Third Church.

The interior dimensions of the church are as follows: length from the west wall to the east wall of the chancel, 102 feet; length from the west wall of the nave to the east wall of the nave, 74 feet; depth of the chancel, 8 feet; width of the nave and aisles, 57 feet 6 inches.

The plan is a nave of five bays with side aisles (Plate 43), over which are galleries, these being connected by a western one in the last bay of the nave. A shallow sanctuary is placed at the eastern end, and at the west is the steeple and a vestibule containing the entrances and the staircases to the galleries and tower.

The general treatment of the exterior of the church (Plates 45 and 47) is plain in character, but of pleasing effect. The walling is faced with Portland stone rusticated (chamfered at the joints) to a projecting band marking the gallery level. Above, the walling is of plain ashlaring with rusticated quoins. The gallery windows have semi-circular heads with keystones, moulded architraves and plain impost blocks. The whole is surmounted by a bold modillion cornice, with blocking course above.

Emphasis is given to the sanctuary by a pediment and by a large semi-circular-headed window with panels on either side forming a decorative composition.

The western end has a similar pediment with the tower rising above. The central entrance doorway lacks emphasis and the importance which its position seems to require, and is almost the same in design as those to the vestibules facing north and south, which are relatively unimportant. On the main frieze below the cornice is the inscription—H. Flitcroft, Architectus.

Rising immediately behind the western pediment is the steeple of about 150 feet in height.

Flitcroft’s able design was evidently influenced by that of Gibbs for the neighbouring church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, but it lacks the vigorous character of that noble structure. The banding to the obelisk above the belfry tends to make this feature appear somewhat overheavy in comparison with the graceful lantern beneath. The change from square to octagon at the clock face level is cleverly managed, and will bear comparison with the same feature at St. Martin’s Church.

The following extract from A Critical Review of the Public Buildings, Statues and Ornaments in and About London and Westminster made by Ralph in 1734, is of interest, as it gives an opinion upon the architecture of this church shortly after its erection:—

“The new church of St. Giles’s is one of the most simple and elegant of the modern structures: it is rais’d at very little expence, has very few ornaments, and little beside the propriety of its parts, and the harmony of the whole, to excite attention, and challenge applause: yet still it pleases, and justly too; the east end is both plain and majestick, and there is nothing in the west to object to but the smallness of the doors, and the poverty of appearance that must necessarily follow. The steeple is light, airy and genteel, argues a good deal of genius in the architect, and looks very well both in comparison with the body of the church, and when ’tis consider’d as a building by itself, in a distant prospect.”

Ralph disliked the position of the church, and would have altered its direction, making what is the east end the main front, and placing it in such a manner as to have ended the vista of Broad Street.

The interior (Plate 49) is much finer than the exterior would suggest, and is an excellent example of a well thought-out design. Square panelled piers rising to the underside of the galleries support Ionic columns with block entablatures, all of Portland stone (Plate 46). These carry the roof and ceiling. The ceiling of the nave is barrel-vaulted in form, panelled and divided into bays by mouldings. The ceilings of the aisle-galleries (Plates 44 and 51) take the form of a species of groined vaults intersecting the barrel ceiling of the nave. The whole is covered by a roof of one span.

The treatment of the galleries is more than usually satisfactory, for the fronts, instead of being housed into the columns—giving the suggestion of a necessary after addition—rest comfortably upon the piers supporting the columns, and, if taken away, would mar the proportion of the columns to their pedestals.

The shallow sanctuary is almost the full width of the nave. It is ceiled with an ornamental panelled barrel vault following that of the nave, and the eastern wall is filled by an architectural composition harmonising with the general treatment of the nave.

On the frieze of the altar piece (Plate 51) is carved a cherub’s head, and above is a scrolled pediment having in the centre a pelican feeding her young in the nest.

The lower panels on either side of the altar and of the sanctuary, are four in number, and enclosed in carved wood frames. Two contain pictures; that of Moses to the left (Plate 52) and of Aaron to the right of the altar.

The pulpit is of carved oak with inlay panels. The ironwork to the choir balustrade is of wrought work, and the old iron bound chest in the north-west vestibule is of interest.

