Mitchell 1786-7 (Accounts missing) 1788-9 Samuel Darling 1 790- 1 Thomas Green 1792-3 Alexander Taylor 1794-5 James Sheppard 1796-7 Jonathan Hitchin 1798-9 Edward Glanville 1 800- 1 Joseph Saunders 1802-3 Noah Baber 1804-5 Richard Monkhouse 1806-7 Henry Frederick Holt 1808-9 W^illiam Burridge I8I0-I I. William Burridge I8I2-I 3. John Eversfield I8I4-I 5. Geo. Henry Malme I8I6-I 7. John Johnson, Junr. I8I8-I 9. Gabriel Riddle 1 820- 1 . Thomas Mitchell 1822-3 . Archibald Michie 1824-5 George Pink 1826-7 . Samuel John Noble 1828-9 . Jonathan Sawyer 1829-3 0. Jonathan Sawyer 1 830- 1 . John Alsept I83I-2 . James Dike 1832-' . Thomas Arber 1833-^ . Timothy Thorne I834-. ,. Robt. Alex. Warne (deed.) J^ imes Firth, jun., in his place 1835-e ). William Cleave I836-; 7. Horace Boys 1837-^ >. William Mansell Haydon I838-C -). William Mansell Haydon 1 839-. |.o. Alex. Lachlan McBain 1 760- 1. William Young 1762-3. William Stratford 1764-5. Thomas Gayfer 1766-7. Mathew Wiggins George Byfield in his place 1769-70. (Accounts missing) 1 77 1 -2. Thomas Greenaway 1773-4. William Ginger 1775-6. William Weller 1777-8. William Davis 1779-80. John Vidler 1 78 1-2. Robert Reeves 1783-4. John Gaunt 1785-6. John Ansell 1787-8. John Morris 1789-90. (Accounts missing) 1791-2 John Price 1 793-4- (Accounts missing) 1795-6. Grant Harris 1797-8. Henry Doughty 1 799- 1 800. Thomas Hewson 1801-2. Matthew Jenkinson 1803-4. Joseph Wright 1805-6. Thomas Stapleton 1807-8. Joseph Lyon 1809-10. Richard Maskell 181 1-12. James Firth 1813-14. Geo. Henry Malme 1815-16. John Simpson 18 17-18. Thomas Aldin 1819-20. William Hayward 1 82 1 -2. Archibald Michie 1823-4. George Pink 1825-6. George Hay den 1827-8. Francis Richman John Pryer Francis Painter James Dike John Alsept Thomas Cropp Thomas Estell William Burridge James Thomas Bottomley William Dalton John Montague Alex. Lachlan McBain George Burridge ' Tis the list of those that claim their offices" 183 1 840- 1 . Benjamin Hudson 1841-2. Godfree William Ginger 1842-3- Adam Dick 1843-4. George Estall 1844-5. Wm. Richard Gritten 1845-6. Thomas Eversfield 1846-7. WilHam Woolley 1847-8. John Downey 1848-9. Edward Grose 1849-50. Wm. Henry Hatterslcy I850-I. Wm. Henry Hattersley I85I-2. Robert Boyd 1852-3. Robert Boyd 1853-4. W^ilham Urry 1854-5. Henry Stephen Ridley 1855-6. George Ray 1856-7. Job Cook 1857-8. Henry Beecher 1858-9. James Howell 1859-60. John King Deakin 1860-1. Thomas Horn 1 86 1 -2. Henry Potter 1862-3. Henry Potter 1863-4. Henry Potter 1864-5.- John Thomas Fenn 1865-6. John Thomas Fenn 1866-7. Frederick Dowling 1867-8. Henry Bingley 1868-9. Henry Bingley 1869-70. J. W. Tyler 1870-1. Samuel Mclntyre 1871-2. George Cook 1872-3. George Cook 1873-4. W^m. John Bennett 1874-5. Wm. John Bennett 1875-6. James Margrie 1876-7. H. N. Bowman Spink 1877-8. H. N. Bowman Spink 1878-9. Thomas John Tayton 1879-80 Thomas John Tayton 1880-1. Herman Olsen Hamborg 1881-2. Wm. Hy. Baker 1882-3. Wm. Hy. Baker 1883-4. Wm. Hy. Baker 1884-5. Herman Olsen Hamborg 1885-6. Herman Olsen Hamborg 1886-7. Frederick Rose 1887-8. Frederick Rose George Tucker Andrew Mallock Cieorge Theophilus Trickett Samuel Hemmings Joseph Bennett William Woolley John Downey Henry Castle William Stamp John N orris John N orris William Urry William Urry David Mallock William Bottrill Job Cook Henry Beecher James Howell John King Deakin Thomas Horn Henry Potter William Farmiloe John Dalton John Thomas Fenn Frederick Dowling Frederick Dowling Henry Bingley A. Castle A. Castle Samuel Mclntyre George Cook George Adams Wm. John Bennett Wm. Jopling James Margrie Harry Nelson Bowman Spink Zephaniah Deacon Berry Zephaniah Deacon Berry Thomas Holder Thomas Holder William Henry Baker Chas. Christmas Piper Chas. Christmas Piper Chas. Christmas Piper John Hayler John Hayler Charles Wright Charles Wright M 2 184 The Parish Officers. The Overseers. 1888-9. Frederick Rose Thomas William Davies 1889-90. Thomas William Davies Zephaniah Augustin Berry 1890-1. Zephaniah Augustin Berry James Gibson 1 891 -2. James Gibson James Lane (deceased) George John Chappie in his place 1892-3. George John Chappie Henry William Budd A comparison of this list, with that of the churchwardens (see pp. 135-8), will show that the majority of names appear in both lists, an evidence that the fidelity and ability with which the duties of the overseership had been discharged, obtained in due rotation for the gentlemen who had fulfilled those duties, the highest position in the gift of the parishioners — that of the churchwardenship. Within the last five years, however, non-residence at their business places, and consequent absence from town on Sundays, has pre- vented the advancement of three past overseers to that honour. The overseers appointed by the magistrates for St. John's parish, become members of " The Past Overseers' Society of St. Margaret and St. John the Evangelist, Westminster," an institution without a rival in the metropolis or elsewhere. The Society, which had its origin in 1713, was the means of affording the office bearers for the time being the oppor- tunity of conferring with the past officers upon questions of practice arising in the course of the duties ; but owing to the extent to which the more arduous of those duties have passed into other hands, under the legislation of the last half century, the Society has assumed more exclusively the nature of a social institution. To this Society belongs the incomparable collection of engraved silver plates, and ornaments, mounted on cases of various shapes and sizes, and known far and wide as " The Westminster Tobacco Box." ^ " And from his pocket next he takes '^H His shining horn tobacco box ; ^ And, in a light and careless way, . As men who with their purpose play, Upon the lid he knocks." Wordsworth. Their " shinhig horn tobacco-box!' 185 When it is stated that the publication of the engrav- ings, with some historical notes on the office and on the Society, undertaken by the Overseers for 1887-8 (4to., 106 pp.) cost ;^294, it will be seen that the reproduction either of the plates or the letter-press herewith is as effectu- ally prohibited by want of space as by cost. Mr. Frederick- Rose, 'the custodian of the Box' in 1 886-7, gave an exhibi- tion of it to a large and fashionable circle by invitation, and prepared for the information of his guests a description which, from its conciseness, may fittingly find a place here. Mr. Rose says : — " So much interest attaches to what is generally known as the ' Westminster Tobacco Box,' that a volume rather than a paragraph would be required to relate its history or to describe its ornaments. " To tell its story as briefly as possible it maybe said that at the end (jf the seventeenth and commencement of the eighteenth centuries, when the duties of the Overseers included the administration of relief to the poor, and other matters now devolving upon paid ' Relieving Officers,' it was customary for the Overseers for the time being to meet their predecessors in office at one of the principal taverns in the parish to ' compare notes,' to confer on parochial matters generally, and to ' drown their cares in a cloud of smoke.' The mutual profit and the pleasant intercourse afforded by these meetings resulted in the formation of the ' Past Overseers' Society,' to whom was presented, in 1713, by Henry Monck, one of their number, a horn tobacco bo.x, of about three-ounce capacity, which was said to have been bought at Horn Fair, Plumstead, for the modest price of fourpence. In recogni- tion of the gift, the recipients decorated it with a rim of silver, bearing the donor's name. On the appointment of new Overseers the custody of the box was entrusted to the senior member of their body, who, with his colleagues, placed an inscribed silver ornament on the lid. The Overseers for the next year affixed a band of