St Bride's Church

St Bride's Church is in Castle Baynard [Map].

Before 14 Nov 1554 John Cardmaker was appointed Vicar of St Bride's Church.

Henry Machyn's Diary. After 14 Nov 1554. The (blank) day of November cam to the Fleet [Map] [Barlow (age 56)] sumtyme bysshope of (Bath and Wells), and master Kardmaker parsun of sant Brydes in Fletstret was the.... thay wher gohyng over see lyke marchands.

1555 Protestant Executions of Cardmaker and Warne

Henry Machyn's Diary. 30 May 1555. The xxx day of May was burnt in Smythfeld [Map] master Cardmaker sum-tyme veker of sant Bryd and master Varren (age 29) clothworker dwellyng aganst sant Johns in Walbroke, an hupholster, and ys wyff behyng in [Newgate].

Henry Machyn's Diary. 25 Nov 1558. The xxv day of November was bered in sant ... Flettstrett master Skynner sqwyre, on of the vj clarkes of the Chansere, with a harold of armes beyryng ys cote armur, and ys pennon of armes, and ij dosen skochyons of armes, and ij grett whyt branchys and xvj torchys and iiij g[reat tapers;] and mony morners, and all they of the Chanserey.

Note. P. 179. Funeral of master Skynner. "Anthony Skynner esquyer, one of the 6 clarkes of the Chauncery, departed this world on monday the 21. of November, and beryed on fryday after, the 25. of the same mounth, in A. D'ni 1555. His wyff was the doter of Byllyng. He was buryed in Saint Brydes churche." (MS. Harl. 897, f. 22b.)

Henry Machyn's Diary. 21 Aug 1559. The xxj day of August dyd the veseturs [visitors] sat at sant Brydes, doctur Horne (age 49) and ij [2] more, for ij [2] churche-wardens and ij [2] more wher sworne to bryng a truw envetore [inventory] of the chyrche.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 10 Oct 1559. The x day of October was bered Bluw-mantyll the harold, the wyche latt was Rysbanke, in sant Brydes in Fletstrett, with (unfinished)

Henry Machyn's Diary. 01 Sep 1562. The furst day of September was bered in the parryche of saint Brydes in Fletstrett master Hulsun skrevener of London and master Heyword('s) depute, and on of the masturs of Brydwell; and ther wher all the masturs of Brydwell with gren stayffes in ther handes, [and] the chylderyn of the hospetall, at ys berehyng; and ther was mony mornars in blake, and [master] Crowley dyd pryche; [and there] was grett ryngyng as ever was hard, and the godely ry ..; and he had a dosen of skochyons of armes in metalle.

Note. P. 291. Master Hulsun master Heyword's deputy. Sir Rowland Hayward died Dec. 5, 1593, having lived "an alderman the space of 30 yeares, and (at his death) the ancientest alderman of the said city." (Epitaph in St. Alphage, where his monument still remains, with effigies of two wives and sixteen children, and was repaired in 1777, when the church was rebuilt.) He was sheriff in 1563–4. It is therefore possible that sir Rowland may have been the "master Heyword" mentioned in this page; but then he appears to have been alderman of Cripplegate ward, and dwelt in Philip lane, by Cripplegate, in the house adjoining St. Alphage's church. (Arms of the Lord Mayors, by Wm. Smith, Rouge-dragon.) Master Hulsun may have been "deputy" alderman of the same ward; but buried at saint Bride's in Fleet-street on account of his connection with Bridewell hospital.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 20 Feb 1563. The xx day of Feybruary was bered at sant Brydes in Flettstrett master Denham (deceased) sqwyre, and the chyrche ther was mad ray[led] and hangyd with blake and armes, and he was cared to the chyrche, a-for him a mornar bayryng a pennon of armes, and after cam a harold of armes bayryng ys cott armur, and then cam the corse with a palle of blake velvett with armes on yt, and iiij of ys men bare hym; and then the mornars, the cheyffe was ser Recherd Sakfeld, and a xx mo mornars; and the dene of Westmynster (age 34) mad the sermon; and after ther was a grett dener of all maner of fysse; and a ij dosen of skochyons.

In 1616 James Palmer (age 34) was appointed Vicar of St Bride's Church.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 23 Jun 1616. Upon Sunday the 23rd my Lord (age 27) and I went to St. Bride’s Church and heard a sermon.

Before 28 Feb 1632, the date he was buried at St Bride's Church, Cuthbert Halsall (age 59) died at Fleet Prison [Map].

On 23 Feb 1633 Samuel Pepys was born to John Pepys Tailor (age 32) and Margaret Kite in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street. He was baptised at St Bride's Church by James Palmer (age 51).

On 25 Jun 1634 John Denham (age 19) and Ann Cotton were married at St Bride's Church.

On 14 Jan 1652 Dorothy Browne (age 77) died. She was buried at St Bride's Church.

