Chevening Church

( 114 ) CHEVENING CHURCH. BY CANON SCOTT ROBERTSON. THE plan of St. Botolph's Church, at Chevening, is peculiar. Its eastern gables shew some symmetry, the two chancels being conterminous; but there is no symmetry of plan elsewhere. The south aisle is much shorter than the nave, and terminates far to the east of the.line where the Early English nave joins the fine Perpendicular western tower, which has an octagonal turret at its north-east angle, and an embattled parapet. On the north side of the nave's east end, stands the small burial chapel of the Wyndhams and Strodes; it is now used as a vestry. There is a south porch which was rebuilt in 1858. Three wide Early English arches of the thirteenth century, supported by circular columns, divide the nave from the south aisle; and two similar arches separate the high chancel from the Stanhope Chapel or south chancel. The north wall of the nave is remarkable for its three mural arches of Early English character. In the westernmost of these arches there was a small lancet window, which Mr. Sikes, the Rector, caused to be removed some years ago to its present position in the north wall, almost exactly opposite to its original site. That lancet, I have no doubt, was the relic of three which stood within these mural arches, one in the centre of each arch. Such an arrangement was much used by architects in the thirteenth century for the ornamentation of chancel walls.* Sir Stephen Glynne, from a cursory look at this church," supposed that these arches went through the wall, and indicated the existence formerly of a north aisle which had been destroyed. I » * Clear traces of this arrangement still remain at Upchuroh, Rainham, Sittingbourne St. Michael, Hartlip, and other ohurohes in Kent, and at Merstham in Surrey. CHEVENING CHURCH. 11 5 believe, however, that these arches do not go through the wall, and that there was no such aisle. In the south aisle we find architectural peculiarities still more remarkable in their character. In its outer wall (the south) we see two groups of low arches beneath the level of the window sills,- three arches of unequal width in each group. In each case two of these arches resemble the canopies over founders' tombs; and the third in each group is a piscina niche. In the western group, the piscina indicates that an altar formerly existed here, in a very unusual position, about midway down the south aisle. Probably a screen of woodwork ran across the aisle, from south to north, immediately eastward of this altar. Under one of the arches, in the easternmost of the two groups, now lies a crossed coffin slab (probably of the fourteenth century), which is not in situ. It originally formed part of the pavement of the space within the communion rails. The Rev. Thomas Sikes informs me that, soon after he became Rector of Chevening, he stumbled badly over this slab, while administering the Holy Communion, and he consequently caused it to be removed to this place. « A monumental brass, now at the east end of the south aisle, has likewise been removed from its original position. It commemorates John Lennard, " Prenotary of North Wales,"* who purchased Chevening Place and Manor in the 4th year of King Edward VI., but was resident here before 1542, and died about A.D. 1555, aged 76. This brass formerly stood east and west, upon an altar-tomb of Bethersden marble. The stained-glass window near this monument commemorates Mr. Charles Candy of Chipstead Place, who died in 1872. The pulpit is a small, well-carved, specimen of the Jacobean type. There is no chancel arch, but its place is now supplied with open woodwork, of unique form and screenlike character. This was inserted by