Chelsea in the olden & present times / by George Bryan.

  • Bryan, George.
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Chelsea in the olden & present times / by George Bryan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Henry Raper, Efq.—Near this spot are deposited the remains of this gentleman, who died in 1789, and of his wife Katherine Raper, who died in 1823. This family was greatly respected. At the west end of the north aisle formerly stood the old font, and in a book case close to it a large folio Bible, Fox’s Book of Martyrs, a folio Common Prayer Book, and the Homilies of the Church of England, each secured with a chain. The books are now placed at the south side of the church, and the present marble font stands at the entrance to the middle aisle. On the left of the great western entrance is an inscription on a marble tablet to the memory of Mrs. Bayley, who died in 1828, aged 45. This tablet was placed by her uncle, Wilton, the sculptor. The Ashburnham Bell.—This bell originally in the steeple that was taken down for security in 1815, is now placed in the porch, as a relic of former days. On a board near the bell are recorded the following particulars :— This bell was given to the Old Parish Church of Chelsea by the Hon. Wm. Ashburnham in the year 1679. It was a grateful offering on his part to commemorate his escape from drowning in the Thames, into which he had wandered during a dark night of the above year, and from which he was saved by hearing the clock of this church strike the hour of nine. Many changes in the church having taken place since then, and this bell having long remained unused and nearly forgotten, it is here preserved as an interesting Chelsea antiquity, having been removed from the Clock Tower and placed in its present position by order of the Church Trustees, and under the direction of March. 1862.” A. Gerald W. Blunt, M.A., Rector. R Henry Davies,B.A., Incumbent of the Church. T. B. Diplock, M.D, G. W. Richards, Churchwardens. There was another account given of this bell many years ago. It was that the Hon. W. Ashburnham was returning home from Lambeth in a boat at night, when almost suddenly there came a dense fog over the river, which prevented him seeing any object whatever. He became alarmed, and allowed the boat to drift for some distance, expecting every moment it would run