On 01 May 1655 Lionel Cranfield 3rd Earl Middlesex (age 30) and Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex (age 42) were married at St Bride's Church. She by marriage Countess Middlesex. She the daughter of Francis Fane 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Mary Mildmay Countess of Westmoreland. He the son of Lionel Cranfield 1st Earl Middlesex and Anne Brett Countess Middlesex.

On 31 Jul 1655 William Wight (age 53) and Mary Sutton (age 36) were married at St Bride's Church.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Aug 1660. Office, which done, Sir W. Pen (age 39) took me into the garden, and there told me how Mr. Turner do intend to petition the Duke for an allowance extra as one of the Clerks of the Navy, which he desired me to join with him in the furthering of, which I promised to do so that it did not reflect upon me or to my damage to have any other added, as if I was not able to perform my place; which he did wholly disown to be any of his intention, but far from it. I took Mr. Hater home with me to dinner, with whom I did advise, who did give me the same counsel. After dinner he and I to the office about doing something more as to the debts of the Navy than I had done yesterday, and so to Whitehall to the Privy Seal, and having done there, with my father (who came to see me) to Westminster Hall [Map] and the Parliament House to look for Col. Birch (age 44), but found him not. In the House, after the Committee was up, I met with Mr. G. Montagu (age 38), and joyed him in his entrance (this being his 3d day) for Dover. Here he made me sit all alone in the House, none but he and I, half an hour, discoursing how things stand, and in short he told me how there was like to be many factions at Court between Marquis Ormond, General Monk (age 51), and the Lord Roberts (age 54), about the business of Ireland; as there is already between the two Houses about the Act of Indemnity; and in the House of Commons, between the Episcopalian and Presbyterian men. Hence to my father's (age 59) (walking with Mr. Herring, the minister of St. Bride's), and took them to the Sun Tavern, where I found George, my old drawer, come again. From thence by water, landed them at Blackfriars, and so home and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 16 Feb 1662. Lord's Day. To church this morning, and so home and to dinner. In the afternoon I walked to St. Bride's to church, to hear Dr. Jacomb preach upon the recovery, and at the request of Mrs. Turner (age 39), who came abroad this day, the first time since her long sickness. He preached upon David's words, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord", and made a pretty good sermon, though not extraordinary.

On or before 22 Jul 1662 Dorothy Basse was born to William Basse (age 51) and Susannah Gill (age 32) at Stepney [Map]. She was christened on 22 Jul 1662 at St Bride's Church.

Pepy's Diary. 10 Aug 1662. So to Tom's, where Dr. Fairebrother, newly come from Cambridge, met me, and Dr. Thomas Pepys (age 41). I framed myself as pleasant as I could, but my mind was another way. Hither came my uncle Fenner, hearing that I was here, and spoke to me about Pegg Kite's business of her portion, which her husband demands, but I will have nothing to do with it. I believe he has no mind to part with the money out of his hands, but let him do what he will with it. He told me the new service-book1 (which is now lately come forth) was laid upon their deske at St. Sepulchre's for Mr. Gouge to read; but he laid it aside, and would not meddle with it: and I perceive the Presbyters do all prepare to give over all against Bartholomew-tide2. Mr. Herring, being lately turned out at St. Bride's, did read the psalm to the people while they sung at Dr. Bates's, which methought is a strange turn.

Note 1. The Common Prayer Book of 1662, now in use.

Note 2. Thomas Gouge (1609-1681), an eminent Presbyterian minister, son of William Gouge, D.D. (lecturer at and afterwards Rector of St. Anne's, Blackfriars). He was vicar of the parish of St. Sepulchre from 1638 until the Act of Uniformity, in 1662, forced him to resign his living.

Pepy's Diary. 10 Aug 1662. After dinner to St. Bride's, and there heard one Carpenter, an old man, who, they say, hath been a Jesuit priest, and is come over to us; but he preaches very well.

Before 02 Feb 1663 Henry Cumberland Tailor died. He was buried at St Bride's Church.

Pepy's Diary. 20 Aug 1663. Up betimes and to my office (having first been angry with my brother John (age 22), and in the heat of my sudden passion called him Asse and coxcomb, for which I am sorry, it being but for leaving the key of his chamber with a spring lock within side of his door), and there we sat all the morning, and at noon dined at home, and there found a little girl, which she told my wife her name was Jinny, by which name we shall call her. I think a good likely girl, and a parish child of St. Bride's, of honest parentage, and recommended by the churchwarden.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Aug 1663. After dinner altered our design to go to Woolwich, Kent [Map], and put it off to to-morrow morning, and so went all to Greenwich, Kent [Map] (Mrs. Waith excepted, who went thither, but not to the same house with us, but to her father's, that lives there), to the musique-house, where we had paltry musique, till the master organist came, whom by discourse I afterwards knew, having employed him for my Lord Sandwich (age 38), to prick out something (his name Arundell), and he did give me a fine voluntary or two, and so home by water, and at home I find my girl that run away brought by a bedel of St. Bride's Parish, and stripped her and sent her away, and a newe one come, of Griffin's helping to, which I think will prove a pretty girl. Her name, Susan, and so to supper after having this evening paid Mr. Hunt £3 for my viall (besides the carving which I paid this day 10s. for to the carver), and he tells me that I may, without flattery, say, I have as good a Theorbo viall and viallin as is in England. So to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Mar 1664. Up betimes, and walked to my brother's (deceased), where a great while putting things in order against anon; then to Madam Turner's (age 41) and eat a breakfast there, and so to Wotton, my shoemaker, and there got a pair of shoes blacked on the soles against anon for me; so to my brother's (deceased) and to church, and with the grave-maker chose a place for my brother (deceased) to lie in, just under my mother's pew. But to see how a man's tombes are at the mercy of such a fellow, that for sixpence he would, (as his owne words were,) "I will justle them together but I will make room for him"; speaking of the fulness of the middle isle, where he was to lie; and that he would, for my father's sake, do my brother (deceased) that is dead all the civility he can; which was to disturb other corps that are not quite rotten, to make room for him; and methought his manner of speaking it was very remarkable; as of a thing that now was in his power to do a man a courtesy or not.

