Victorian pastoral care Is there an article on the boat people I don t see much reference to them here What about including something like The church of St Thomas the Martyr Oxford under the curacy of John Jones acquired in 1839 an innovative Boatman s Floating Chapel a houseboat to serve the families working on the river and the canals This boat was St Thomas first chapel of ease it was donated by H Ward a local coal merchant and used until it sank in 1868 It was replaced by a chapel dedicated to St Nicholas which remained in use until 1892