The organ (Plate 50) is of considerable interest, and Mr. George E. Dunn, the organist, has been good enough to supply the following information. The instrument was built by the celebrated Bernard Schmidt (known as Father Smith) for the second church in 1671, when he was 41 years old. He was known chiefly for the perfection of his diapason stops—the true organ tone—and those in this organ are among his best specimens. When the church was rebuilt by Flitcroft he evidently did not desire to interfere with the organ, and adopted the unusual expedient of erecting the tower of the new church partially round the organ; consequently the back and part of two sides are covered by the walling of the tower. Father Smith’s original specification remained until 1856, when many of the stops had become decayed after 180 years’ use. Dr. G. C. Verrinder, the organist at that time, had it restored and enlarged by Messrs. Gray and Davidson, and further repairs and alterations were made in 1884 by the same firm, under the instructions of the late Dr. W. Little, the organist at that date. In 1889–1900 further alterations were made by Messrs. Henry Jones and Sons, in collaboration with the present organist. But through all the decay and changes the organ has undergone Father Smith’s original diapasons in the front organ remain and are still perfect. The blowing is done by hand, but the well-balanced lever renders this comparatively easy, while, despite the retention of the old tracker action, the instrument is quite free from the “rattling” so often found in these old actions. In front are carved the royal arms of George I.

All the glass to the windows, except a small panel (Plate 52) in the west window of the south vestibule, is modern. This fragment, which is probably from the earlier church, represents St. Giles’s tame hind struck by the arrow.

The majority of the monuments in the church belong to the 19th century. Those of earlier date are as follows:—

On the north-east wall of the nave is a tablet of white marble, on a black marble slab, with the following inscription:

H. S. E.

GULIELMUS WATSON EQUES

SOCIETATIS REGALIS APUD LONDINUM,

ET COLLEGII REGALIS MEDICORUM SOCIUS,

REGALI ETIAM ACADEMIÆ MADRITENSI ADSCRIPTUS,

IN UNIVERSITATIBUS HALÆ ET VIRTEMBERGIÆ

MEDICINÆ DOCTOR

HONORIS ERGO ELECTUS

VIR SUI TEMPORIS

SCIENTIÆ INDAGATOR STUDIOSISSIMUS:

ARTIS MEDICÆ ET BOTANICÆ, NECNON PHILOSOPHIÆ NATURALIS,

PRÆCIPUE QUOD AD VIM ELECTRICAM ATTINET

INTER PRIMOS PERITUS.

OBIIT DIE MAII 10. A.D. 1787. ÆTAT. SUÆ 72.

HOC MARMOR NEC SUPERBUM,

NEC QUIDQUAM HABENS ORNATUS:

PRAETER IPSUM EJUS NOMEN,

FILIO PIENTISSIMO LEGANTE,

TESTAMENTI CURATORES

PONI JUSSERUNT.

Above, surmounted by a crest, is placed a coat of arms: (Argent) on a chevron engrailed (Azure) between three martlets (Sable) as many crescents (of the first).

On the wall of the north aisle is a white marble tablet to the memory of John Barnfather, who died on 17th September, 1793, in the 75th year of his age. A tribute is paid to his strictness and impartiality in the execution of his duties as a justice of the peace, and to his “mildness of Temper and benignity of mind” in private life. The tablet is surmounted by a mourning female figure, and fixed on an oval slab of black marble.

A little to the west along the aisle is a tablet of black marble, with white marble cornice and base, bearing an inscription to the memory of other members of the same family, viz., Robert Barnfather, who died on 23rd October, 1741, aged 54, and his wife Mary, who died on 6th December, 1754, aged 67. A long account of the latter’s many good qualities is contributed by “their most Affectionate Son.”

