This was a magnificent church, three hundred feet long, eighty nine broad, and sixty-four feet two inches high, from the ground to the roof; and was consecrated in the year 1325. It was burnt down in 1666, by the great fire of London. Since which only the choir, or east end thereof has been rebuilt, with a tower added to it, having none before. However, this edifice is built of stone, very strong, very spacious and beautiful. The tower is square and of a considerable height, crowned with a light and handsome turret, plainly adorned. Within, it is neatly ornamented; the walls and pillars are wainscoted: there are very large galleries on the north and south sides, and on the west for the use of the scholars of Christ's Hospital; with a stately organ in the centre. The pulpit is veneered, and carved with the figures of Christ and the Twelve Apostles, sitting at the last supper, and the Four Evangelists. The altar is spacious, and the Communion table stands on a foot-piece of black and white marble, encompassed with handsome rails, and ornamented with carved work and arabesque painting. The font is of white marble, neatly carved in relievo. Since the fire of London, the structure has been consti-tuted the church for the united parishes of Christ Church and of St. Leonard, Foster Lane. Here are preached the Spital sermons in Easter week, since they were discontinued, a few years since, at St. Bride's, Fleet Street, and an annual sermon is also preached on St. Matthew's day, before the lord mayor, aldermen, and governors of Christ's Hospital; after which the senior scholars make Latin and English orations in the great Hall, previously to being sent to the University. MONUMENTS, in the conventual church. Queen Mar * Weaver, in his "Funeral Monuments", informs us, that here were buried four queens, four duchesses, four countesses, one duke, two earls, eight barons, and thirty-five kuights: and in all six hundred and sixtythree persons of quality were here interred before the dissolution of the convent. In the choir were nine tombs of alabaster and marble, inclosed with iron bars. One tomb in the body of the church coped with iron; and one hundred and forty marble grave stones in divers places. garet, garet, consort of Edward I. The infamous Isabel, queen to Edward II. Her daughter Joan of the Tower, wife of Edward Bruce, king of Scotland. Isabel, countess of Bedford, daughter of Edward III. Beatrice, dutchess of Bretagne, daughter of Henry III. Baron Sir William Fitzwarren, and his wife Isabel, queen of the Isle of Man. John, duke of Bourbon, a prisoner at the battle of Agincourt, died 1433; and many others of lesser degrees, recorded by Stow, &c. The materials of the above monuments, consisting of marble, alabaster, stone, and iron, were sold, in 1545, by Sir Martin Bowes, lord mayor, in the proportion of ten tombs, and one hundred and forty grave stones for 50l.! MONUMENTS in the present Church: To the memory of Sir JOHN BOSWORTH, Knight, chamberlain of London, who died August 3, 1752, aged fifty-eight. Dame Hester, his first lady, who died September 5, 1749, aged fifty-six; and Dame Elizabeth, his second lady, who died August 30, 1758, aged fifty-five. EDMUND SHERRING, vicar, who died December 16, 1690. Dr. JOSEPH TRAPP, twenty-six years of these united parishes, and rector of Harlington in Middlesex, where he was buried. He died November 22, 1747, aged sixty-seven. The following lines were written by himself: "Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell! think Christian, think! This worthy divine was the eminent translator of Virgil. Mr. JOHN STOCK, citizen and draper of London, and many years painter at his Majesty's dock yards, &c. He died at Hampstead, on the 21st day of September, 1781, aged 78. We have already given an account of the charities mentioned on this tomb, under Painter-Stainers Hall. THOMAS FERNE, M. D. who studied the cure of pulmonary consumptions. Died 1706. PETER DORE, Esq. Norray King at Arms, and F. S. A. died September 27, 1781. ROWLAND SANDIFORD, M. A. twenty-five years vicar, died April 13, 1780, aged sixty-five. In this church was also buried the reverend Mr. RICHARD BAXTER; his funeral being attended by a numerous train of gentry and the ministry, respecting the remains of one they honoured whilst he lived. He died Deceember 8, 1691.The inadvertent mistake respecting his burial in Bunhill, mentioned in the first volume of this work, is corrected here, and in our account of Dr. Williams's Library, Red Cross Street. VICARS OF EMINENCE. Dr. SAMPSON PRICE, 1617, who was called "the Mawl of Hereticks." EDWARD FINCH, A. M. brother to lord keeper Finch. WILLIAM JENKINS, A. M. a worthy conscientious non-conformist, who died in Newgate, in consequence of the hardships he suffered, January 19, 1684. His corps was attended to Bunhill Fields by one hundred and fifty coaches: JOSEPH STANOE, S.T. B. archdeacon of Carmarthen, 1700. JOSEPH TRAPP, D. D. 1721-2 ROWLAND SANDIFORD, M. A. 1754. SAMUEL CROWTHER, M. A. 1800, the present vicar. CHRIST's, HOSPITAL. Extra King Edward VI. by the advice of Dr. Nicholas Ridley, Cates bishop of London, assisted by the lord mayor, aldermen, and 00429 2&30 common council, founded Christ's Hospital in the Grey-friars convent for the relief and education of young and helpless children.