Pepy's Diary. 06 Apr 1664. Up and to my office, whither by and by came John Noble, my father's old servant, to speake with me. I smelling the business, took him home; and there, all alone, he told me how he had been serviceable to my brother Tom (deceased), in the business of his getting his servant, an ugly jade, Margaret, with child. She was brought to bed in St. Sepulchre's parish of two children; one is dead, the other is alive; her name Elizabeth, and goes by the name of Taylor, daughter to John Taylor. It seems Tom did a great while trust one Crawly with the business, who daily got money of him; and at last, finding himself abused, he broke the matter to J. Noble, upon a vowe of secresy. Tom's first plott was to go on the other side the water and give a beggar woman something to take the child. They did once go, but did nothing, J. Noble saying that seven years hence the mother might come to demand the child and force him to produce it, or to be suspected of murder. Then I think it was that they consulted, and got one Cave, a poor pensioner in St. Bride's parish to take it, giving him £5, he thereby promising to keepe it for ever without more charge to them. The parish hereupon indite the man Cave for bringing this child upon the parish, and by Sir Richard Browne (age 59) he is sent to the Counter. Cave thence writes to Tom to get him out. Tom answers him in a letter of his owne hand, which J. Noble shewed me, but not signed by him, wherein he speaks of freeing him and getting security for him, but nothing as to the business of the child, or anything like it: so that forasmuch as I could guess, there is nothing therein to my brother's prejudice as to the main point, and therefore I did not labour to tear or take away the paper. Cave being released, demands £5 more to secure my brother for ever against the child; and he was forced to give it him and took bond of Cave in £100, made at a scrivener's, one Hudson, I think, in the Old Bayly, to secure John Taylor, and his assigns, &c. (in consideration of £10 paid him), from all trouble, or charge of meat, drink, clothes, and breeding of Elizabeth Taylor; and it seems, in the doing of it, J. Noble was looked upon as the assignee of this John Taylor. Noble says that he furnished Tom with this money, and is also bound by another bond to pay him 20s. more this next Easter Monday; but nothing for either sum appears under Tom's hand. I told him how I am like to lose a great sum by his death, and would not pay any more myself, but I would speake to my father about it against the afternoon.

Pepy's Diary. 06 Jan 1667. After dinner young Michell and I, it being an excellent frosty day to walk, did walk out, he showing me the baker's house in Pudding Lane, where the late great fire begun; and thence all along Thames Street, where I did view several places, and so up by London Wall, by Blackfriars, to Ludgate; and thence to Bridewell [Map], which I find to have been heretofore an extraordinary good house, and a fine coming to it, before the house by the bridge was built; and so to look about St. Bride's church and my father's house, and so walked home, and there supped together, and then Michell and Betty home, and I to my closet, there to read and agree upon my vows for next year, and so to bed and slept mighty well.

On 10 Jan 1674 Dr Henry Dove was appointed Rector of St Bride's Church which post he held for the rest of his life.

Evelyn's Diary. 04 Nov 1679. Dined at the Lord Mayor's (age 50); and, in the evening, went to the funeral of my pious, dear, and ancient learned friend, Dr. Jasper Needham, who was buried at St Bride's Church. He was a true and holy Christian, and one who loved me with great affection. Dr. Dove preached with an eulogy due to his memory. I lost in this person one of my dearest remaining sincere friends.

On 12 Nov 1685 Admiral Francis Wheler (age 27) and Arabella Clifton were married at St Bride's Church.

On 30 Apr 1702 Charles Knollys 4th Earl Banbury (age 39) and Mary Woods (age 18) were married at St Bride's Church. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury and Anne or Abigail Sherard.

In 1829 Bishop Joseph Allen (age 59) was appointed Vicar of St Bride's Church.

Europe, British Isles, England, City of London, Castle Baynard, Douglas Vault St Bride's Church

On 15 Jan 1655 Archibald Douglas 1st Earl Ormonde 12th Earl Angus (age 46) died. He was buried at Douglas Vault St Bride's Church.