Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 1.djvu/83

 io*s.i.jAx.23,ian] NOTES AND QUERIES.

63

that the petition for a faculty had been lodged in the Registry, that the Chancellor had issued his fiat for the citation to issue, and that the necessary notice had been affixed to the church door. Mr. Herbert Gladstone proposed, and Mr. Trollope seconded, that

" as soon as a faculty is granted the Committee authorize Mr. Pearson to place a hoarding round the churchyard, and to take such steps as may be necessary to the carrying out of such portion of the works as may be within the funds at the disposal of the Treasurer."

There appears to have been no further meeting of the Committee until 14 October, so that it may be well to take some note of the proceedings relative to the issue of the faculty. The Chancellor of the Diocese of London (Dr. Tristram, Q.C.) held a court on Tuesday, 23 August, at the Dean and Chapter House, St. Paul's Churchyard, when the application made by Canon Farrar and the churchwardens for the faculty came before him, and it is noteworthy that there was no opposition to the application. The rector was unfortunately prevented from being present, therefore the duty of support- ing the prayer of the petition devolved upon Mr. Stewart Helder, who very ably per- formed it. It was clearly shown that the improvements wished for were much needed, and that only the want of funds had pre- vented steps being taken at an earlier date. It was found that some human remains would be disturbed, but they would be deposited in another part of the churchyard. Although efforts had been made to discover representatives of the persons whose remains were to be removed, none had been found, and information was supplied as to the means that were to be taken to keep a record of the inscriptions. Altogether it was thought that the improvements would be worthy of the " glorious old Abbey." Mr. Pearson informed the Chancellor that it was proposed to place the tombstones with their face downwards, "ancient inscriptions being best preserved in that way." The Chancellor said he had no hesitation in granting the faculty. There was one feature which was novel, and that was that " his authority was asked to allow the tombstones to be covered over with soil." He further said it was the first time he had been asked for such an order ; but after the evidence given he had no doubt that the inscriptions would be best preserved in that manner. He should there- fore allow the faculty to issue, but should insert a provision that the earth should be removed if it became necessary to examine

the actual inscription on a particular tomb- stone, as a copy on the tablet might not be adduced in a court of law.

On 14 October the General Committee met again under the presidency of Canon Farrar, the matter under discussion being the estimates submitted to them, when Sir Rutherford Alcock made a proposition, finding a seconder in Mr. Helder, to the effect that

" this Committee meet again this day fortnight, to have before them the plan and estimate submitted to the Metropolitan Board of Works, together with the terms or the application and of the reply received, and that Mr. Pearson be requested to- inform the Committee the cost for hoarding, laying out the ground, putting down gravel paths, putting back the Abbey railings, and altering the present churchyard railings to the line set out on the plan."

On the 28th of the same month the Com- mittee accordingly met again to consider the matters alluded to at the previous meeting, with the " curtailed " estimates. The same proposer and seconder moved that the following estimates be accepted, viz. :

Earthworks and hoarding not to exceed Removing Abbey railings, with work, &c. ...

Masons' work

" Eureka" pavement

Turf-guards, painting railings, &c

.912 457 364

47*

2,277

Mr. Pearson was authorized to proceed with the work on the foregoing estimates as early as possible, and the Chairman desired to bring these resolutions to the notice of the absent members of the Committee (of whom there were a goodly number), inviting their subscriptions before making a further appeal to the public for the necessary funds.

No further meeting is recorded until 24 February, 1882, when it was proposed by- Mr. W. H. Smith, and seconded by Mr. J. K. Aston (who had joined the Committee since its formation), that " a record of the names and dates legible on the stones buried in the churchyard be preserved on vellum, and that a tablet recording the preservation of such record be erected in some part of St. Mar- garet's Church." It was further proposed that " the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England be applied to, as owners of property in the district, for a contribution towards the expenses.' 1 Messrs. Coutts & Co. were also requested to place, as occasion might require, sums not exceeding in the aggregate 1,0001. to the credit of the St. Margaret's Churchyard Improvement Fund Account.

The General Committee were called together on 22 April, when an approximate statement of expenses incurred to date was submitted :