the Rev. Thomas Sikes, and was much admired by the late Henry Parker, C.B., no mean authority. In the high chancel we see, on the north wall, a mural * Archceologia Cantiana, XI., 402. I 2 116 CHEVENING CHURCH. monument for Anne, Lady Herries, sole daughter and heir of Robert Cranmer of Chipstead Place, and wife of Sir Arthur Herries of Cricksea in Essex. She died in 1613, aged 27. Another monument commemorates her father, Robert Cranmer, who died in 1619; he was a son of Thomas Cranmer, Esq., of Aslacton, Notts. The painted glass in the east window, made by A. Gibbs of London, was inserted as a memorial of Mr. Prederick Perkins of Chipstead Place, who died in 1860, aged 80. The glass in the north window of the chancel was put in by the present Rector, the Rev. Thomas Sikes, and will form a memorial of him hereafter. In front of the communion rails, near the south side, lies a monumental brass, dated 1596, from which the names of those who lie beneath are gone. By the aid of Mr. Steinman and Mr. Gibbs, the Rector has ascertained that this brass commemorates one of his predecessors, the Rev. Griffin Lloyd* (or Eloyd), and his wife Anne. He died in 1596, aged 61, and was buried here, as the Register testifies, on the 6th of October in that year. The only remaining inscription shews that one of the persons commemorated died on the 3rd of October 1596. The eight separate pieces of brass, which now appear upon the slab, had been scattered about the church and the rectory; but they were collected by Mr. Sikes, about 25 years ago, and were inserted in the stone slab they now occupy at the expense of the late Earl Stanhope. The eight pieces of brass bear effigies of Mr. Lloyd, his wife, his seven sons, and his two daughters; also * Mr. H. H. Gibbs identified the shield of arms thus:— 1. LLOYD -.—Ermine, on a saltire gules a orescent or, in chief an escallop (the arms of Osborne Fitzgerald, borne by his descendants the Lloyds). 2. GEIFFITH AP ADAM:—Or, a lion rampant-regardant sable. 3. Unknown :—Apparently a Gothic At. 4. RHYS AP TUDOE MAWE :—Ghtles, a lion rampant within a bordure engrailed or. 5./ OWEN CYFELIOC :—Or, a lion rampant gules, 6. TUDOR AP GRIFFITH VYCHAN:—Paly of 7 argent and gules, a lion rampant sable, armed and langued gules. 7. TUDOE TEEVOE :—Per bend sinister ermine and ermines, a lion rampant or. 8. Unknown :—A chevron between 3 mullets. 9. TNYR OF TALE :—Chiles, 3 pallets in a bordure or. 10. SANDIFF BUBTON .— Vert, a lion rampant or. 11. CADWGAN AP BLEDDYN :—Argent, a lion rampant azure. 12. OWEN GWYNNETH:— Vert, 3 eagles displayed in fess or, CHEVENING CHURCH. 117 his coat of arms of twelve quarterings, two scrolls inscribed, " Mihi vita Christus, et mors mihi lucrum," and an inscription giving the date of his death. The late Mr. Henry Hucks Gibbs informed Mr. Sikes that Mrs. Lloyd was buried on the 7th of June 1605; and that the names of her daughters were Martha (baptized in 1570), and Anne (1590): five of the sons were William (1572); Michell (1573), who died in 1644; Jonathan (1576); Gideon (1581); and Christopher (1589). A sixth son is mentioned in the Knockholt Register of Baptisms, on the 31st of August 1578, as Griffin, son of Griffin Lloyd, minister of Knockholt Church. The Sundridge Register shews that the eldest son, " William Floyd, gentleman," was married, September 11th, 1598, to Susan Cranmer. Michael Eloyd, the second son, seems to have taken Holy Orders, and succeeded his father as Incumbent of Knockholt, where he died in 1644. His name was often written as Elud. Those who take interest in surnames, and their history, may here trace the easy method by which the Welsh name Lloyd became corrupted into an English shape, as