The memorials of the hamlet of Knightsbridge : $b With notices of its immediate neighbourhoodDavis, Henry George
History
The memorials of the hamlet of Knightsbridge : $b With notices of its immediate neighbourhood
Davis, Henry George
Knightsbridge (London, England)
Among the records of the Dean and Chapter is a petition from John
Glassington, surgeon, dated 1654, praying to be admitted Governor of the
Hospital, which his ancestors had always rented of the church at
Westminster; which petition is accompanied by a certificate of Sir John
Thorowgood, one of the Commissioners for Middlesex, and an active public
officer in this locality at the time of the Commonwealth; but I infer the
application was unsuccessful for a time, for in the next year Henry
Walker was presented to the curacy by Cornelius Holland and George Reeve,
_joint-governors_ of the Chapel. John Glassington was, however, Governor
in 1659.
In 1699, Nicholas Birkhead, who was then lessee of the Chapel, rebuilt
it, and the present building is mainly his work. In 1789, it was
enlarged by its front being brought in a line with the adjoining houses,
a grass-plot eight feet deep having previously occupied this space. The
present front, galleries, &c., were then erected. At the end of the last
century Dixon Gamble, Esq., became lessee, but now it is held direct from
the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, who nominate the incumbent. There
is an endowment of £30 per annum payable by them, but the income is
derived chiefly from the pew rents.
The Chapel is as plain an edifice as possibly can be; there is no
ornament of any kind about it. It is built of brick, and is 53 feet
long, by 30 feet broad. The gallery is round three sides of the
building; the organ, built by Hancock, 1770, being on the south side.
The communion-table is at the _north_ end. The front terminates in a
pediment, over which is a small cupola containing one bell, thus
inscribed—
“MRS. MARY BIRKHED GAUE ME, 1733.”
In the brickwork are let in three stone slabs, the centre of which is
inscribed “Knightsbridge Chapel, 1789;” that on the right is inscribed,
“Rebuilte by Nicho Birkhead, Gouldsmith of London, Anno Dom. 1699;” the
left or western one has the following emphatic dedication cut in it, {62}
“Capella sanctæ Indiuidux Trinitatis.”
The Communion Plate consists of five pieces, all of silver; they are
inscribed as follows:—
THE LARGE CHALICE.—Sanctæ et Indiuidæ Trinitati—Rest to the Lord:—Mary
Birkhead (about 1708.)
THE PATEN.—Sanctæ et Indiuidæ Trinitati.—The Guift of Arthure Duck,
Docter of the Ciuell Lawe and Chancelor of London (1628 or 1629).
THE SMALL CHALICE.—Sanctæ et Indiuidæ Trinitati.—The Gift of the Right
Honbl. and Right Reverent Willm. Lord Bishop of London. {63a}
THE PLATE.—The Gift of Elizebeth Knightly to Knights-Bridg Church, Oct.
18th, 1705. {63b} There is a coat of arms engraved on the edge of this
piece, doubtless that of the donor.
THE FLAGON is modern, being the gift of the Rev. J. Foyster (about 1825).
[Picture: Old Chapel, Knightsbridge]
The list of its ministers is, as far as I have been able to trace them,
as follows:—
1630. Nathaniel White, licensed May 24th.
1637. William Pope—as curate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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