* And his majesty did voluntarily incorporate the governors * By the advice also of the good bishop Ridley, who afterwards died a martyr for the protestant faith, king Edward VI. gave the old palace of Bridewell to the city, for the lodging of poor wayfaring people, the correction of vagabonds, strumpets, and idle persons, and for finding them work. And, as the city had appointed the Grey-friars, alias Christ's Hospital, for the education of poor children, St. Bartholomew's, and St. Thomas's in Southwark, for the maimed and diseased, his ma esty formed the governors of these charitable foundations into a corpoFor by his charter for that purpose, dated June 6, in 7 Ed ward governors of these hospitals by the title of The Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of the City of London, governors of the possessions, revenues, and goods of the hospitals of Edward VI. king of England, &c." as his majesty desired to be esteemed their chief founder and patron. And to promote and continue this great work, his majesty did also grant to the said city certain lands, that had been given to the house of the Savoy, founded by king Henry VII. for the lodging of pilgrims and strangers; but which had of late been a harbour only for beggars and strumpets; which lands amounted to the yearly value of 6007. he also commanded, that, after reserving a sufficient quantity of the linen, which had been used in times of popish superstition, to each church in the city and suburbs of London, the remaining superfluous great quantities should be delivered to the governors of this hospital for the use of the poor children under their care. And such was the diligence of those employed to execute this great and good plan, that the Grey-friars convent was fitted up and converted to the use of poor fatherless children, and three hundred and forty were admitted upon its foundation so early as in the year 1552. This pious example of the young king stirred up the charity of his well-disposed subjects. And from time to time this ward VI. it is therein declared, "And that our intention may take the "better effect, and that the lands, revenues, and other things granted "for the support of the said hospitals, houses, and poor people, may be "the better governed, for the establishment of the same, we do will and "ordain, that the hospitals aforesaid, when they shall be so founded, erected, and established, shall be named, and called, and stiled,-"The hospitals of Edward VI. of England, of Christ, Bridewell, and "St. Thomas the Apostle; and that the aforesaid mayor, commonalty, "and citizens of London, and their successors, shall be stiled,-The "governors of the said hospitals of Bridewell, Christ, and St. Thomas "the Apostle; and that the same governors, in deed, and in fact, and "in name, shall be hereafter one body corporate and politic of them-. selves for ever. And we will that the same governors shall have perpetual succession.” Sir William Chester, Knight and alderman of London, and John Calthorp, citizen and draper of the same city, at their own proper costs and charges, made the brick walls and way on the back side, which lead eth this royal foundation has been improved by his royal successors. King Charles H. founded a mathematical school and ward, lying on the west part of the hospital, for the instruction of forty boys in the mathematics, especially in that part of it that respects navigation; and liberally endowed it with 1000l. a year, paid out of the Exchequer for seven years, for the founding thereof. The mathematical master at Christ's hospital, by the constitution of the house, must be thus qualified; he must be a sober, discreet, and diligent person, of good life, a good scholar,. very well understanding the Latin and Greek lan-guages, a very good mathematician, well knowing and ready in the theory and practice of all its parts; to the end boys may be furthered in the Latin tongue, and the master able to answer strangers, if need be; and that they and others may find his abilities to satisfaction. And, by the constitution, ten are to be put forth yearly apprentices to masters of ships, to the end that they may be fit in time to do service in the navy royal, and ten more to be received in their rooms. These youths, who are chosen out of the rest of the blue coat boys, are to be the most acute, and of the readiest wits, that they may be fit for mathematical studies. These, as a badge of distinction, wear on their breasts, fastened to their coats, a plate of silver, with some eth from the said new hospital, unto the hospital of St. Bartholomew; and also covered and vaulted the Town-ditch, from Aldersgate to Newgate; which before was very loathsome, and infectious to the said hospital. This hospital being thus erected, and put into good order, there was one Richard Castel, alias Casteller, shoe-maker, dwelling in Westminster, a man who was very assiduous in his faculty with his own hands; and such an one as was named, The Cock of Westminster, because both winter and summer he was at work before four o'clock in the morning; this man thus truely and painfully labouring for his living, God blessed and increased his labours so abundantly, that he purchased lands and tenements at Westminster, to the yearly value of 441. and, having no child, with the consent of his wife, who survived him, and was a virtuous good woman, gave the same lands wholly to Christ's Hospital aforesaid, to the relief of the innocent and fatherless children; and for the succour of the miserable, sore and sick, harboured in the other hospitals about London. figures |