Elud and Elood. The original corruption arose from the peculiar sound given by the Welsh to their double L. When Englishmen strove to write the name Lloyd, according to the sound which Welsh tongues gave it, they naturally began with a capital E. The corruption of Floyd into Flud followed naturally. The third son, Jonathan Floyd, also settled at Chevening, and his children were baptized there. One of them, named Margaret, was buried at Knockholt on the 24th of March 1613. The south chancel is rich in tombs of the Lennards and the Stanhopes; and around its walls hang the emblazoned funeral hatchments* of four Earls Stanhope, of three * On the west wall are three hatohments (i.e. atohieveraents) : (Central and uppermost.) LOUISA (Grenville), 3rd COUNTESS STANHOPE. Arms of Stanhope impaling Grenville (Vert, on a cross argent, 5 torteaux^wZes). (Southern.) PHILIP, 2nd EAEL STANHOPE, ob, 1786. Arms: Stanhope impaling Hamilton of Byers and Melross quarterly (1 and 4, Gules, on a ohevron between 3 cinquefoils argent, a buckle azure between 2 spots ef ermine, all within a bordure or, oharged witk 8 118 CHEVENING CHURCH. Countesses Stanhope, of a Viscountess Mahon, of Colonel the Hon. Jas. Hamilton Stanhope, of the Hon. Mrs. Henry Grenville, and of the Lady Erederica Stanhope. The handsome monuments, at the east end of this chancel, of John Lennard and his son Sampson (whose wife became Lady Dacre) have been engraved in Hasted's History of Kent, 8vo, vol. iii., pp. 124-5, and were fully described by Mr. Steinman, in the Topographer and Genealogist, vol. iii., pp. 211-3, A.D. 1858. The altar-tomb upon the north side, without a canopy, commemorates John Lennard, son of John Lennard who purchased Chevening Place and Manor; he died on the 12th of March 1590-1, aged 81. He was a Barrister of Lincoln's Inn, and Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas. His wife, who is also commemorated, died five years before him, on the 26th of October 1585. She was Elizabeth, daughter of William Harman of Ellam in Crayford. They are represented (he in full armour) as lying on a mattress upon an altar-tomb, the north side of which is divided into three panels. The inscription* is on thistles vert; 2 and 3, a fess wavy between 3 roses gules barbed and seeded proper). (Northern.) GEISEL (daughter of Lord Binning, and sister of the Earl of Haddington), wife of the 2nd Earl Stanhope, ob. 1811. On the south wall are three hatchments: ("West.) LADY PEEDEEICA STANHOPE, eldest daughter of William, 3rd Earl of Mansfield, and wife of Lieut.-Col. the Hon. James Hamilton Stanhope, 3rd son of the 3rd Earl Stanhope. Arms: Stanhope impaling Murray (quarterly, first and fourth, azure, three mullets within a double tressure oounter-fleury with fleurde- lis or, for Murray; second and third, gules, three crosses patee, argent, for Balvaird). (Centre.) JAMES, 1st EARL STANHOPE. Arms: Stanhope impaling Pitt (Sable, a fess chequy argent and azure between 3 bezants or). (East.) CATHERINE LUCY (4th daughter of the 1st Lord Carington), 4th COUNTESS STANHOPE, ob. 1845. Arms: Stanhope impaling Smith (Or, a chevron cottised between 3 demi-griffins sable, the two in chief respectant). On the east wall are three hatchments : (Centre, uppermost.) LUCY (daughter of Governor Pitt), 1st COUNTESS STANHOPE, ob. 1723. Arms: Stanhope impaling Pitt. (North.) MARGARET (daughter of Joseph Banks, Esq., of Revesby Abbey, Lincoln), widow of the Hon. HENEY GRENVIIILE, mother of Louisa, 3rd Countess Stanhope. Arms: Grenville impaling Banks. (South.) HESTER (daughter of the 1st Earl of Chatham), VISCOUNTESS MAHON, ob. 1780,1st wife of Charles, afterwards 3rd Earl Stanhope! She was the mother of Lady Hester Stanhope and Lady Lucy Taylor. Arms : Stanhope impaling Pitt. * Hue secessit Johannes Lennard, armiger, una cum Elizabetha uxore sua. Haic mortem obiit 26 Octobris 1585. Ille quatuor principum diplomatibus an CHEVENING CHURCH. 