silver on the sides ; others, in their turn, added further plates, until the box was entirely covered with engraved silver. An outer case was then found neces- sary, and gradually became enclosed in silver in like manner, each body of Overseers adding some ornament during their year of office. This case in its turn was enclosed in another, oval in form like the original box, and so with a third case, octagon in shape, having a double lid to admit more plates, and a fourth, round, with a magnifi- cent embossed cover, which in the course of years found itself deposited in a fifth case, octagon in shape, with a hinged door, hidden inside and out by silver plates. This is some eighteen inches in height, and about fifteen years ago was provided with a pedestal and cover in oak, cap- able of bearing sonie forty or more plates, many of the spaces being 1 86 The Parish Officers. The Overseers. already occupied. In addition to the names of the Overseers for the year, most of these plates record, and some illustrate, the principal national and local events of the year. The additions of a hundred and seventy-three years have increased the dimensions of the ' box ' from about three inches by five, to about twenty-four inches across by thirty inches high ; in weight it has grown from a few ounces to rather over a hundred pounds, while the ' compound interest' of the original four- pence is simply incalculable — for notwithstanding the great intrinsic value of the silver, neither the records nor the engravings could be re- placed. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Past Overseers' Society regard the preservation of tlie ' box ' with great anxiety, — a care which its history fully justifies, for in 1785, when the value was much less than now, the melting-pot had been prepared for its recep- tion by burglars, who, on seeking it in the house of Mr. Gilbert, the Overseer in possession, were fortunately disappointed of their spoil, through its having been securely placed out of reach.* This escape was shortly followed by jeopardy of another kind. In 1793 the box passed in the ordinary way to the custody of Mr. Overseer James Read, whose accounts the Vestry subsequently declined to pass. The accounts showed a balance due to the accountant, and the refusal to pass them was interpreted as an objection to pay Mr. Read that balance. He thereupon threatened the destruction of his silver charge, upon which a bill in Chancery was filed against him, and an Order of the Court made for the delivery of the box in the charge of Master Leeds, pend- ing the result of the suit. After three years' suspense. Lord Chancellor Loughborough, in finding for the plaintiffs, ordered that the box and its cases be restored, — a decision which is the subject of a special plate, headed, ' Justice Triumphant I Fraud defeated I I The Box Restored ! ! !' The plaintiffs' costs in the case were ^376 13s. iid. of which ^^300 was paid by the defendant, the balance, besides the cost of the special plate, having been readily subscribed by the Society. Having escaped two dangers, ' the box ' was placed in jeopardy a third time in 1837, when a fire broke out in the house of Mr. Edward Milns, the overseer in charge. Its preservation was due to the thoughtfulness of Mrs. Milns, who, while her husband was endeavouring to save his books and business papers, rushed to ' the box ' just in time to rescue it from destruction. Being then much smaller than it is now, Mrs. Milns was able to carry it to a neighbours house and place it again in security. " Some little ceremony attends the transfer of the treasure from the outgoing to the incoming Overseer, which cannot here be detailed ; but among the conditions upon which such transfer is made, is one ' that the box and its cases are to be produced at all parochial enter- ' To reduce such a risk to a minimum in the future, the Society have re- cently arranged, for the safe deposit of the "Box " in a fire-proof strong room, where it is now kept under the control of the Overseer in charge. ^' Let HS see these ornaments." 187 tainments .... and to contain three pipes of tolxacco at the least, under the penalty of si.x bottles of claret." The transferee is also bound under a penalty to restore the box and cases, with some addi- tional ornament, when called upon, to which end he has further to give two personal sureties in the sum of two hundred guineas each. " Of the engravings, it is impossible to name even a tithe here. Some display considerable taste in design and skill in execution, others less so ; but uniform excellence cannot be expected where the object has been transitory for 173 years, and where the custodians for the time being have had perfect liberty in the choice alike of subject, design, and engraver. The Overseers of 1746-7 were fortunate enough to secure a characteristic engraving by the famous Hogarth, who pro- duced, with appropriate surroundings, a portrait of H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland, in commemoration of his defeat of the rebels at the Battle of Culloden. Another portrait is that of the notorious John Wilkes, who served as Churchwarden of St. Margaret's shortly before he rose to the dignity of the Civic Chair, and whose signature as a Local Justice of the Peace still exists on many a document in the parish muniment room at the Town Hall. Many of the illustrations are worthy of special notice, and will amply repay the closest examina- tion : but space forbids further reference here. "The Overseers of 1860-1 were specially honoured in being com- manded to exhibit the box and its cases to Her Majesty the Queen, who, with H.R.H. Prince Consort, and the Royal Princesses and Princes, were very deeply interested, as expressed in a letter filed with the books of the Society. In 1877 the treasure was exhibited at the Society of Antiquaries, since which it has been sought out and admired by members of other learned societies, as well as by British and Foreign Antiquaries, to whom its fame has reached by the notices published in various historical and antiquarian books and papers." The cost of the plate.s and ornaments, which is defrayed by the private subscriptions of the Overseers for the time being, varies according to the size and engraving. The outlay on those added in commemoration of the Queen's Jubilee in 1887 exceeded ^^50; the average is generally about £\2. A drawing of the box and its ca.ses, as they appeared in 1887, before the outer case had been surmounted by the statuette of Her Majesty, is reproduced on the next page. TJie Westminster Tobacco Box. When displayed in company with the elegant ' Cigar Box ' of the St. Margaret's Vestry Club, the smaller, but none the less solid ' Snuff Box' of the St. John's church- wardens, and the massive ' Loving Cup ' and dish of the The Parish Officers. The rear-guard. 189 St. Margaret's Vestry {see p. 1 10), the whole forms a collec- tion of silver which may safely claim to be unequalled in any other parish. Before taking leave of the officers of the parish, we may be permitted to pause while the vestry clerks bring up the rear. As they are not numerous we may give their names and their years of office : — Robert Prior ... ... ... ... 1728 — 1735 George Cleeter ... ... ... ... 1735 — 1753 George Cleeter the younger ... ... 1753 — 1763 William Langley ... ... ... 1762 —1795 Mark Daniel 1795 — 1809 John Daniel ... ... ... ... 1809-1835 Mark Daniel 1835— 1841 John R. L. Walmisley ... ... ... 1841 — 1891 John Edward Smith ... ... ... 