Still further westward is a tablet with the following inscription:—

NEAR UNTO THIS PLACE LYETH THE BODY OF

ANDREW MARVELL ESQUIRE, A MAN SO ENDOWED BY NATURE

SO IMPROVED BY EDUCATION, STUDY & TRAVELL, SO CONSUMMATED

BY PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE: THAT JOINING THE MOST PECULIAR GRACES

OF WIT & LEARNING WITH A SINGULAR PENETRATION & STRENGTH OF

JUDGMENT, & EXERCISING ALL THESE IN THE WHOLE COURSE OF HIS LIFE

WITH AN UNALTERABLE STEADINESS IN THE WAYS OF VIRTUE, HE BECAME

THE ORNAMENT & EXAMPLE OF HIS AGE; BELOVED BY GOOD MEN, FEAR’D

BY BAD, ADMIR’D BY ALL, THO IMITATED ALASS! BY FEW, & SCARCE FULLY

PARALLELLED BY ANY. BUT A TOMB STONE CAN NEITHER CONTAIN HIS CHARACTER,

NOR IS MARBLE NECESSARY TO TRANSMIT IT TO POSTERITY, IT WILL BE ALWAYS

LEGIBLE IN HIS INIMITABLE WRITINGS. HE SERVED THE TOWN OF KINGSTON

UPON HULL, ABOVE 20 YEARS SUCCESSIVELY IN PARLIAMENT, & THAT WITH SUCH

WISDOM, DEXTERITY, INTEGRITY & COURAGE AS BECOMES A TRUE PATRIOT

HE DYED THE 16. AUGUST 1678 IN THE 58TH. YEAR OF HIS AGE.

SACRED

TO THE MEMORY OF ANDREW MARVELL ESQR. AS A STRENUOUS ASSERTER OF

THE CONSTITUTIONS, LAWS & LIBERTIES OF ENGLAND,

AND OUT OF FAMILY AFFECTION & ADMIRATION OF

THE UNCORRUPT PROBITY OF HIS LIFE & MANNERS

ROBERT NETTLETON OF LONDON MERCHANT HIS GRAND NEPHEW

HATH CAUSED THIS SMALL MEMORIAL OF HIM

TO BE ERECTED IN THE YEAR 1764.

Further is a tablet of white marble, in the form of an ornamental cartouche, recording the death of John Hawford and Elizabeth his wife, and their two sons John and William. All four deaths occurred between December, 1712, and July, 1715.

Next is a tablet to the memory of Thomas Edwards, who died on 9th July, 1781, in the 71st year of his age. The tablet is of white marble, surmounted by a black cinerary urn, on an oval slab of painted marble. The inscription records his various bequests for the use of the poor of the parish, and explains that the monument was erected by his widow not only as a tribute of gratitude and affection, but with a view to inciting others “whom God has blessed with Abilities and Success” to follow his example. Her own death, on 23rd November, 1818, is also mentioned.

Still in the north aisle, but near the entrance, is a tomb bearing a white marble recumbent effigy of Lady Frances Kniveton, resting on a black marble slab above a stone base. This is one of the two memorials preserved from the second church. The inscription, contained on a white marble tablet, reads as follows:—

In Memory of the Right Honble. Lady Frances Kniveton, (Wife of Sr. Gilbert Kniveton,/of Bradley, in the County of Derby Bart.) lyeth buried in the Chancel of this Church./She was one of the 5 Daughters & Co-heirs of the Rt. Honble. Sr. Robert Dudley Kt. Duke of the/Empire; by the Lady Alice his Wife & Dutchess. which Robert. was Son of the Rt. Honble./Robert Dudley, late Earle of Leicester. & his Dutchess was Daughter of Sr. Tho: Leigh,/and Aunt to the Rt. Honble. Thos. late Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh, in the County of Warwick./And the said Honour & Title of Dutchess Dudley, was by Letters Patents of his late Majesty,/of glorious Memory, King Charles ye 1st allowed; & since graciously confirmed to her, by his/now Majesty King Charles ye 2d and She lived & died worthy of that Honour.

Since the rebuilding of this Church this Monument was resett up by the/Honble. Charles Leigh of Leighton, in Bedfordshire: 1738.

At the west end of the north aisle is the stone monument, originally in the churchyard, of George Chapman, the poet, said to have been designed and given by Inigo Jones. The stone on which the inscription is cut was inserted in 1827.

On the west wall of the nave is an oval tablet of white marble, recording the gift by the Hon. Robert Bertie, son of the 1st Earl of Lindsey, of fifty pounds, the interest of which was to be utilised in the distribution of bread and money to the poor of the parish.

On a pillar on the north side of the nave is the other memorial which was originally in the second church. This is to the memory of Sir Roger L’Estrange.

