Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-22
THE RICHMOND D1spATCH-sUNDAY. AUGUST 22 1885,.


IL passed through several hands until II
fell into the possession Of the Earl OF
Aylesford, the present owner.
There are many other ruins OF mo-
nasiic order in Rent which are OF more
CT less interest, while crumbliDg walls
Of churches Of Q prerefofma.ion period
are numerous. Hardly year passes
away unless some loug-buried relic OF
ten or twelve centuries Is unesrthed ;
and many barn, carIisge.house, sta
Bile, and in few instances the spacious
dwellipg-house itself, is built OF the
stones which formerly belonged to some
one of the monastic buildings Of Kent.
But, after all, it is the churches Of
Kent which make it so interesting to
not only the churchman, but TO the
student-tourist, for it is from the re-
cords Of many an old church 10 Kent
that large volumes of the biographical
and historical story Of England are found.
1t is surprising 10 see how intimately
connected are the Church and State Of
England in even political sense. Time
and space will allow but brief men,
ton of some OF these churches.
There are more edifces connected
with the Church of England in the
county Of Kent than there are Episco-
pal churches in the State Of Massachu-
sets. Within the crypts or under the
chaDcel or nave of almost every one of
these old churches lie the bones of many
prominent characters. Ii is also singu-
lar to notice that there was not so much
bigo,ed feeling in regard to the burial
of a man in church or churchyard five
OF six centuries ago as there is In
this so.called advanced state of ciyili-
zatien and Christianity. 1t would
now seem very singular if request
was made that the bodies Of Edwin
Booth or Mrs. Vincent whom |
remember thirty years ago at the Bos-
ton Museum) might be inferred under
the chancel of Old st. Paul's in Bos-
ton. 1t is doubtful if even q tablet
would be allowed on the walls; but you
can 90 into but very few Of the olden
churches Of England unless you find the
monuments or tablets of bishops and
actors, playwrIghts and archdeacons,
authors and generals, admirals and art
lists. 1t is pleasant to feel that there
was an idea of levelliDg or equality in
death in those days of the Church.
| was particularly impressed with this
feeling as visited Ethan and her quiet
church. This was most jolly place
centuries ago. The ruins of Ethan
Palace remain, and as one looks upon
the walls and inquiries Of its former
history he cannot fail to be impressed
with the intimate relationship Of clergy
and laity, Of Church and State, in
former days. 1t was here that Henry
III. and his Queen (l270l made high
Christmas reyels, and that about the
same time Anthony Bede, Bishop OF
Durham and Patriarch Of Jerusalem,
spent much of his time, and died here
in 1911. Edward Ill. held several
psrliaments here, and Richard H., the
lover of sport aud the highest liver -"
Of his day, received Leo, King Of Ar
menia, Christian prince whom the
Tar,ars had expelled from his kingdom.
HENRY ". DIED HERE,
and the great church historian, Eras-
mus, came here with Sir Thomas More.
The church is called st. John the Bap-
list, but only q portion Of il presents
the appearance OF antiquity, but with
in its vaults are buried DR.. Horne, the
Bishop of Norwich and the cOmmeuta'
tor of the Psalms. lie died in 1892,
ard year previous Doggett, the clever
and popular comedian, died and was
buried within the same walls.
st. Nicholas church. at Rye, is one o
the most interesting ecclesiastical build
ings on the southeast coast. 1t is tho
roughly Norman in architecture, ant
the clock pendulum is said to sbe the
oldest in England, and has regularly
through all changes aud seasons,
swung to and from its ancient place.
Among the queer memorials in the
church is one 10 Allen Grebell, "whO
fell by the cruel stab Of sanguinary
butcher March II. l742." Richard
Fletcher, once bishop of Bristol, was a
vicar of this church, and he was the
father Of John Fletcher, the dramatist,
and Of the dramatic firm Of Beaumont
& Fletcher.
Equal in historical interest to Eli
ham is Gotham. Kings and queens,
princes and mobiles, have sojourned here,
and Gotham Hall has been the scene OF
grand, sumptuous entertainment, such
as few manorial residences have expert
enced. The walls Of the ancient church
in Gotham are covered with brasses OF
unusual interest. They are in memory
Of oil classes of society, from consta-
BILE Of Rochester in 1854, to John dc Cob
ham, the founder of Gotham College
and church. The Church OF st. Mary
Magdalen consists Of . stately Norman
tower, a very large chsncel, and three
aisles. The porch entrance is very Gu
rious, and the steps which lead to the
altar are made Of encsustic tiles Of
great antiquity. 1t was built in 1860,
and everything connected with it is of
the most solid and beautiful character.
But | must close this letter Of fort
night in Kent, every hour Of which has
been of most interesting and instruc-
tive, nature; and in closing | cannot re-
frain from acknowledging the courtesy
and boundless hospitality extended
wherever | went, and / trust later in
what is known as Inc hop season." |
shall have another opportunity Of re-
ferring to these old historical and eccle-
sicttical associations.
sAUTkBrRN GTAn GRArDG