119 the central panel, and armorial quarterings occupy the other two. In the easternmost appear, Quarterly,* 1 and 4 LENNAKD, 2 BIRD, 3 BICKWOETH ; impaling, Quarterly, 1 and 4 HARMAN, 2 and 3 WESTON. On the westernmost panel is the shield of Sampson (son of John and Elizabeth) Lennard, bearing the same 4 quarterings of the Lennards, impaling his noble wife's coat of 14 quarterings.f The west end of the tomb bears the arms of LENNARD quarterly as before. The tomb of Sampson Lennard (ob. 1615) and his wife Margaret Eienes, Lady Dacre, has a semi-circular canopy, panelled in relief, supported by marble obelisks at the corners, and originally surmounted by six shields of arms, three on the north side and three on the south, most of which still remain. Beneath lie effigies of Sampson Lennard (in armour) and his wife, upon an altar-tomb, around the sides of which are small kneeling effigies of their children, three sons (Henry, Gregory, and Thomas) on the north, and five daughters on the south. The Lennard arms quarterly occupy, alone, the central shield on the north side; the similarly central shield on the south side bearing the 18 quarterings of Fienes.J The same quarterings of Eienes appear on the western shield of the north side. The other shields bear Lennard impaling Fienes. Along the north and south friezes of the altar-tomb run long inscriptions, as follow:— " Gloriosum Domini nostri Jesu Christi adventum expectans, hie requiesoit Samson Lennard armiger una cum charissima conjuge Margareta Baronissa Dacre (sorore et proxima hajrede Gregorii Eienes militis, Baronis Dacre de le South), cui quadraginta septem annos, quatuor menses, et supernumeraries aliquot dies conjugali vinculo ligatus suaviteret beate vixit; suscepitque ex eadem varia reipublicae munera designatus, quuni in illis exequendis summam diligentiam, paremque prudentiam fidemque diu prsestitisset: tandem octogesimo secundo setatis anno ineunte moritur Custos Brevium de Banco : relictis duobus filiis et quinque filiabus, 12 Martii 1590. * LENNARD, Or, on a fess gules 3 fleurs-de-lis of the field; BIED, Quarterly argent and sable, in the first quarter an eagle displayed of the second; BICKWORTH, Vaire, a chief ermine; HAEMAN, Argent, a ohevron between 3 scalps sable; WESTON, Sable, 3 leopards' heads argent, crowned or. f 1 Eienes, 2 Say, 3 Dacre, 4 Multon, 5 Gillesland, 6 Morvill, 7 Bowett, 8 Pitz Hugh, 9 Staveley, 10 Eurneaux, 11 Gray, 12 Marmion, 13 St. Quintin, 14 Gernagan. % 1 Eienes, 2 Boloigne, 3 Say, 4 Mandevill, 5 Daore, 6 Multon, 7 Gillesland, 8 Ufford, 9 Clavering, 10 Merley, 11 Eitz Hugh, 12 Grey, 13 Odingsells, 14 Warren, 15 Marmion, 16 Lisle, 17 Pitz Gerald, 18 Tyes. 120 CHEVENING CHURCH. septem Alios, Henricum Baronem Dacre, Gregorium et Thomam superstites, reliquis quatuor in infantia extinctis; et sex filias, quarum una perijt infantula, quinque supersunt; Pietatis comitatis, hospitalitatis laude Celebris, et in commune bonus; prepropera nobilissimas uxoris morte ampliorem Regis gratiam anticipante: honore primogeniti filij Baronis Dacre de le South, diplomate illustrissimi Regis Jacobi decoratus; Anno iEtatis septuagesimo primo, ineunte salutis 1615, Septembris vicesimo, ex hac vita migravit." " Margaretse Eienes Baronissas Dacre, filias Thomas Baronis Dacre, filij Thomse Eienes militis, filij Thomse Baronis Dacre, et Annas uxoris ejus, Alice Humfridi Bourohier militis, filij Johannis Baronis Bourchier de Berners, filij Gulielmi Bourchier Comitis Essex et