“Charles Cheyne, Esq., Lord of this Manor of Chelsea, which was purchased by the rich dowry of his wife, erected this burial-place for his most excellent wife, the Lady Jane Cheyne, eldest daughter of William Duke of Newcastle, not long deceased, and for his own use, when he shall die. It was consecrated the 3rd day of November, 1669. I beseech thee, Almighty God, that she may quiety rest here till the resurrection of the flesh. Amen.”
The monument consists of a semi-circular temple, the façade supported by two Corinthian columns of Scagliola marble, rising from a plinth and pedestals, with a proper entablature, surmounted by an elliptical pediment, the tympanum of which is ornamented with scroll work and foliage, and the soffit of the upper cornice consists of panels, with rosettes and foliage, and dentals, with pendant guttæ placed alternately. To give the latter a resemblance of their original intention, the base of the pediment was justly decreased in width in the centre. From acrotini at the shoulders rise flaming urns, and in the centre is a richly ornamented cross. In the interior of this temple is a large black sarcophagus, resting on pedestals of Scagliola marble. On this sarcophagus is represented Lady Cheyne, in white marble, lying upon her left side, and reclining upon a tesselated cushion, holding a book; at her feet lies a coronet. This monument was executed by the celebrated Bernini, and cost £500. It is generally considered to be a chef d’œuvre of art. Lady Cheyne died in 1669, aged 48.
On the sarcophagus, under the figure of Lady Jane Cheyne, is an inscription to the memory of Charles Cheyne, Viscount Newhaven, and Lord of the Manor of Chelsea, who was buried in the same vault. He departed this life in 1698, aged 74, being 29 years after Lady Jane Cheyne, his first wife’s death.
Richard Guildford, Esq.—On a marble tablet, near the preceding, is this inscription:—“Richard Guildford, who died 16th Nov. 1680, and also his two wives, Abigail and Elizabeth. He gave to this parish for ever a yearly sum of £10, to be distributed on the 5th of December, the day of his wedding with his wife Elizabeth.”
Henry Raper, Esq.—Near this spot are deposited the remains of this gentleman, who died in 1789, and of his wife Katherine Raper, who died in 1823. This family was greatly respected.
At the west end of the north aisle formerly stood the old font, and in a book case close to it a large folio Bible, Fox’s Book of Martyrs, a folio Common Prayer Book, and the Homilies of the Church of England, each secured with a chain. The books are now placed at the south side of the church, and the present marble font stands at the entrance to the middle aisle.
On the left of the great western entrance is an inscription on a marble tablet to the memory of Mrs. Bayley, who died in 1828, aged 45. This tablet was placed by her uncle, Wilton, the sculptor.
The Ashburnham Bell.—This bell originally in the steeple that was taken down for security in 1815, is now placed in the porch, as a relic of former days. On a board near the bell are recorded the following particulars:—
“This bell was given to the Old Parish Church of Chelsea by the Hon. Wm. Ashburnham in the year 1679. It was a grateful offering on his part to commemorate his escape from drowning in the Thames, into which he had wandered during a dark night of the above year, and from which he was saved by hearing the clock of this church strike the hour of nine. Many changes in the church having taken place since then, and this bell having long remained unused and nearly forgotten, it is here preserved as an interesting Chelsea antiquity, having been removed from the Clock Tower and placed in its present position by order of the Church Trustees, and under the direction of
A. Gerald W. Blunt, M.A., Rector.
R. Henry Davies, B.A., Incumbent of the Church.
T. B. Diplock, M.D., G. W. Richards, } Churchwardens.
March 1862.”
There was another account given of this bell many years ago. It was that the Hon. W Ashburnham was returning home from Lambeth in a boat at night, when almost suddenly there came a dense fog over the river, which prevented him seeing any object whatever. He became alarmed, and allowed the boat to drift for some distance, expecting every moment it would run foul of some barge or craft, and that he would be plunged into the river, when to his great joy he heard Chelsea Church clock strike nine, and, judging from the sound that he was nearly opposite the church, he seized the oars and pulled away as direct as he could towards it, and at length landed safely on shore. It afterwards appeared that had the boat drifted much further it would have been upset, and in all probability Mr. Ashburnham would have met with a watery grave. The family, considering the striking of the clock to have been a most providential means of saving his life, gave the bell, and made certain conditions that it should be rung every evening during the winter months, in case of any future similar event. The sexton paid 5s. to the bell-ringer for attending at nine o’clock, as stated, for the season.