Post by FilmFlaneur on Apr 18, 2017 15:53:18 GMT
Remains of five archbishops found near Lambeth Palace
Builders find 30 lead coffins in crypt of former church next to archbishop of Canterbury’s official residence
The remains of five archbishops of Canterbury have been found beneath a medieval church next to the current archbishop’s official London residence, it has been revealed, much to the delight of Christians celebrating Easter. The discovery at the deconsecrated church of St Mary-at-Lambeth was made during the refurbishment of Lambeth Palace’s Garden Museum last year, and has been kept secret for months while work was finished. The redevelopment team, led by site managers Karl Patten and Craig Dick of building contractors Rooff, accidentally came across the dark entrance to the tomb when they began stripping back the flagstones from the church.
After uncovering a set of stairs under a slab, they fashioned a long torch out of a mobile phone attached to a stick and were able to have the first glimpse of what lay beneath: a hidden crypt that contained 30 lead coffins. Patten told the BBC: “We discovered numerous coffins – and one of them had a gold crown on top of it.” Archbishops were often buried with gold-painted mitres – ceremonial headpieces – placed on their coffins.
While the identity of some of the remains are a mystery, three of the coffins have nameplates. These belong to Richard Bancroft (the archbishop from 1604 to 1610, who chaired the committee that wrote the King James Bible), John Moore (archbishop from 1783-1805) and his wife, Catherine Moore. Frederick Cornwallis (in office 1768-1783), Matthew Hutton (1757-1758) and Thomas Tenison (1695-1715) have also been identified as being laid to rest at the church, alongside John Bettesworth, the dean of the arches (an ecclesiastical judge) between 1710 and 1751.
Considering Lambeth Palace has been the residence of the archbishop of Canterbury, the Church of England’s most senior cleric, for nearly 800 years, it is little surprise the remains date back as far as the 17th century.Burials were known to have taken place in the churchyard, but it had been assumed that the vaults under the church had since been filled with earth. So far the coffins have been left undisturbed, though the builders have installed a glass panel in the floor above them so visitors can peer into the crypt. The Garden Museum, which has been closed for its £7.5m redevelopment since 2015, will reopen on 22 May. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/16/remains-of-five-archbishops-discovered-near-lambeth-palace-canterbury
Builders find 30 lead coffins in crypt of former church next to archbishop of Canterbury’s official residence
The remains of five archbishops of Canterbury have been found beneath a medieval church next to the current archbishop’s official London residence, it has been revealed, much to the delight of Christians celebrating Easter. The discovery at the deconsecrated church of St Mary-at-Lambeth was made during the refurbishment of Lambeth Palace’s Garden Museum last year, and has been kept secret for months while work was finished. The redevelopment team, led by site managers Karl Patten and Craig Dick of building contractors Rooff, accidentally came across the dark entrance to the tomb when they began stripping back the flagstones from the church.
After uncovering a set of stairs under a slab, they fashioned a long torch out of a mobile phone attached to a stick and were able to have the first glimpse of what lay beneath: a hidden crypt that contained 30 lead coffins. Patten told the BBC: “We discovered numerous coffins – and one of them had a gold crown on top of it.” Archbishops were often buried with gold-painted mitres – ceremonial headpieces – placed on their coffins.
While the identity of some of the remains are a mystery, three of the coffins have nameplates. These belong to Richard Bancroft (the archbishop from 1604 to 1610, who chaired the committee that wrote the King James Bible), John Moore (archbishop from 1783-1805) and his wife, Catherine Moore. Frederick Cornwallis (in office 1768-1783), Matthew Hutton (1757-1758) and Thomas Tenison (1695-1715) have also been identified as being laid to rest at the church, alongside John Bettesworth, the dean of the arches (an ecclesiastical judge) between 1710 and 1751.
Considering Lambeth Palace has been the residence of the archbishop of Canterbury, the Church of England’s most senior cleric, for nearly 800 years, it is little surprise the remains date back as far as the 17th century.Burials were known to have taken place in the churchyard, but it had been assumed that the vaults under the church had since been filled with earth. So far the coffins have been left undisturbed, though the builders have installed a glass panel in the floor above them so visitors can peer into the crypt. The Garden Museum, which has been closed for its £7.5m redevelopment since 2015, will reopen on 22 May. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/16/remains-of-five-archbishops-discovered-near-lambeth-palace-canterbury
Some people see this discovery as futher evidence of the decline in the church, etc:
“It beggars belief that no-one thought what a terrible, terrible image of decline it is to deconsecrate the ABC’s home church,” tweeted the Rev’d Marcus Walker, slightly irritated by the ‘accidental discovery‘ of five buried Archbishops of Canterbury in a crypt at St Mary-at-Lambeth, which is now a garden museum. “Even in 1972 they should have been aware that the optics are dreadful,” he added with rising incredulity that the church which kisses the gatehouse of Lambeth Palace should ever have been deconsecrated and closed to Christian worship – even in 1972, when England’s sense of national identity and historic optics weren’t great... archbishopcranmer.com/buried-archbishops-found-accident-cofes-forgetfulness-galling/
What I found interesting was the detail, tucked away in some reports: that the reluctance to move or investigate the somewhat ramshackle pile of coffins was at least partly due to the anticipate presence of 'coffin liquor'** as much as due reverence. Most lead coffins contain dry bones but some are found to be about one third full of this viscous black liquid which contains bones and (sometimes) soft tissues. I would have thought that, as is apparently the case with prominent Christians, each body would be discovered without decay when the casket is opened or at least those of the church top brass. It would certainly be a good time to test this theory.
** Note to self: never order a 'coffee liquor' at an undertakers convention.