In the centre of a cartouche under a coat of arms: (Gules) two lioncels passant guardant (Argent), is the inscription:

In the Middle Isle near

this Place lyeth the Body of

SR ROGER L’ESTRANGE

Knt.

Born ye 17th of Decr. 1616

Dyed ye 11th of Decr. 1704

On a pillar on the south side of the nave is an oval tablet of white marble, mounted on a black marble slab, and bearing an inscription to the memory of the Rev. Richard Southgate, rector of Warsop, sub-librarian of the British Museum, and Curate of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, who died on 21st January, 1795.

Reader

If thou canst = excell him:

It will be well,

If thou canst equal him.

In the south porch are three tablets. The first, which is of marble, and was formerly affixed to a monument which stood on the north side of the chancel in the second church[[663]], reads as follows:—

This Monument was Erected in the Year of Our Lord 1736. by the Pious Direction of the Honourable/Dame BARBARA WEBB wife of Sr. JOHN WEBB of Canford Magna in the County of Dorset Bart. and the Honourable/CATHERINE TALBOT wife of the Honourable JOHN TALBOT of Longford in the County of Salop Esq. Surviveing/Daughters and Coheirs of the Right Honourable JOHN Lord BELASYSE Second Son of THOMAS Lord Viscount/FAUCONBERG, in memory of their most dear Father his wives and Children./

Who for his Loyalty Prudence and Courage was promoted to Several Commands of great Trust by their/Majesty’s King Charles the First and Second (Viz.) Having raised Six Regiments of Horse and Foot in the late Civil Wars/He commanded a Tertia in his Majesty’s Armies att the Battles of Edge Hill, Newbury, and Knaseby, ye Seiges of Reading/and Bristol. Afterwards being made Governour of York and Commander in Chief of all his Majesty’s Forces in/Yorkshire, He fought the Battle of Selby with the Lord Fairfax, then being Lieutenant General of ye Countys of Lincoln,/Nottingham, Darby, and Rutland, and Governour of Newark. He Valiantly defended that Garrison against the English/and Scotch Armies, till his Majesty Came in Person to the Scotch Quarters and Commanded the surrender of it./At which time he also had the honour of being General of the Kings Horse Guards. in all which Services dureing/the Wars and other Atchievements, he deported himself with eminent Courage & Conduct & received many wounds/Sustained Three Imprisonments in the Tower of London, and after the Happy Restauration of King CHARLES the second/He was made Lord Lieutenant of the East Rideing of the County of York, Governour of Hull, General of His Majesty’s/Forces in Africa, Governour of Tangier, Captain of his Majesty’s Guards of Gentlemen Pensioners, & First Lord/Commissioner of the Treasury to King JAMES the Second. He dyed the 10TH day of September 1689. whose remaines/are deposited in this Vault./

He married to his first wife JANE daughter and Sole Heiress of Sr. ROBERT BOTELER of Woodhall in the/County of Hertford, Knt. by whom he had Sr. HENRY BELASYSE Knt. of the most Honourable Order of the Bath/interr’d in this Vault, MARY Viscountess DUNBAR, and FRANCES both Deceased.

He married to his second Wife ANN Daughter and Coheir to Sr. ROBERT CRANE of Chilton in ye County/of Suffolk Bart. who also lyes interr’d here.

He married to his third Wife the Right Honourable the Lady ANN POWLET Second Daughter of the/Right Noble JOHN Marquiss of Winchester, sister to CHARLES late Duke of Bolton, and is here interr’d, the/Issue by that Marriage as above.

The two remaining memorials in the south porch consist of inscribed marble tablets containing a record (1) of the gift of Richard Holford, who left the sum of £29 a year, issuing out of three houses in the parish, to be distributed quarterly amongst the “most aged & necessitated poore people of the said parish”; and (2) of the gift of John Pearson (died 1707), who bequeathed the sum of £50 a year for 99 years, one half to be utilised for the apprenticeship of boys “Sons of poor decay’d Houskeepers,” and the other half to go to “the 20 Women in the Almeshouses at ye end of Monmouth Street.

In the north porch is an inscribed marble tablet recording the provision made by Sir William Cony for the interest on £50 to be utilised in the distribution of bread to the poor, “that is to say twelve penyworth every Sunday in every yeare and eight holy dayes in the same yeare.”