1891 The parish attorney was rarely called upon to act. His principal duty was to draw ' statements of case ' for the opinion of counsel learned in the law on doubtful points, and in some few instances during the first century of the Vestry's existence to instruct counsel in the defence of the parochial interests. Of the parish clerk, the sexton, the bearers, the .searchers, and others holding numerous minor offices in the parish — "Their ashes undistinguished lie. Their place, their power, their memory die." 190 Self-government of the parish Chapter VII. SELF-GOVERNxMENT " My soul aches To know, when two authorities are up, Neither supreme, how soon confusion May enter 'twixt the gap of both, nnd take The one by the other." " CORIOLANUS.'' " For forms of government let fools contest ; Whate'er is best administered is best." Pope. " The nicest constitutions of government are often like the finest pieces of clock-work which, depending on so many motions, are therefore more subject to be out of order," — Poi'E. Constitution of the Vestry. — Its duties. — Relations with Vestry of St. Margaret's. — Insufficiency of powers. — Condition of streets. — Peti- tions to Parliament. — Creation of subsidiary bodies and commissions. — Futile adoption of Hobhouse's Act. — The dawn of improvement. — The Amendment Act of 1887. — The Library Commissioner.s. The Baths and Wash-houses Commissioners. — The Burial Board. — The Watch. — Street lighting. — Introduction of gas. — Wood-paving. — Protection against fire. — Tothill Fields Trust. T3EFORE the constitution of the parish in 1724 there were two local bodies — the Court of Burgesses and the Vestry of St. Margaret's — exercising jurisdiction within its area. The incorporation of the Court of Burgesses and the original constitution of the Vestry, with the respective powers and duties of the two bodies, were reviewed some- what fully in Local Government in Westminster, published in 1889. The present retrospect may therefore be limited to the parochial administration within the boundaries and since the formation of the parish. By the Act of 10 Anne, cap. 11, sec. xx., the Commis- sioners were authorised " to name a convenient number of sufficient inhabitants . . to be vestrymen of such new Instniincnt constituting the Vestry. 191 parish, who shall have and exercise the like powers and authorities for ordering and regulating the affairs of such new parish as the vestrymen of the present parish " of St. Margaret. In pursuance of that authority an Instrument was sealed on 21st February, 1728, of which the following is a copy : — AN INSTRUMENT For appointing a Vestry in the Parish of Saint John the Ei'angc/ist, Westminster. — Anno Domini., 1728. T^O all Men to whom these Presents shall come, The Most Reverend Father in God William Lord Archbishop of Gm/c'r(Ji/ry, Primate of all England a.x\d Metropolitan, The Right Reverend Father in (iod Edmond Lord Bishop oi Lotidon, The Right Reverend Father in (iod William Lord Bishop of Durham., Thomas Lord Bishop oi Ely, Wil- liam late Lord Bishop of Bangor now Lord Bishop of Norwich., John Lord Bishop of Carlisle, Ediuard Lord Bishop of Chichester, and Samuel Lord Bishop of CZ/t'j'/'rr, '6\y John Phillips liaronet, Sir William Ogborn Knight, Martin B lay den, John Conduit, Robert Jacond), John Ellis, and Edward Pcetc, Esquires, fourteen of the Commissioners (amongst others) nominated and appointed by His present Majesty King George the Second, by his Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster the twenty-fourth day q{ Novem- ber in the first year of His said Majesty's Reign, for putting in execution the several powers and authorities contained in an Act of Parliament made in the ninth year of the reign of Her late Majesty Queen Anne, intituled An Act for granting to Her Majesty several duties on Coals, for building Fifty new Churches in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof and other purposes therein men- tioned ; and in one other Act made in the tenth year of the reign of Her said late Majesty, for enlarging the time given to the Commis- sioners appointed pursuant to the said former Act, and also for giving the Commissioners further powers for better effecting the same, and for appointing monies for rebuilding the parish Church of Saint Mary Woolnotii, in the Cit)- oi London ; and in an Act made in the first year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the First, intituled An Act for making Provision fo} the Ministers of the Fifty new CIturches which are to be built in and about the Cities of London and Westmins- ter, and Suburbs thereof and for rebuilding and finishing the J^arish Cliurch w ^— o ^ S o ^ "*> E^ The s/iooti)ig-ho?ise. 285 in which the practice of archery was held by the "parochial fathers " as a means of defence against invasion : — 17 Nozi. 1674. Upon the application of Mr Edward Ffalconberg and Mr Edmund Woodruffe, in behalfe of the Archers, Clameing a Right in the Shooteing house in Tuttle ffields It is thought fitt that (for the future) the Churchwardens for the time being doe alwaies at the Letting of the said house Reserve Hberty for the Archers to make use of the Chamber there. 8 May 1667. That it be Referred unto the Churchwardens to take care that the Shooteing house in Tuttle ffeilds being parte of the estate of Mr John Allen late deceased be disposed off to the best Advantayge as being a Legacy by him left to this Parish. 6 July 1667. That the present Churchwardens Doe Contract for and by in the Lease of the House in Tuttle ffeilds (called the Shooting House) for the use of this parish at the most Easie Rates they can p'cure it for And what they doe pay for the same shall be allowed them at the passing of their Ace' 20 May 1668. That the Churchwardens Doe Allow unto the present tenant in the House commonly called the Shooting House in Tuttle Fcilds the Sume of 40^ out of his Rent Towards the makeing of a Payre of New Butts and Keeping them in Repayre which sd 40^ shall be allowed at the passc- ing of the Churchwardens Ace' But the honoured long-bow, which did such service in ICnglish yeomen's hands at Crecy and Agincourt and Poicticrs, was rapidly superseded in the sixteenth century for military purposes, by the general introduction of " villainous saltpetre " ; and — Those days are gone away, And their hours are old and grey No, the bugle sounds no more, And the twanging bow no more ; Silent is the ivory shrill Past the heath and up the hill. So it is : yet let us sing. Honour to the old bow-string ; Honour to the bugle horn ! Honour to the woods unshorn ! Honour to the Lincoln green ! Honour to the archer keen ! Kk.its. 286 To thin -fields. That Westminster kept well abreast of the times is illustrated by the following further extracts from the parish accounts : — 1 5 17. To Mr. Fisher, for making the Butts at Tothill o 27 o 1548. Paid to 1 1 men for wearing the same harness at the muster-day, to every man 6d. ... ... ... o 5 6 1 58 1. For scouring the armour and the shot against the musters in Tothill Fields... ... ... ... o 26 o Paid for powder for the soldiers upon the mustering days 012 4 Paid for brown paper for them ... ... ... ... o o o Paid to the soldiers, the ancient-bearer, and him that played on the drum ... ... ... ... ... o 27 4 On the 31st October, 1667, the Vestry of St. Margaret's ordered — ■ That all the Arms, both Offensive and Defensive And also all the Watch Mafs now remaining in the Dark Vestry be for the better Preservation thereof Removed thence unto the House Newly Erected in the Artillery Ground in Tuttle fifields. When the clouds of the Civil Wars were gathering in threatening sombreness, the fields were a favourite drill- ground of the " trained bands," — a body of men " drawn forth in arms " in support of the King. Their loyalty soon began to waver, however, and eventually they transferred their strength to the support of the Parliament. Clarendon records that these " trained bands " were at first too lightly esteemed, because of their inexperience in any kind of service or danger, " beyond the easy practice of their postures in the Artillery Garden" ; but the earliest reverses of the King showed their mettle, as did the soldiery of the "Ironsides" later on, under Cromwell's captaincy. The number of men who mustered in the fields at this time was so formidable that the above-named writer declares that " London and Westminster were an inexhaustible magazine of men " for the Parliamentarians, from which the record that 14,000 men paraded at one time in the fields derives some confirmation. The battery. 