Ewe, et Annas uxoris ejus, filise Thomas de Woodstock Ducis de Glocestrise. Et ex materna stirpe filise Marise, filise Georgij Nevile Baronis de Bergevenny, filij Edwardi Nevile Baronis de Bergevenny, filij Radulphi Nevile Comitis Westmerlandiaa et Johannae uxoris ejus, filise Johannis de Gaunt Ducis Lanoastrise: amoris et honoris ergo posuit charissimus idemque mcestissimus conjux, Quern cum felice prole beasset, exemplarque pietatis in Deum, obsequij in maritum, Charitatis in pauperes,humanitatis in omnes, supra sexum exhibuisset, tandem die Marcij decimo, Anno salutis millesimo sexcentesimo undeoimo, setatis septuagesimo, cum summo bonorum omnium desiderio, supremum spiritum libens lubensque Patri spirituum exhalavit." There are not any other monuments to the Lords Dacre remaining in Chevening Church, but they held the manor until the title became extinct in 1715 on the death of Thomas Lennard, last Lord Dacre, who had been created Earl of Sussex.* A mural monument at the north-west angle of the south chancel is a triple memorial. It commemorates James, first Earl Stanhope (ob. 1720-1), as well as his father the Hon. Alex. Stanhope (ob. 1707), and Philip, second Earl (ob. 1786), by whose widow this tablet was erected. Immediately beneath the composite monument is a white marble tablet to the memory of Charles, third Earl Stanhope, who was often called " Citizen Stanhope," and was eminent for his scientific attainments. The inscription on this tablet was written by the first Lord Holland. The Hon. Alex. Stanhope (a son of the first Earl of Chesterfield) was half-brother of that Philip, Baron Stanhope, # The Earl was buried at Chevening Nov. 11, 1715; so also were Henry, Lord Dacre (Aug. 9, 1616), and Grisogan his wife (Sept. 30, 1616); Elizabeth (nee Throgmorton), 1st wife of Riohard, Lord Dacre (she was buried 19 Eeb. 1621-2); and the Hon. Dorothy (dau. of the 3rd Lord North), second wife and eventually widow of the same Lord Dacre (she was buried April 21, 1698). Probably Erancis, Lord Dacre (died May 12, 1662), and Challoner Chute (died April 15, 1659) second husband of Dorothy, Lady Dacre, were also buried here; but the burial registers are lacking for those dates. CHEVENING CHURCH. 121 who married a coheiress of a great Kentish landowner, Thomas, Lord Wotton of Boughton Malherb. The first Earl Stanhope is again commemorated by a tablet on the south wall. Other memorials of him are the surcoat, tassels, gauntlet, spurs, and sword hanging in the south chancel, which were carried at his funeral service in Westminster Abbey. Over the doorway is the monument of Lady Lucy Taylor (daughter of the third Earl Stanhope), who married Dr. Taylor of Sevenoaks. The celebrated marble monument, with a reclining figure, by Chantrey, represents the beautiful wife of the third son of the third Earl. She was Lady Frederica Louisa Murray, daughter of the third Earl of Mansfield, and she married Colonel the Hon. James Hamilton Stanhope, M.P.; she died young in 1823. Her husband could not live without her; he died in 1825. Their son, James Banks Stanhope, Esq., of Revesby Abbey, was for seventeen years M.P. for North Lincolnshire. Philip Henry, fourth Earl Stanhope (ob. 1855), is commemorated by a black marble slab on the north side of this chancel, fixed at the back of the choir seats. West of it is a tablet for his second son, George Joseph, who died in 1828, aged 22. This fourth Earl's faithful valet and secretary, George Goodall, who died in 1853, has a tablet on the south wall. The Historian, Philip Henry, fifth Earl Stanhope (so well known for a long period as Lord Mahon), who died in 1875, has a tablet on the south wall, next to that of the first Earl. His Countess (mother of the present Earl), Emily, daughter of Sir Ed. Kerrison, has more than a tablet to commemorate her here. The painted glass in the east and south windows of this chancel owes much to her artistic handiwork, as we learn from small brass plates inserted beneath the windows. As to the Benefice, it is on record that in the 56th year of Henry III. (1271-2), at an assize held in Greenwich, a cause was tried to ascertain who presented the last "parson" to "Chiveningge," then vacant. Owing to the vacancy of the See of Canterbury, by the death, in 1270, of Arch122 CHEVENING CHURCH. bishop Boniface, the King had claimed the right of presentation to this benefice. It was, however, claimed likewise by " Master Peter de Lymoges, parson of Otteford." Erom the pleadings it appears that the last rector of Chevening had been Master Godfrey de St. Dunstan, who was presented by Archbishop Boniface. His predecessor in the benefice seems to have been one Reginald, who, in 1262-3, was paying 5 marks per annum to Godfrey by order of the Archbishop's official, Hugh de Mortimer, probably as the stipend of a Vicar or Co-adjutor. On the death of Reginald the said Godfrey de St. Dunstan was admitted to the benefice by Archbishop Boniface. RECTOES 03? CHEVENING. . . . . REGINALD (in 1262). . . . . MAG. GODEEEY DE ST. DUNSTAN (dead in 1272). . . . . MAG. HUGH DE POESHAM, in 1301, and until he became Rector of Sundridge in May 1310. 1310. MAG. PETEE BEISK, collated by Archbishop Winchelsey (Reg., fol. 47b) on 4 Ides of May. He is also called Peter de Brixia, and de Brigea. He exchanged this rectory in 1320 for that of Bridgham St. Mary in Norfolk, which he resigned in 1322, for Welbourne in Lincolnshire. 1320. MASTEE PANUCIUS BONODITI DE CONTEONE, or Panchius de Controun, Professor of Physics, who was instituted in November 1320, but eleven months later exchanged Chevening for the Church of St. Mary Arches, London. 1321. WILLIAM DE BTCTEELE, Rector of St. Mary Arches, London, was instituted to Chevening on 16 Kal. Nov. 1321. PETEE DE GELDESEOED exchanged in 1363-4 this benefice for that of West Horndon, Essex. 1367f. RICHAED DE EVEEDON, Rector of West Horndon, Essex, became Rector of Chevening 7 Kal. Peb. 1363-4. 136f. ALAN DE SDDBYEY, Rector of Chalf hunt St. Giles, exchanged with Everdon, and was instituted to Chevening 3 Kal. Peb. 1366-7. He exchanged it in 1370for St. Martin's, Isinonger Lane. 1370. STEPHEN RANDULP, Rector of St. Martin's, Ismonger Lane, London, became Rector of Chevening on the 1st of June 1370, but resigned this benefice for that of Conyngton in the diocese of Ely in 1373. 1373. WALTEE MILMETE succeeded Randulf, and was instituted RECTORS OE CHEVENING. 12 3 on the 25th of April, but held this benefice for about two months only. 1373. JOHN CEIELI was instituted to Chevening 7 Kal. July. WILLIAM DAPEE exchanged Chevening in 1378-9 for Westmill, Herts ; he was Vicar of Croydon until 1402. 1378. THOMAS ALBOENE, Rector of Westmill, Herts, became Rector of Chevening on the 22nd of March 1378-9, but he held it for less than two years, exchanging it in 1380 for the Rectory of Boitou in the diocese of Sarum. 1380. JAMES _ GILLOTT, Rector of Boiton, was instituted to Chevening on the 8th of August 1380. . 1429. RICHAED BELGEAVE was admitted to this benefice on the 23rd of April 1429, but exchanged it for the Rectory of Newington within two years. 14f£. JOHN PENLEX, who had been Rector of Newington, held Chevening from the 24th of February 1430-1 until the 18th of April 1441, when he exchanged it for the • benefice of East Ham. 1441. RICHAED WILLIAM having been Vicar of East Ham from Aug. 21, 1439, to April 1441, then exchanged it for Chevening, How long he retained it we cannot ascertain. 