Chronicles of an Old Inn; Or, A Few Words about Gray's InnHope, Andrée
History
Chronicles of an Old Inn; Or, A Few Words about Gray's Inn
Hope, Andrée
Gray's Inn; Inns of Court; Lawyers -- Great Britain
Truly, we are but as the sand upon the sea-shore. The tiny atoms shine,
perhaps brilliantly, while the sun looks down upon them; but when
clouds darken the sky, their brightness fades and soon is gone. Then
a little later comes the rising tide--that overwhelming tide of Time,
that sweeps them rapidly away. They are gone, and the place where they
dwelt, and perchance glittered, knows them no more. No one asks for
them; no one misses them. The sand is again as smooth as when they were
there. The atoms around still quiver and shimmer in the sunshine as
those now departed did of yore.
Not only from association with the past is the quiet little chapel
attractive, but there is something soothing in its very aspect.
The fact that so little change has been made in the building or its
arrangements for some hundred years is interesting, and it is touching
to see the number of gray-headed men who usually attend the services.
The memorials around also speak of those who are gone--the painted
glass windows, the decorations, the richly-carved book of the Communion
Service, are all gifts from those who dearly loved the old place.
In these days of greatly increased form, it is rare also to find a
preacher who appears in the pulpit arrayed in the old black Geneva
gown.
This quaintly-fashioned gown is precisely that to which our Puritan
forefathers attached so much importance, deeming that it savoured less
of Popery than any other raiment, inasmuch as its severe simplicity
was as far removed as possible from the more imposing and, in their
opinion, gaudy vestments of Rome.
From the pulpit in Gray's Inn Chapel may be heard sermons that stir
men's hearts, that enlighten men's minds.
No man can hope to obtain the post of preacher to Gray's Inn, unless
he possesses talents that entitle him to be listened to with respect
and interest. Therefore, though quiet, though old-fashioned, though
unemotional in ceremonies, many who think deeply, and who wish to
listen to the words of those who also think deeply, may be found
amongst the congregation gathered together in Gray's Inn Chapel.
The present little building stands upon the site of the ancient chapel
that received its Royal license from Edward II. in 1314, when John, the
son of Reginald de Grey, was authorised to convey thirty acres of land,
two acres of meadow, and ten shillings rent, with the appurtenances,
in Kentish Town, and in the parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn, to the
Prior and Convent of St. Bartholomew's, in Smithfield, and to their
successors, to provide a chaplain to perform divine service daily for
the repose of the soul of the said John, and for the repose of the
souls of his ancestors for ever.
The Prior of St. Bartholomew's, however, instead of providing a
chaplain for the service of the chapel, appears, according to the
accounts of the rents and payments of that monastery, to have paid the
Society of Gray's Inn an annual sum of £7 13s. 4d.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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