The Rev. Mr. Lockwood, M.A., succeeded the Hon. and Rev. Dr. Wellesley, as rector, and manifested great interest in promoting the welfare of the parish, but after a comparatively short period he resigned.
The Rev. Charles Kingsley, M.A., next became Rector, and continued as such for many years. He was but seldom absent from the parish, and exhibited on all occasions a kind and benevolent disposition. He died in the year 1860, aged 78. Mrs. Kingsley was very active in establishing the Rectory Girls’ School, and in promoting a variety of charities to aid the poor.
The Rev. G. A. Blunt, M.A., (son of the late Rev. H. Blunt,) succeeded Mr. Kingsley, and is the present Rector. He has evinced the greatest desire to promote the religious, moral, and intellectual advancement of the working classes, and takes a deep interest in promoting the Parochial National and Infant Schools, &c. There is one charitable society, of such a humane and practical character, that it deserves to be specially noticed. It is called “The Sick Kitchen.” In a printed “Letter addressed to the Congregation and Parishioners of St. Luke’s, Chelsea,” 1869, Mr. Blunt states that it is “carried on in a building erected for the purpose in 1861, in the Rectory Garden. Its object is to provide nutritious dinners for the poor who are recovering from sickness. It is supported by voluntary contributions, the early Communion alms, and half the contents of the church boxes at St. Luke’s. An average of thirty poor people are thus supplied daily for nine months in the year. There is no charge made, the orders being given by the Curates and District Visitors, among the cases they visit. The dinners consist of roast meat three times a week, soup, puddings, &c., on the alternate days; beef tea daily.”
The advowson anciently belonged, as already stated, to the Abbot and Convent of Westminster, till they exchanged it, 17th July, 28 Henry VIII., together with their manors of Neyte and Hyde, with the king, for the priory of Hurley. It continued in the possession of the Crown till Queen Elizabeth, by letters patent, dated July 3rd, second year of her reign, demised to Ann, Duchess of Somerset, the advowson of the parish church and rectory for her life, the reversion to the Queen. After the death of the duchess it was granted to the Earl of Nottingham and his Countess for three lives. King Charles I. granted the advowson, with the manor, to James Duke of Hamilton, and in the next reign Charles Cheyne, Esq., purchased the manor, to which the rectory has ever since been annexed.
In the year 1327, 1st of Edward III., the rectory was rated at thirteen marks, and in the king’s books at £13 6s. 8d., and the yearly tenths £1 6s. 8d.
Among Dr. King’s original papers is the following account of the rectory: “The ancient parsonage-house, with 14 acres and 22 perches of land, stood west of the Duke of Beaufort’s, then the Marquis of Winchester’s. In lieu of which, upon an exchange, the present house, and land about it, was given to the rectory for ever, by the consent of the Queen, the then patron, Dr. Edmund Grindall, Bishop of London, and Robt. Richardson, Rector of Chelsea, who conveyed the old house and land to the Marquis by writing, bearing date May 3, 1566.”
In 1650, it was reported to the Commissioners appointed by the Parliament, that the parsonage-house of Chelsea, with twenty acres of glebe, belonging to the same, were valued at £60 per annum, and the tithes worth £60 more.
The Rectory House, situated in Church Street, is very plain as regards its exterior appearance. The grounds are enclosed by a wall, and there are carriage entrances to the house. The interior is commodious, but scarcely adequate to the requirements of a large establishment in the present day.
THE BURIAL GROUND, OR CEMETERY.
In the south and north portions of the ground there are a great number of memorial stones, and a few brick vaults. That portion, situated at the north-eastern division, near to Bond Street and Marlborough Square, the ground of which is raised above the general surface, may be considered almost as one huge grave, containing a mass of interments. It was originally called “The Poor Ground,” on account of its being devoted exclusively for those who were buried at the expense of the parish. It would display much good feeling and sympathy, if some simple but appropriate record was placed there. It might be done by subscription, should there be no funds available for such a purpose.