1464. JOHN POTTEE, who was instituted ou the 4th of, October 1464, held this benefice for nearly 30 years. He resigned it in 1493, and • was succeeded by Robert Dokett or Duckett. 1493. ROBEET DOKETT or DUCKETT, S.T.B., was instituted to Chevening by Cardinal Morton on the 7th of May 1493, and retained it until his death in 1522. 152f. THOMAS BASCHUECHE was collated to Chevening, by Archbishop Warham at Knole, on the 24th of January 1522-3, but resigned it ten years after. He appears to have been Rector of St. Leonard, Eastcheap, from May 1520 until 1537, when he died. 1533. RICHAED ASTALL, M.A., was collated by Archbishop Cranmer on the 15th of October 1533, and held Chevening until his death in August 1546. During the last five years of his life he was a Canon of Wingham, holding the Pedding Prebend there. He was also Rector of Ightham, where he was buried. 1546. JOHN THOEPE, Chaplain to Cranmer, was Astall's successor, being preferred by his patron in Aug. 1546, both to Chevening Rectory and to the Pedding Canonry at Wingham which Astall had vacated. WILLIAM GOUGE died in 1558 holding this Eectory. 1558. PETEE LUCAS was collated to Chevening by Cardinal Pole on the 9th of May 1558, but he enjoyed it little more than three years, dying in 1561. 1561. GEEFEIN LLOXD was presented by Archbishop Parker, on 124 RECTORS OE CHEVENING. the death of Lucas, and was admitted to this benefice on the 21st of October 1561. He held likewise the Perpetual Curacy of Knockholt, during the greater part, or all, of his incumbency here. He died in October 1596, aged 61, and was buried in the chancel of Chevening Church, beneath a monumental brass which still remains. 1596. Dr. HENEY PAEEX, who exchanged the benefice of Great Mongeham, in June 1596, for the rectory of Sundridge, was collated to Chevening, by Archbishop Whitgift, on the 5th of October iu the same year. Whether this gentleman was or was not identical with that Dr. Henry Parry who became Bishop first of Gloucester in 1607, and then of Worcester in 1610, I have not been able to ascertain. Probably not. . . . . PEANCIS SIDNEY, a relative of Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle and Earl of Leicester, K.G. (who presented bim to the rectory of Penshurst, in October 1617), was also Rector of Chevening. He held this living for more than twelve years, and died in 1633. Mr. Sidney seems to have been an active and useful man. In 1631 he obtained permission from Archbishop Abbott to build a south aisle in Penshurst Church. This aisle was to be 46 feet long and 10 feet broad. 1633. Dr. THOMAS BUOKENEE was collated by Archbishop Abbott to be Sidney's successor here, on the 14th of May 1603. How long he retained this benefice I do not know, but I am told that in 1644 the name of Dr. Clarke occurs as Rector oi' Chevening. 1660. EDWAED CLAEKE was presented by King Charles II. to Chevening Rectory in 1660, and was instituted by Archbishop Juxon on the 17th of August. The King also gave bim the rectory of Buers Gifford on the 1st November 1661, and Mr. Clarke held them both when he died in 1681. It is remarkable that either he or one of the same name held both Chevening and Buers Gifford during the last troubled years of Charles I. 1681. HENEY MAUEICE, D.D., July 30, 1681. Dr. Maurice was Margaret Professor of Divinity at Oxford. He had been Rector of Llandrillo, and was Treasurer of Chichester Cathedral from 7 January 1681-2 until the end of 1691. In 1685 he resigned Chevening, and was instituted to the Rectory of Newington, Oxon. He died in 1691. 1685. WILLIAM NEEDHAM, M.A., was collated to Chevening on the 26fch of March 1685, by Archbishop Sancroft, but he resigned it within twelve months. RECTORS OE CHEVENING. 