287 Sir Richard Steele, ridiculinij the trained bands in The Tatler (No. 28), writes : — " Our own antient and well-governed cities are conspicuous examples to all mankind in their regulation of military achievements. The chief citizens, like the noble Italians, hire mercenaries to carry arms in their State ; and you shall have a fellow of a desperate fortune, for the gain of one half-crown, go through all the dangers of Tothill Fields or the Artillery Ground, clap his riglit jaw within two inches of the touch-hole of a musket, and fire it off with a huzza with as little concern as he tears a pullet.'' At the outbreak in 1642 of the Great Rebellion — which the inhabitants of London and Westminster did so much to precipitate — the rural quietness of Tothill-fields was once more disturbed. In obedience to the order of the Parliament of the 7th March of that momentous year, (1642-3) a battery with an earthen breast-work or rampart was erected here, near the Neat-houses, to form part of the fortifications wliich were hurriedly thrown up round the two cities by the " unruly people of the suburbs "• — to use King Charles's own words * — under the zealous supervision of Lord Mayor Penington, " a busy stickler of the reaction." f Mr. W. J. Loftie's History of London contains an inter- esting plan showing the Hne of these defence works. The battery in Tothill-fields is marked as about midway be- tween the Chelsea-road \ and the river-bank opposite Vauxhall. The sites of the other forts in the west were at positions now corresponding with Victoria-station, Consti- tution-hill, Hyde-park-corner, and across the river at Vaux- hall. They were destroyed, Walcott states, in 1647, when the citizens refused to advance a loan of ^50,000 demanded by the Parliament to pay the army. * Whitelocke's Memorials of the English Affairs. t Heath's Chronicle. X Buckingham-palace-road, and the road through the sf|uares. 288 Tothill- fields. " London," says Maitland, " was the very soul of the cause." The ordinances of the Parliament were obeyed like Acts, and " even mere children became Volunteers, for- sook their parents, and followed the camp."* After the indecisive battle of Edgehill, the trained bands forced the King to abandon his threatened attack on London. Shops were shut and apprentices enrolled, proclamation being made that when their services were no longer required, the masters should reinstate them in their former places. Battery in Tothill Fields, /6^?. The zeal of the people of Westminster for " the Cause " is, in point of fact, amply evidenced by the parish accounts. " Behaviour," says Goethe, " is a mirror in which everyone shows his image," and our excuse for referring so often to the Churchwardens' accounts is that they reflect most honestly the hates and bias of the times, and hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to Nature and to Truth severe : — Churchwardens' Accounts, 1652-3. Received of Mr. Edward Martyn for 53 pound weight of Gunpowder after the rate of iiij//. ye barrell ...xHji'. \\]d. Of Mr. Ffreeman Marchant for foure barrells of Gun- powder xvj//'. * Heath's Chronicle. TJie Trained-bands. 289 Paid to the Bearers and three Porters for bringing home the firehooks from Widdow Glassington's at Tuthill bridge ... ... ... ... ... ... ... \V]d. Paid for boat-hire when we went to London^and^sould foure barrells of Gunpowder ... ... ... ... xijrtf. Paid to Mr. Hatton Gardiner for making y^'paire of Shooting Butts in Tuttle fields ... \s. To Peter Carle and Harris labourers for trenching^ the Butts to preserve them from Cattell xxxj. Paid to Mr. Browne, Carpenter, for a planke and piles to make Bridges over to the same Butts ... ... viij^. v]d. Allowed to Mr. ffreeman when wee sould the foure barrells of Gunpowder to him in respect of some want of weight, and for carriage of it to his house ...viijj. \']d. Paid for levelling the ground in Tuttle fields before the Butts iijj. Whitelocke* records that on the 25th August, 165 1, the " Trained Bands of London, Westminster, &c., drew out into Tuttle Fields, in all about 14,000 ; the speaker and divers members of the Parliament were there to see them." A few days afterwards (September 3) Cromwell had gained the decisive Battle of Worcester; and on the 21st, the victorious general was met near Acton, " with the Speaker and the Members, and the Lord Mayor, and Recorder Steel, who in a set speech congratulated his great Successes, and like a false Prophet, by a mistaken Prolepsis, applied these words of the Psalmist,- — To binde tJieir Kings in CJiains, and their Arables in Fetters of Iron^ in an arrogant Exaltation of his Achievements. Next day the Common Prisoners (being driven like a herd of swine) were brought through Westminster into TotJiill Fields (a sadder spectacle was never seen, except the miserable place of their defeat) and there sold to several Merchants, and sent to the Barba- does ; the Colours taken, were likewise hanged up in Westminster-hall, \\\W\ those taken before at Prt'j/t?;/ and Dunbar"^ * Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke's Memorials of English Affairs, 1862. t A Chronicle of the late Intestine War in the Three Kingdoms, by Tames Heath, i66i— p. 301. 290 Tothill-fields. One of the Civil War Tracts of Lancashire tells the shameful story with every mark of callous insolence: — Friday the 12 of Sept., 165 1, my Lord General drew near to the City of London and my Lord Mayor, and Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Recorder met about 10 of the clock in the forenoon at Guildhall in their Scarlet robes, and with a dozen coaches went forth to meet his Excellency, a little beyond Acton, unto whom Mr. Recorder made a congTatulatory speech in behalf of the whole City; he was also met on the way by many Lords, the Speaker of Parliament and Members of the Council of State as also many thousands of citizens both horse and foot (yet the Train-band went not forth) which filled the ways and places best scituate for beholders four or five miles together. First came his Life- guards being a Company of as gallant Genl. as you have seen mounted, heroick, and valiant ; after them a Troop of Col. Roivs horse belonging to the City, next unto them a great number of Com- moners and Gent, of quality, then his Excellency and the Speaker of Parliament came in a coach by themselves, and by estimation at least three hundred coaches close after one another. At Hide Park corner near Knightsbridge stood to receive him the blew Regiment of Voluntiers lately raised, and from thence to Picca- dilly was placed Col. Barksteads Regiment of red-coats, the great guns were also drawn out of St. Jameses, and about the time that his Excellency came to Charing Crosse they went off one after another once over which they had no sooner done, but there was a gallant volley of shot given by the souldiers that brake the air, and with a mighty shout of the people ecchoed again to the earth, with order in the manner aforesaid with great and small shot, and hallowing of the people was observed and done four severall times over. As the Generall passed by, the people all along as he went put off their hats and had reciprocal respects return'd from him again ; his Excellency chose rather to come, in as privately as he could in a coach then openly on horseback, to avoid the popularity and applaises of the people, desiring rather that the good he doth do this Common-wealth may be heard and felt than seen, that the people should attribute or ascribe too much unto him, who desires to carry on the work of the Lord in all meeknesse and humility. The last night the Scots, Highlands, or Redshanks, about 4000 in numlier lay on Hampstead heath, four miles from London, and this day they were with a guard brought by Highgate on the back-side of Islington to Kingsland, and from thence to Milingreen they were suffered to receive such charity as people would give them, and had a cart-load or two of biskit carrying after them, which is better food then heretofore they carried in their Oatmeal bag. The next day being Saturday they were brought in at Algate, and so marched through cheap-side, Fleet-street and the Strand, and likewise through Westminster. For the most part they were very sturdy surley knaves, keep them under, and they may serve for nasty stinking vassals, I The Scottish prisoners. 