The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 3

Allen, Thomas

1827

St. Faith's Church.

 

The church of St. Faith was originally a distinct building, standing near the east end of , but when the old cathedral was enlarged, between the years and , it was taken down, and an extensive part of the vaults was appropriated to the use of the parishioners of St. Faith, in lieu of the demolished fabric. This was afterwards called , and, according to a representation made to the dean and chapter, in the year , measured feet in length, and feet in breadth. After the fire of London, the parish of St. Faith was joined to that of St. Augustine, and, on the rebuilding of the cathedral, a portion of the church-yard belonging to the former was taken to enlarge the avenues round the east end of , and the remainder was inclosed within the cathedral railing. On the union of the parishes, or more accurately, from the time of the great fire, the vaults ceased to be used, except for interments: but the dean and chapter having, in the year , caused a railing to be set up, by which the space of ground appropriated to the parish of St. Faith was reduced to feet by , a long disagreement ensued, and had nearly terminated In an expensive suit-at-law. A final agreement, however, was at length entered into, in , and enrolled in Chancery in the year following, in which it was declared that

the parishes of St. Faith and St. Augustine shall be at liberty to bury their inhabitants and others in that part of the vaults under the said cathedral, containing

2,600

square feet, be the same more or less, clear of walls and piers, which is separated from the other part of those vaults by a rail, and which they have been accustomed to bury in; but not so near the foundation of the said cathedral as may injure the same; paying for every such burial the usual fees of

6s. 8d.

to the dean and chapter, and

6s. 8d.

to the clerk of the works, or to such person as the dean and chapter shall appoint;

and,

secondly, that the said parishes may and shall bury their inhabitants in all and every part of the north-east part of the church-yard adjoining to the said cathedral, containing

25,810

square feet, be the same more or less, clear of the pavements, in common with the dean and chapter, paying the usual fee of

3s. 4d.

to the dean and chapter for every burial.

In the course of the dispute, the ancient lease was referred to, which had been granted by the dean and chapter in , to the parish of St. Faith, and which vested in the latter for

fourscore and

nineteen

years,

at the yearly rent of all that part of the vault called the

crowds, or Jesus chapel,

together with an adjoining chapel on the south-west, called

the chapel of our Lady and St. Nicholas,

and

the entry to the same;

but reserving to the said dean and chapter, and their successors,

free ingress and egress through the said entry to their crowds, commonly called their storehouse or wine-cellar.

By the same instrument, the churchwardens of St. Faith made over to the dean and chapter, and their successors, for ever,

all that vault or crowds within the said church

of

St. Paul's

, lately named, called, or reputed for the parishes, the Virgin lying within the same,

Mr. Brayley says could this be the virgin St. Faith, who is said to have suffered martyrdom during the persecution of the Christians under the emperor Dioclesian, or a figure of the Virgin Mary? Brayley, ii. 304.

and all the appurtenances of the same,

&c.

It appears from Stow, that the ancient church of St. Faith in cryptis, and which must have been what was granted as above to the dean and chapter, was under the choir of , and adjoining to the west end of Jesus chapel; which latter must, of course, have been immediately beneath the chapel of Our Lady.

On the east side of is

 
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 Title Page
 Dedication
 CHAPTER I: The site, extent, buildings, population, commerce, and a view of the progressive increase of London
 CHAPTER II: List of the parishes and churches in London, with their incumbents, &c
CHAPTER III: History and Topography of Aldersgate Ward
CHAPTER IV: History and Topography of Aldgate Ward
CHAPTER V: History and Topography of Bassishaw Ward
CHAPTER VI: History and Topography of Billingsgate Ward
CHAPTER VII: History and Topography of Bishopsgate Ward, Without and Within
CHAPTER VIII: History and Topography of Bread-street Ward
CHAPTER IX: History and Topography of Bridge Ward Within
CHAPTER X: History and Topography of Broad-street Ward
CHAPTER XI: History and Topography of Candlewick Ward
CHAPTER XII: History and Topography of Castle Baynard Ward
CHAPTER XIII: History and Topography of Cheap Ward
CHAPTER XIV: History and Topography of Coleman-street Ward
CHAPTER XV: History and Topography of Cordwainer's-street Ward
CHAPTER XVI: History and Topography of Cornhill Ward
CHAPTER XVII: History and Topography of Cripplegate Ward Within
CHAPTER XVIII: History and Topography of Cripplegate Yard Without
CHAPTER XIX: History and Topography of Dowgate Yard
CHAPTER XX: History and Topography of Farringdom Ward Within
CHAPTER XXI: History and Topography of Farringdon Ward Without
CHAPTER XXII: History and Topography of Langbourn Ward
CHAPTER XXIII: History and Topography of Lime-street Ward
CHAPTER XXIV: History and Topogrpahy of Portsoken Ward
CHAPTER XXV: History and Topography of Queenhithe Ward
CHAPTER XXVI: History and Topography of Tower Ward
CHAPTER XXVII: History and Topography of Vintry Ward
CHAPTER XXVIII: History and Topography of Wallbrook Ward