Of the tombs in the churchyard only a few bear inscriptions which can be dated before 1800.

A stone, now placed against the east wall of the churchyard, records the birth and death of several persons named Hammond, including George Hammond, died 13th September, 1789; George Aust. Hammond, born 6th May, 1761, died 8th November, 179–; Mrs. P. Hammond, died 11th June, 1798; and John Hammond (inscription mutilated).

A stone, now placed against the west wall of the churchyard, records the death of William Harding on 23rd January, 1749, aged 76; and of his wife, Margaret, on 29th October, 1754, aged 82. On the same stone have been cut the later names (19th century) of persons named Orme.

By the side of the path running past the east end of the church is the tomb of Richard Pendrell “Preserver and Conductor to his sacred Majesty King Charles the Second ... after his escape from Worcester Fight.” The visible tomb is not the original one, the raising of the churchyard in the early part of the 19th century[[664]] having made it necessary for a new monument to be erected. This stands upon the black marble top of the older one.

On the plinth at the west end of the church is a stone recording the death of William Collins on 14th April, 1785, at the age of 27 years.

A lich gate (Plate 53) is placed at the western side of the churchyard, opposite the entrance to the church. It is of stone, in the Roman Doric order, and bears the following inscription on the east side of the tympanum: “This gate formerly stood in High Street, A.D. 1800—John, Lord Bishop of Chichester, D.D., Rector—W. L. Davies, William Leverton—Churchwardens—was built in this place A.D. 1865. Anthony W. Thorold, M.A., Rector. J. F. Corben, Thomas Willson—Churchwardens.”

The west side of the tympanum contains a carved oak lunette representing the Resurrection (Plate 54). Other representations of the same subject are to be seen at St. Mary-at-Hill, in the north-west vestibule (stone); St. Stephen, Coleman Street, in the vestry (wood), a replica of which is over the doorway to the churchyard from the street; St. Andrew, Holborn, in the north wall facing Holborn (stone); and St. Nicholas, Deptford, on the east wall of the south aisle (oak, now in a glass case).

The carving is probably the work of a wood-carver, named Love. In 1686, directions were given by the vestry to erect “a substantial gate out of the wall of the churchyard near the round house.” The gateway, which was of brick, was completed in 1687. It cost, with the necessary alterations to the churchyard, £185 14s. 6d., Love’s bill being £27.[[665]] In 1800, according to the inscription, it was rebuilt, this time in stone, and remained on the north side of the churchyard until 1865. The main entrance to the church is still from a gate in the iron railings, at about the same spot.

To the south-west of the church, and now connected by a corridor, are the church rooms which form the vestry. The larger room (Plate 55) is panelled in deal with a wood cornice. Over the chimneypiece is a list of rectors of the parish from 1547, and portraits of rectors hang on the walls. There is a fine large oak table, dating from 1701, and on the walls is a cast iron enlargement facsimile of the old seal of St. Giles’ Hospital.

The Rectors of the Parish up to the year 1800, according to Hennessy,[[666]] were as follows:—

Date of Appointment.
William Rowlandson, pr.1547, April 20.
Galfridus Evans, cl.1571, Nov. 8.
William Steward, cl.1579, Aug. 3.
Nathaniel Baxter, A.M.1590, Aug. 15.
Thomas Salisbury, A.B.1591, Dec. 24.
John Clarke, A.M.1592, Sept. 16.
Roger Maynwaring, A.M.1616, June 3.
Wm. Heywood, S.T.B.1635–6, Jan. 8 (ejected 1636).
Gilbert Dillingham(died Dec., 1635).
Brian Walton, A.M.1635–6, Jan. 15.
Wm. Heywood, S.T.B.1660 restored.
Robert Boreman, S.T.P.1663, Nov. 18.
John Sharp, A.M.1675–6, Jan. 3.
John Scott, S.T.B.1691, Aug. 7.
William Haley, cl.1695, April 4.
William Baker, S.T.P.1715, Nov. 10.
Henry Gally, D.D.1732, Dec. 9.
John Smyth, A.M.1769, Sept. 21.
John Buckner, LL.B.1788, May 22.
John Buckner, LL.D.1798, Sept. 17.