291 leave to every indifferent person that hath beheld them to judge what a condition they had been in if such a generation as this had prevailed and become their masters, or cut their throats, of which they made themselves so sure many of them brought their wives and berns in with them, yet were many of our Scotified Citizens so pittifuU unto them, that as they passed through the City made them (though prisoners at mercy) masters of more money and good white-bread than some of them ever see in their lives, they marched this night into Tuttlc-fields, some Irish are amongst them, and most of them are habited much after that fashion, the English that were at the battel are severed out by themselves ; they are not yet come, but are coming up.* Twelve hundred of these poor fellows, who had succumbed to their rigorous treatment, were buried in the Fields. The churchwardens' accounts of 1652-3 exhibit the following eloquent entry : — Paid to Thomas Wright for 67 load of soyle laid on the Graves inTuthill fields wherein 1,200 Scotch prisoners (taken at the fifight at Worcester) were buried and for other paines taken with his teeme of horsse about amending the Sanctuarye high way when Generall Irelon was buried ... ... ... ... ... xxx^y. The accounts of the previous year (165 1) are even more interesting as showing the local feeling of the time, and bear sad witness to the extraordinary brutality shown to the conquered. Livy's woeful exclamation of Vae victis was never more gloomily testified. Received of the right hono'^'e the Counscll of State to- ward reperacon and cleansing of the new Church and the new Churchyard after the Scottish prisoners had much annoyed and spoiled the same ... ... xxx//. Paid to the Ringers for ringing on the fourth of Septem- ber, upon intcUig'cnce of y^ overthrow of the Scottish Army att Worcester vjj. Paid to the Ringers for ringing on the foure and twen- tieth day of October, being a day of thanksgiving for the victorie over the Scotts att Worcester \\]s. Paid for hearbs and lawrcU that were strewd in the Church the same dale viijs. * Tract in the King's Library Collection at the Brit. Mus. Another victory in Lancashire obtained over the Scots by Maj. Gen. Harrison and Collonel IMburn. . . . London, printed by B.A. — much. 292 Tothill-fields. Paid to Robert Crispe and sundry other labourers for digging trenching and cleansing the new Churchyard whereby the annoyance made by the Scottish prisoners there was destroyed... ... ... xxxixi'. \\\]d. Paid to Ralph Lynes for carrying away part of the soyle and filth out of the new Church which the Scotch prisoners made there ... ... ... ... ... iji'. vj^. Paid for a petition to the Comittee of Prisoners for a recompence for iniurie done by the Scotch prisoners in the new Church and churchyard .. ... ... xijrt'. Paid to Mr. Ffrosts clerke for an Order of the Counsell of State, whereby Thirtie pounds was ordered in respect of the said iniuries ... ... ... ... \s. In justice, however, to the Churchwardens of the year 1650, the following payment ought to be quoted, as it would appear to show that, before the Battle of Worcester had been fought and won, their ears had not been rendered deaf to "The still sad music of humanity" by the exulting psalms of Cromwell's Ironsides: — October (1650). — To Prisoners in distresse that came out of Scotland xij^/. Some of the prisoners, as we have seen, were shipped to the Barbadoes, and Whitelock states in his Chronicle (Septem- ber 30, 165 1), in his matter of fact way, that, '"upon the desire of the Guinea merchants, fifteen hundred of the Scots prisoners were granted to them, and sent on ship- board to be transported to Guinea to work in the mines there, and upon a quarrel among the soldiers in the barges, two or three hundred of them were drowned." Even a more sorrowful but yet a more humane use is next found for these fields. And here we come to a period which is perhaps more immediately associated with Tothill- fields than any other — the time of the Plague. On the ruins of the Cromwellian earthworks was shortly afterwards erected, as being somewhat removed from the town, a lazarette of boards, called '\the Pest-houses," for the reception of the poor folk suffering from the periodic visitations of the Plague — for there were many " tymes of " /;/ tJiis still place remote from men." 293 syckncsse " in Westminster,* which led up to and culminated in the Great Plague of 1665-6. " Time never knew, since he begunnc his houres (For aught we reade), a plague so long remaine In any cittie as this plague of ours ; For now six years in London it hath laine." The Triumph of Death, By John Davies, 1609. Either the parochial fathers or some such kindly philanthropist as " My Lord Craven " thus early instituted the principal of field hospital isolation, now-a-days so extensively adopted by the Metropolitan Asylums Board. The churchwardens' accounts contain the following : — Disbursements for repaires done to the Pesthouses in TUTHILL fields AND FOR OTHER NECESSARIES THERE VIZT. : — 165 1. Paid to ffrancis Day Carpenter for a doore and doore case and for other stufife used and worke done at the Pesthouses. As by his bill and receipt appeareth iij//. xviji". Paid to John Lewis for mending the tyling where the sunne dyall stands neere the Pesthouses ... ... \]s. \']d. 'Paid to Thomas Salloway and John Atkins labourers for digging and trenching of 37 rod and a halfe and 4 foot of ditching att \\\]s. the rod ... ... ... vij//. \]s. Paid more to the said Thomas Salloway and John Atkins for throwing downe the loame which was digged out of the ditch and for levelling the ground there ... wiij.f. Paid more to the said Thomas Salloway and John Atkins for two dales labour in going to Hide Park and bringing bushes thence and for setting them about the gate of the Pesthouses and for other labour there \\]s. Paid for 1500 of quick-sett for a third rowe sett before the ditch there vj.y. iiij<^/. 1652. Paid to Richard Parrock Smith for work done at ye Pesthouses in Tuttlefields and at the new Cage in the Sanctuary xxji-. Paid to Mr. Hawes for an Elme pipe laid to Convey water into y^ Ditch neere y^ pesthouses and for car- riage of the pipe \]S. and in the accounts of 1672 : — For settmg up 2 pumps, i at y^ Pcsthouse and i at the Shooting-hous, as by Bill xiij//. To a porter 6d., fifor a shovell i. 6., for a Trusse of Straw 6d. ... ... ... ... ... ... iji". \]d. Notably the years 1603, 1625. 