12 5 168f. JOHN GASKAETH, M.A., held this benefice for less than six months, being collated February 3rd 1685-6, and resigning it in the following July, when he was preferred to the vicarage of All Hallows, Barking, which he held for twenty years or more. 1686. THOMAS SKINNEB, B.A., collated by Archbishop Sancroft July 19, 1686, remained here for twenty years. He suffered the old rectory house to fall into ruinous decay. It was one of those old-fashioned houses, which had in its centre a small courtyard, around which the rooms ran. 170f EDWAED GEE, D.D. Col. Chester traced Dr. Gee's history carefully, and records that he was born at Manchester in 1659, the son of George Gee, shoemaker. Admitted to St. John's College, Cambridge, May 1676, aged 17. Graduated B.A. 1679, and M.A. 1683. Was a D.D. when installed Prebendary of Westminster Abbey 6 Dec. 1701. In May 1688 he became Rector of St. Benet's, Paul's Wharf, London; and he was Chaplain to King William III. and Queen Mary. For four or five months, 1721-2, he was Dean of Peterborough; but he was admitted to the Deanery of Lincoln 21 May 1722. He held the Prebend of Welton Paynshall, in Lincoln Cathedral, from April 1722 until his death. The benefice of Chevening he occupied for twenty-three years (1707- 30), and with it also held the Iucumbency of St. Margaret's, Westminster. He married, in 1702-3, Jane, daughter of Henry Limbrey of London, merchant, by Jane Mathew, sole heir of Brian Mathew of Hoddington, Esq. In 1707, with the Archbishop's sanction, Dr. Gee began to pull down great part of the old rectory-house, and he rebuilt it upon a totally different plan. He did away with the very small central courtyard ; occupied its area with rooms, and removed the brewhouse to a distance from the dwelling-house. A dozen years later, he exchanged some of the glebe for other land which had belonged to the first Earl Stanhope. He died on the 1st March 1729-30, • and was buried in Westminster Abbey on the 6th of that month. 1730. WILLIAM GEEKIE, D.D. Rector of Woodchurch for one year, March 1729 to March 1730, when he became Rector of Chevening. He held this benefice for two years only. The Rectory of Southfleet he retained with these and with other preferments, holding it for thirty-eight years from 1729 to 1767. He was a Prebendary of Canterbury Cathedral from June 10th 1731 to 1767. The Archdeaconry of Gloucester he likewise held from 1738 until 1767. Dying in 126 RECTORS OF CHEVENING. July 1767, he was buried in the Heads' family vault in Ickham Church, near Canterbury, of which his brother-in-law, Archdeacon Sir John Head, was Rector. 1733. EDMUND BATEMAN, D.D., retained this benefice for eighteen years, and died on the 28th April 1751. He was Archdeacon of Lewes from March 1736 until his death; and a Prebendary of Lichfield, from November 1734 to December 1741. 1751. THOMAS HEEEING, M.A., was collated to this benefice by Archbishop Herring on the 8th of May 1751. He obtained a dispensation enabling him to hold it with the Rectory of Coulsdon in Surrey. Mr. Herring held a Prebendal Stall in Southwell Collegiate Church ; he was Precentor of Chichester Cathedral (1761-74), and a Principal Registrar of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. He died March 25th 1774. 1774. SAMUEL PEESTON, B.A. Oxon. 1740, M.A. Cantab. 1774, died July 6, 1803. 1803. AETHUE ONSLOW. 1813. JOHN AUSTEN. 1851. THOMAS BAETLETT. 1854. THOMAS SIKES, M.A., who graduated B.A. from Queen's College, Cambridge, in 1827, and had been Curate and Vicar of Luton, in Bedfordshire, from 1828-54. He likewise held the Rectory of Puttenham, Herts, from 1835 to 1848, and was Rural Dean and Surrogate.