| Description | Act of consecration of the cemetery of St John's Hospital, Northgate, by John [Bancroft], bishop of Oxford, in the presence of William Somner junior, notary public.
'Dominus' Humphrey Peake DD, in place of 'Dominus' Thomas Jackson DD, master of the hospital, and John Carr, prior of the hospital, alleged that bodies had to be buried in the cemeteries of other churches, because the hospital's own cemetery was inadequate. To remedy this, the Master and Prior, with the consent of the brothers and sisters, enclosed a parcel of their land 3 perches long and 3 perches wide, lying with the chapel to east and north, at their own cost, and asked Archbishop William Laud to designate it as a burial ground for the hospital and to consecrate it. The archbishop, wished to satisfy their request, but was unable to do so himself and delegated the matter to John Bancroft, bishop of Oxford. Detailed description of the ceremony, including full transcript of the sentence of consecration. The sermon was preached by Edward Fulham MA, the bishop's chaplain, whose text is quoted in English. Those present included the earl and countess of Winchilsea [Thomas Finch and Cicely Finch (née Wentworth)]; 'Dominus' John Fotheby, knight; 'Dominus' Francis Rogers, DD; William Somner senior, registrar of the consistory court of Canterbury; William Watmer, Richard Birkened, Thomas Richardson and Henry Jenken, proctors of the same court; and the brothers and sisters of the hospital. Signed by William Somner junior.
Endorsed with description in 18th cent hand. |