294 Tothill-fields. To — Bayley for 3 Stones to lay under the pumpe as by Bill ss. \\d. To John Lewis, Bricklayer, as by Bill ... ... ... xviji'. To Mr. Hawes for a pype, and for carrying and place- ing it at ye pest house ... ... ... ... \s. The accounts relating to the Great Plague, which were kept separately from the ordinary payments by the church- wardens of the time, were accidentally discovered in the tower of St. Margaret's Church in 1885. They bear the signatures of worthy Emery Hill and Francis Dorington, as the justices by whom they were ' allowed,' and were printed for the first time by the Rev. R. Ashington Bullen, B.A., in the St. Margarefs Parish Magazine. They are eri- titled to a reproduction here u'ith Mr. Bullen's notes : — "The visitation is commonly supposed to have been in 1665, but according to this document it lasted in Westminster for the 32 weeks of 1666 from April 9th till November 5th. "The first part of this paper consists of a weekly account of expenditure for what may be termed extraordinary expenses, i.e.., for special cases, and also payments to watchmen (warders) in certain streets and to nurses at the pest-house. We quote a few items, retain- ing the incorrect, varying and quaint spellings : — j\ d. Weeke i. April 9th. Wood* a Warder in Peter Street ... 1 '^ ffor 2 padlockst ... ... ... i 4 2 weeke „ i6th Elizabeth Helyer a stranger taken up at ye new Buldings and sent to ye Pest-house and for a nurs to attend her 46 ffor 2 men to carry her to ye Pest-house 2 o ffor a trusse of straw ... ... ... 08 To the searchers for Inquisition on three persons ... ... ... i 6 3 weeke ffor carrying ye goods of severall per- sons from St. Steph : Ally to the Pest-house 26 to 2 porters for loding ye sd. goods ... 30 To a warder at Roberts in S. Stephnes Ally 4 dayes and 2 night 5 o To Dian. Tanner,^ An Roberts, Eliz. and An Turmage at ye Pest-house.. 9 4 * This item occurs nearly every week until he probably died (perhaps of the Plague) about Oct. ist. t For fastening up the empty houses from which the plague-stricken had been removed. X Probably nurses at the Pest-house, TJie Plague in Westminster. 295 To a warder at Biggs one weeke ... 36 4 weeke. April 30th. To 2 nurses for watching with An Thomas 4 nights at ye Pest-house.. 5 6 ffor a coach to carry Ann Thomas to St. Martin's and thence to ye Pest-house 1 6 To a warder at ye Owle i o To Wood a warder in St. .Steph : Ally 3 o 6 weeke. May 14th. To the 2 children of An Thomas at ye Pest-house and a nurse to attend them ... ... ... ... ... 56 7 \\eeke. May 21st. .Sym. Buggy Warder in ye new way.. 3 o To Pirie 3 in ffamily ... ... ... 6 6 8th weeke. flfor carrying John Pirie's goods and ffamily from St. Stephn's Ally to ye Pest-house ... 6 6 16 weeke. To Henry Weeden for padlocks as by his Bill appeareth ... ... 11 6 17 weeke. July 30. To Wm. Haithorne to by shoes Stockins and Bodice for one of ye childr : of El : Thomas ... ... 3 6 18 weeke. Aug. 6. Symon Buggy a warder in Tuttle Street 3 o 21 „ Aug. 27. ffor carrying A man to ye pest-house who came from Exeter to ye Sanc- tuary 3 o ffor necessaries whilst he was there... 3 6 ffor Burying ye man that came from Exeter ... ... ... ... 30 26 „ Oct. I. Wm. Haythorne to by cloathes for ye sayd child (Thomas) 2 o These are the chief items ; many of them occur again and again. The plague seems to have ended by Nov. 5th, as there are no further entries after that date, and the expenditure during the last 2 weeks amounted to only 4 shillings. The .Second part of these Accounts is even of more interest than the foregoing, and shows a total expense of more than ^1700, representing an expenditure at the present day of probably ^7000 or more. P.W.MENTS MADE FOR THE USE OF YE POOR VISITED OF THE PL.\GUE. Payd To John Lee for castmg a Uitch and makcing the ^ Banks about the pest-house for A Lock and Key for A House shutt up in Wood St.. for 2 Pound of ffume to Burn in Visited Houses To John Angier carpenter, and John Lewis Bricklayer for Building a shedd at ye Pest-house ... ... 10 o To Henry Weeden for Padlocks, Hasps and Staples to afifixe to ye visited Houses and for casements and other Iron works at ye Pest-house... ... ... 02 16 T 2 02 7 3 00 I 4 01 o 6 o 8 10 I 4 o 10 o 7 6 I 2 6 o 4 6 4 o 8 o 12 o 4 6 15 00 2 6 12 14 00 10 20 10 296 Tothill-fields. For a bagg of Lime to Ayre the Visited houses ... For locks and other things for ye visited at Knightsbr : For a warrant for summoning severall persons before ye Justices who Refused to pay their taxe for ye visited "•'= For straps for the Sedan t ... A cart to carry ye visited corps to ye graves I : W : J ... For 2 wheelbarrows ... For a Sedan for the visited ... Expended in Bymg Physick for the Visited at the Pest- houses ... To Apothecary for Physick Drugs as p Bill To Jon. Angier for 2 shutting windows at ye Search-house To John Angier for erecting a new Bonehouse ... For Pouwder and Shott and Watching to kill ye Uoggs To fifranc Brockhurst in pt. for Shrouds ... To the Pitmaker for his care in providing Room for ye visited corps ... For covering the Ground in yc New Chappell yard For 4 Que. (quire) of Dr. Cox's Divertions against ye plague To fifrancis Brockhurst pte. for shrouds ... To him more upon the same Acct To John Lennard for his extraordinary paynes in keeping the Acct. for the Visited and all other writeings, trouble and care thereabouts ... . . ... 20 o Allowed unto ourselves for the graves of 2,954 Poor people buryed in this parish this yeare called Nils at one penny A Piece By order ... ... ... T2 6 To the Dog-killer from the 2nd of August to ye i6th of Sept : ... For A Mopp and A Broom ... To the Dog-killer for burying 353 Dogs ... The Totall of all the Receipts „ „ ye Disbursements Soe there Rests due to these Accoumpts ... * Thi.s item occurs 11 times, sometimes for 4 summonses at once. t A closed chair with handles used for carrying ladies. Introduced into I>ondon, A.D. 1634, " because of the noise, confusion and danger produced hy hackneys, and to save the wear and tear of the streets."' To ease the burden on the aims of the two carriers, straps or leather thongs were passed over the .shoulder which hung down in front and having holes through which the chair handles went, helped to take the weight of the chair. Such a chair is figured in Thompson's England, Vol. II., 627, see also II., 767, 768 : Vol. III., 406. ± This item occurs six times, I : W ; means i week. 01 8 00 I 00 4 1652 8 li I7I4 II 6 62 3 A\ ft r Eniaygeuient of the Pcst-hoiiscs. 297 ')C it remembered that this Acct. was Audited the Ninth day of Member 1667 : By us whose names are hereunto subscriljed And found Just in every part. E.mkrv Hill. Ffran : DorriN(;ton. That the ' local authorities ' of Westminster were not .^Ken unawares would be gathered from the subjoined ^try in the Vestry minutes: — 14/// July^ 1665. That the Churchwardens doe forthwith proceed to the making of an Additional provision for the Reception of the pooie Visited of the Pla<;ue at the Pest House in Tuttle fifeildes. And that they doe Treatewith & agree with such workemen for performing the same as they shall thinke fitt. And that they Defrey the Charge thereof out of such Moneys as they already have in their Hands or hereafter shall receive for that purpose by Order of the Vestry or otherwaies. Strype's Stow (1720) refers to these pest-houses, and Seymour in his Siu'vey (1735) copies him word for word : — In Tothill-fields, which is a large spacious Place, there are certain Pest-houses, now made use of by 12 poor Men and their Wives, as long as it shall please Ciod to keep us from the Plague. These Pest- liouses are built near the Meads as being remote from people. The " Five Houses " or " Seven Chimneys," as they were called, are shown in a . slight etching made of them by Hollar. Thither many a sinister group bore the litter of the stricken, lighted by flaring torch or feeble lanthorn, not so much with any hope of recover}^, as that the spread of the dire infection might thereby be checked. As the - pestilence increased in virulence under the fierce brazen sky of that awful summer, the Fields became a plague-pit, and the lan.es and purlieus of Westminster — Thereby themselves to save Did vomit out their undigested dead, Who by cart-loads were carried to the grave ; For all these lanes with folk were overfed. Terrible, indeed, comments Walcott, though the skies were bright, as if in mockery, must have been the state of Westminster at the time ! " A midnight silence at the noon of day And grass, untrodden, springs beneath the feet 1 ' I 'KMHiN. 