Footnotes

'A FAIRE STRUCTURE (TO BEE A CHAPPELL) IN THE COVENT GARDEN' – ASSIGNING PEWS IN INIGO JONES'S NEWLY-CONSECRATED CHURCH OF ST PAUL'S COVENT GARDEN. The church – at the time of our document still designated a chapel – had been built in 1631-33; but because of a dispute with the Vicar of the mother-parish of St Martin in the Fields was not consecrated until 27 September 1638. Built at the expense of the fourth Earl of Bedford as the centrepiece of his great Covent Garden piazza development to the designs of Inigo Jones, St Paul's was surrounded by controversy from the outset; in the words of the Survey of London: 'Designed by the Court architect, paid for by a Puritanically inclined grandee aloof from the royal circle, subject to the authority of churchmen militant against the vigorous unconformity of Londoners, the Covent Garden church was very apt to be influenced in its genesis by strong contrary forces. And as the first completely new Anglican church to be built in London since the mid sixteenth century, strikingly novel in its architecture, and conspicuously part of a 'newsworthy' enterprise, it was the more liable to comment and criticism'.

The present document, with its reference of the "divers alterations" being made afterwards "for the greater decencie of the said Chappell" alludes to adjustments that were demanded of the Laudian ecclesiastical authorities. Indeed, it brings together some of the principal figures of the early history of St Paul's. These include the Earl of Bedford himself who "did att his owne costs and charges erect and build a faire structure (to bee a Chappell) in the Covent Garden"; William Juxon, Bishop of London, who consecrated the chapel in 1638; Juxon's Chancellor, Dr Arthur Duck, who was not just Juxon's Chancellor but was especially close to William Laud, the Archibishop of Canterbury; Laud himself (who is named as giving his consent to the licence); William Bray, Vicar of St Martin's, who conducted a contracted dispute with the Earl over his chapel (who is named as, at last, giving his consent); King Charles (who our licence declares was "graciouslie pleased" that the chapel "should bee consecrated and sett apart for the honour and divine worship of Almightie God"); and, not least, the two parishioners, in whose favour the licence has been issued.

The first of these, Anthony Wither, is best known for the role he was to play during the interregnum when he purchased the equestrian statue of Charles I (that now looks down Whitehall) and erected it at Covent Garden. Of greater significance is the other nominee, Edward Carter. He was a close associate of Inigo Jones, signing off the repair accounts of St Paul's Cathedral between 1633 and 1641 on Jones's behalf, and succeeding him as Surveyor in the Office of Works. He along with Jones was one of those recorded as attending Juxon's consecration of St Paul's Chapel in 1638; and was later to play a part in the business of the King's statue. Our document confirms that there was indeed a direct link between the Earl of Bedford and Carter (his nominee), which hitherto has been inferred only by the presence of someone of the same name in the Woburn accounts. It also supplements the account given by The Survey of London of the disposal of the pews, the act that in effect gave the church to its parishioners: 'before the consecration [the Earl of Bedford] and the inhabitants of Covent Garden agreed that he should be reimbursed by them for his expenses on the pews... This was to be effected by the sale to the inhabitants of life interests in the pews. A dispute arose, but the agreement was confirmed and enforced in 1639 by the Bishop of London and the Privy Council'.