Guilds -- England -- London; London (England) -- Description and travel; London (England) -- History
A chantry was founded in honour of the Holy Ghost for the soul of
Adam Fraunceys, to which Joan, Prioress of the Convent of St. Helen,
presented Robert Gryngeley, May 18, 1399, and for Agnes his wife
(Hennessey’s _Chantries_, p. 39).
The church contains a remarkable number of interesting monuments.
The following are commemorated: Alderman John Robinson, Merchant
Taylor and merchant of the Staple of England; died 1599. Francis
Bancroft, who bequeathed over £28,000 to the Drapers Company for the
erection of almshouses and a school for boys; he died 1727. Martin
Bond, M.P. in 1624 and 1625 for the City of London. Alberticus
Gentilis, Merchant Adventurer and a prolific legal author who was an
exile from Italy on account of his Protestant opinions; he became
Regius Professor of Civil Law at Oxford and died in 1608. Sir Thomas
Gresham, founder of the Royal Exchange and Gresham College, who died
in 1579. Sir Andrew Judde, Lord Mayor in 1550, and a great
benefactor of the parish. Sir Julius Cæsar, judge, Master of the
Rolls under James I.; his monument was executed by Nicholas Stone,
Master Mason to King Charles I. Sir William Pickering, Knt., soldier
and scholar, whose monument is the most magnificent in the church;
he distinguished himself greatly under Henry VIII., Edward VI.,
Mary, and Elizabeth; he died in 1574. Sir John Crosby, already
mentioned in connection with Crosby Hall. Sir John Spencer, Lord
Mayor in 1594, commonly known as “Rich Spencer” on account of his
vast wealth. The Rev. J. E. Cox, D.D., who was Vicar-in-charge of
the united parishes, wrote _The Annals of St. Helen’s, Bishopsgate,
London_; he was for nine years in succession Grand Chaplain of
England. On the floors of the two chapels there are several brasses
very well executed.
A considerable number of benefactors are recorded by Stow, but the
amounts of their gifts were small individually. Sir John Crosby, at
his death in 1475, bequeathed 500 marks for the repair of the
church. In more recent times Francis Bancroft bequeathed over
£28,000; this has been devoted to founding a school at Woodford,
Essex, for boys—100 boarders and 200 day-boys. Sir Andrew Judde left
the Skinners Company trustees for the accomplishment of charitable
aims.
There were five almshouses near the church for as many decayed
Skinners and their wives. Six almshouses also were founded by Sir
Andrew Judde; in Little St. Helen Street there were seven houses for
the same number of widows, each of whom had £5 : 4s. per annum.
Thomas Horton (d. 1673), Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, 1649, was
rector here.
For an account of the ancient nunnery of St. Helen, see _Mediæval
London_, vol. ii. p. 313.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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