298 Tothill-fields. It would be presumption to attempt to describe i' ravages of "London's Dreadful Visitation,"* while the lu' pages of Defoe and Evelyn, and Clarendon and Lingui remain on our book-shelves. Pepys writes in his diai (Oct. 16, 1665) "They tell me that in Westminster ther^ never a physician and but one apothecary left, all bein^^ dead;" and again (July 18, 1665): " I was much trouL to hear, at Westminster, how the officers do bury the dead in the open Tuttle Fields, pretending want of room else- where : whereas the New Chapel-yard-f- was walled in at the public charge in the last plague-time, merely for want of room ; and now none, but such as are able to pay dear for it, can be buried there." An idea of the ravages of the disease in Westminster may be gathered from the fact that nearly 3,000 persons who succumbed thereto, were buried at the expense of the parish. Stand aloof. And let the Pest's triumphant chariot Have open way advancing to the tomb See how he mocks the pomp and pageantry Of earthly kings I A miserable cart Heap'd up with human bodies ; dragg'd along By pale steeds, skeleton-anatomies ! And onwards urged by a wan meagre wretch, Doom'd never to return from the foul pit. Whither, with oaths, he drives his load of horror. Would you look in ? Grey hairs and golden tresses, Wan shrivell'd cheeks that have not smiled for years, And many a rosy visage smiling still ; Bodies in the noisome weeds of beggary wrapt. With age decrepit, and wasted to the bone ; And youthful frames, august and beautiful, In spite of mortal pangs, — there lie they all. Embraced in ghastliness I John Wilson. Mr. Jesse, in his Mcvwrials of Lojidon, thus graphically describes the state of Westminster at the time: " In those dreadful days, during the raging of the plague in 1665 — * A collection of all the Bills of Mortality for 1665 were published under this title. t Now Christ Church, Victoria-street. " The greatest infection that e\'r iL'as heard.^' 299 i en the red cross and the ' Lord, have mercy upon us ' ^^r.-e painted on the doors of half the houses in London ; en the dead-cart went its round in the still night, and le tinkle of the bell, and the cry of ' Bring out your dead,' , ne broke the awful silence — it was in a vast pit in the neighbourhood of the Artillery Ground that the frequent .•td-carts discharged their noisome cargoes by the fitful light of the torches which the buryers held in their hands. In one of the journals of the period we find a complaint made, in regard to these burial places, that ' the bodies are piled even to the level of the ground, and thereby poison the whole neighbourhood.' The Pest House in the fields beyond Old-street, and that in Tothill-fields, appear to have been the two principal ones in the neighbourhood of the metropolis." * " The stoppage of the plague, after all human efforts had been tried as it were, with only partial success, was by many regarded as supernatural. De Foe was of this opinion, and he uses language particularly strong in ex- pressing it. ' Nothing' he sa/s, ' but the immediate finger of God, nothing but omnipotent power could have put a stop to the infection. The contagion despised all medicine ; death raged in every corner ; and had it gone on as it did then, a few weeks more would have cleared the town of all, and of every thing that had a soul. Men every where began to despair, every heart failed them for fear : people were made desperate through the anguish of their soul, and the terrors of death sat in every countenance.' " Whatever deference may be given to the idea of an immediate interposition of Providence, the alteration of the weather in September was doubtless a principal means by which the spreading of the pestilence was arrested. Echard, whose authority was Dr. Baynard, " an ingenious and learned physician," speaking of the state of the seasons whilst the infection raged, says that ' there was such a * Memorials ot' Loin/oii, by J. Heiieagc Jesse ; 1847. 300 Tothill-fields. general calm and serenity of weather, as if both wind and rain had been expelled the kingdom, and for many weeks together he could not discover the least breath of wind, not even so much as would move a fan ;' that ' the fires in the streets with great difficulty were made to burn ; ' and that 'by the extreme rarefaction of the air, the birds did pant for breath, especially those of the larger sort, who were like- wise observed to fly more heavily than usual.' The suspension of public business, in the height of the contagion, was so complete, that grass grew within the very area of the exchange, and even in the principal streets of the city. All the inns of court were shut up, and all law proceedings suspended. Neither cart nor coach was to be seen from morning till night, excepting those employed in the conveyance of provisions, in the carriage of the infected to the pest-houses, or other hospitals, and a few coaches used by the physicians. The pest-houses, of which there were only two, were situated in Bunhill-fields, near Old- street, and in Tothill-fields, Westminster. These were found to be of the greatest utility, yet the hurry and multi- plicity of cases, which the rapid increase of the pestilenee occasioned, prevented the establishing of any more.* The West London Press, September, 1 886, contained the following suggestive paragraph : — Discovery of Ten Skeletotis in a Garden in Westminster. A correspondent writes : — " Last Thursday week, during some ex- cavations made for foundations for new buildings in a new street which will cut across the grounds of the Grey Coat Hospital in Westminster, the workmen, at about 3 ft. 6 in. below the surface, came across ten skeletons supposed to have been buried there at the time of the plague or some such epidemic. The Hospital dates back to 1695. They were laid feet to feet in regular order. Two of them appeared to be females from the shape of the skulls, and one a lad of 20. Some of the bones were very large, and some of the teeth were in good preservation. The remains were all carefully collected, and placed in a box for re-in- terment. * A\\cx]!& History 0/ London, p. 398. Lord Craven's account of the Plague. XfiX The description given by the Earl of Craven, preserved in the Public Record Office, also furnishes an insight into the spread of the contagion in and about Westminster : — The Earl of Craven's Account of the Proceedings of the Justices concerning the Pestilence (Great Plague, 1665) 1666. [February 1665-6]. Since the receipt of the letter from the Lords of the Councell there has been severall Meetings of the Justices of the Peace both to review the Orders formerly made by the Councell Board as well as their owne and many direcons thereupon given and warrants issued forth to the respective officers as the present occasion required both for the pre- servation of the inhabitants from the infection of the plague as well as making provision for such as were shut up and were in want. The Lord Bishop of London was consulted with all concerning buriall places who could not consecrate any ground unless a perpetua- tie of the same be first obtayned. Nevertheless the Justices have directed that such persons who dye of the sicknesse shalbe buried in the late usuall places assigned for that purpose. Such infected who were removable were sent to the Pest House and others who could not have been shut up their doors were marked w'^ a red crosse for 40 dayes Warders appointed to guard them within as well as hinder the approach of Company from w'^out, with a white crosse afterwards for the same time. There