Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-12-18
John Wc>Iey'> Chapel and Grave.

Prom ur Nov York WON'T
The cable last evening announced
the partial burning on SUNDAY night
of the famous chapel Of John Wc-lcy
in London The fire entirely dc.
-troycd one Of the wings, irrcpnrably
injured the more recent Trr.coc- Of the
main ceiling and weakened the origin
al roof The cable dispatch accurately
speaks Of the "Wc-lcyan Chapel in
City Road American visitor. to
London who look up the antiquitic, Of
Mcthodi-m are often shown another
Wesleyan chapel in kcnti-h town
TO the north Of the Midland Station.
another near Liucolu'S Iuu Fields.
another in Ellington, near the Agricul.
turaI Hall, and one near the extreme
East End of London in East India
Road. These chapcl- are all more
pretcntious in architecture aud deco.
ratiou- than the little modest building
on City Road, opposite to the entrance
of the Buuhill Fields Burying Ground
and between Fiu-bury Square and
the Grcciau Theatre. It-taud- about
a hundred feet back from the street
and is Of q simple and utterly unam-
biiiou. appearance. II is fron,cd by
a churchyard Of about scycuty.fye
feet square, through which run.
board walk. In the yard are several
old trees, aud portion. Of it are laid
ont with howcr.bed- The chapel also
has a churchyard OF no mean proper.
tion- in the rear. 1t can be reached
by the omuihu-r- which run between
the Angel at Ellington and the Bank
of England, or hy tram-cars from
hDorcgatc street and London Wall, or
hy other omuihu-o- that run past the
Langham through Portland Place.
Eu-ion, Pcntonvi.lc and the City Road
down TO the Bank Of England. The
chapel was finished in l77S. The
cornerstone wa. laid the year before
by John Wc-loy himself and in it
was inserted bras, plate inscribed
with his name | pom that occasion
Sou;hcy tells rs that Wesley said
Probably this plate will be seen no
more by any human eve, but will re.
main there till the earth and the works
thereof are burnt up" In this chapel,
excepting when travelling, John Wes-
ley preached during twelve successive
years. The Bible which he used is
still there and it appears from the
cable dispatch that hi, original pulpit
was uninjurcd by the fire The great
apostle of Mclhodism himself was bu.
ricd March ,, 1891, in a vault in the
churchyard, within a few feet Of the
street frontage. Over the vault is
seen by every passcr.by plain square
white marble monument, surmounted
by a shaft which rises to point, and
only about twelve fee; high.
1t bears his name aud all the necessary
dates. and also inscriptions in memory
of his mother and his brother Charles
the "swcot singer" whose remains,
however, rest in the Bunhill Fields
Burying Ground Immediately opposite.
Into this chapel, according to Wcsley's
last request, his body was carried in a
plain coffin after being shroudcd in
plain wolicn cloth. Over the shroud
were put his gown, cassock and band.
On his head rested the familiar cleri.
cal cap. In one hand Bible was
clasped and in the other n white hand.
kcrchicf--such as he had always car.
ried in the pulpit. Within the chapel
the remains rcposcd one whole day
and were visited by such immense
crowds that it was deemed bcst--in
of the greater crowds
which might come the next day-to
have the remains inferred at daybreak
on the ensuing morning. This was
done in strict accordance with the
dying directions of John Wesley
Let me be borne without hearse,
coach or escutcheon by six poor men,
who shall each receive burial fee of
a guinea. In place of pomp | wish
the tears Of them that love me and
who are following me TO Abraham's
bosom" But Notwithstanding the sud-
den change of the hour of interment
many hundred persons heard Of il and
filled the churchyard during the brief
but impressive services.
All of these events had impaired to
the chapel in City Road and its sur
roundings n tender interest, and doubt
less no American Methodist has ever
visited London without recalling them
as he stood in the chapel and was
shown the very spot whereon Wesley's