has been no complaints brought to the Justices of any neglect herein but doe believe that due execution hath been generally made of this order having themsehes made a particular observation in severall places. The Churchyards have not been so generall)' covered with lyme in regarde of the dearnesse and scarcity thereof there being not a sufficient quantity to be had for that end and purpose but much fresh earth and lyme has been layd in man\' churchyards and those bod\-cs w-h have been there buryed so deep layd that we hope no inconveniencing can from thence arise beside special care is taken not to open the same graves again. The streets are dayly cleansed and the filth carried away by the Raker who brings the carts every morning and giveing notice thereof to the inhabitants by the sound of his Bell to the end that every Perticular house alsoe may be cleared of its filth. As to the laystalls too neere the streets and passages much care has been taken for to remove them many difficulties have arisen therein by reason of titles in law wch the proprietors had therein Not w'l' standing by the industry and diligence of the Justices some are already quite removed and the rest we hope in a \ery short time wilbe removed to the great advantage of the inhabitants as well as to the satisfaction of the Lords of the Councell order. Beggars have ben and are dayly removed and punished and provision made for the poore of each i)arish according to law. 30:3 Tothill-fields. As to the state of the pest house the Justices have frequently and very lately considered of it and doe conceive it highly convenient for the Preservation of the adjoining Parishes that they were enlarged: that in Westminster being able to contayne but 60 persons, and that other in the Sohoe but 90 person w^h now serve for St Martins St Clements St Paul Covent Garden and St Mary Savoy ; Scarce large enough for one of the sayd parishes. That in St Gyles will contain but 60 persons w^h considering the multitude of poore in that parish cannot be of any considerable use if the sicknesse brake out amongst them. Now how these may be enlarged or indeed continued as they are for the publique use of the forementioned parishes the ordinary taxes and parochial duties being so numerous the middling sort of persons soe much impo\erished by the late Calamity of the Plague so few or rather none of the Nobility &; gentry likely to continue here m case it should please God that the Plague brake out againe is submitted to the wisdome of the boarde whose ayde and assistance is w'!^ all humility and speed begged herein it being the most probable meaness of hindering the Spreading of the Contagiun amongst us. The business of inmates & inhabitants in cellars has been very often debated and adjudged upon by the Justices and although many diffi- culties have appeared to them by reason of particular leases and con- tracts between their respective householders and inmates for a certain term of yeares yet to come and in regard that severall of the said inmates most of which are poore necessitious persons and if once re- moved would prove excessively chargable to the parishes (which at this period are least able to bear it) the Justices have made a progresse herein having convened before them all the respective landlords w'hn the adjacent parishes and taken account of each particular case to the end that in a short t)'me they doubt not but to give a good account hereof, \er)' many being removed alread)' and are dayly remo\'ing. The " Five Houses" are described by an anonymous writer as retaining in 1832 much of their primitive appear- ance. " With the moss and lichens growing on the roofs and walls, and their generally old-fashioned quaintness, a very small stretch of the imagination removed the buildings which had surrounded them even then, and brought them once more into the open ground." In that year "these houses yet excited some curiosity and a measured drawing was made of them at that time. " Passing up the narrow court, the primitive little group, warranted, perhaps, the idea of a still earlier date for their building. The reddish grey tone of the old brick- work, where the lime whiting had disappeared, and the Another vieiv of the Pcsf-honscs. o-'j 304 Tothill-fields. mosses on the roofs, seemed quite out of character with the growing neighbourhood surrounding them. The old paHngs here and there yet indicated where the pigs and the chickens had been kept, and had not long kept their habitation. Over one of the doors was nailed the horse-shoe, so salutary a preventive against the entrance of the witch, and even a belief in its efficacy was at the time elicited from the old woman with whom the young measurer of the buildings had his early morning conversation."* But it is time to turn to brighter scenes. Tothill Fields were at one time called " Tuttle-in-the- maze " from there having been formerly a maze here ; it is shown in Hollar's view previously referred to. In 1672 the Churchwardens caused the same to be renovated : — Paid to Mr. Wm. Brewer for making a Maze in Tuthill ffeilds as by Bill .. ... 200 Aubrey, f the antiquary, mentions it — " There is a Maze at this day in Tuthill Fields, Westminster, and much frequented in the summer time in fair afternoons." To these pleasantly rural fields the good people of West- minster, in the middle of the seventeenth century, were wont to resort — When toil remitting lent its turn to phi)', And all the village train from labour free, Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree- While many a pastime circled in the shade. The young contending as the old surveyed ; And many a gambol frolicked o'er the ground. And sleights of art and feats of strength went round. And still as each repeated pleasure tired, Succeeding sports the mirthful band inspired — GoLDSMll'H. while others, fonder of meditation's calm repose, might * The Builder, Jan. 30, 1875. + John Aubry, naturalist and anli([uary, 1626 — 1697; published J//.f( t7/(f;//t-.f, 1696. The maze. A fatal duel. i^^ stroll alonf^ the Willow Walk, or pass the well-cultivated gardens here to be found, listening the while to — The chanting' Hnnet, or the mellow thrush Hailing the setting" sun, sweet, in the green thorn-bush, The socaring lark, the perching red-breast shrill. Or deep-toned plovers, grey, wild whistling o'er the hill. Burns. The Glossary illustratbig English Authors hy Archdeacon Nares* has the following article — " Tutf/c, ilic Maze in; — that is, the maze in Tothill Fields. Of these fields let me speak with the respect which Dr. Johnson, in the first edition of his Dictionary, paid to Grub-street. They were the Gymnasium of my youth ; but whereabouts the tnaze was once situated, 1 have not been able to discover. It was probably a garden for public resort, in that rural situation ; and at the back of it, an unfrequented spot was used, as more lately the field at the back of Montague House (now the British Museum) as a place of appointment for duellists." In an old play attributed to John Cook {1614) called " Green's Tu Quoque, or The Cittie Gallant," occur the following lines (VII., 53.) Sp. And I will meet thee in the field as fairly As the best gentleman that wears a sword I 6". I accept it. The meeting-place ? .S^. Beyond the Maze in Tuttle. According to Cunningham the last duel fought here took place in 171 1 between Sir Cholmele)' Bering and Mr. Richard Thornhill, the notorious bull}-. The combatants fought with swords and then with pistols, their weapons being so near that the muzzles touched. Bering, who was to have been married the next week, was killed at the first shot. " In October, 1670," says Mr. Walcott, " a complaint was made to the Bean that certain persons sold the land, b)- many loads in the day, and destroyed the herbage ; so * Robert Nares, Archdeacon of Stafford, A.M., F.R.S.,