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  2. Historical Account of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Including the Borough of Gateshead
  3. All Saints' church: The old church

All Saints' church: The old church

Pages 292-302

Historical Account of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Including the Borough of Gateshead. Originally published by Mackenzie and Dent, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1827.

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ALL SAINTS CHURCH

HISTORY

THE circumstances in which the dedication of this church to All Hallow or All Saints originated are unknown, nor can any satisfactory conjecture be formed respecting the date of its erection. Bourne, from an account in which the church-yard is mentioned, ascertained that it existed previous to the year 1286. The records of the church, after the year 1630, appear to have been kept tolerably regular. (fn. 1) In 1635, the choir and south side of the church were repaired; and, four years afterwards, the whole underwent a thorough repair, the walls were whitened, and the pillars marbled. About this time, the rood-loft was taken down, by the chancellor's special mandate. A new vane was also put up; the bells, clock, and chimes were repaired; and new lead added to the windows.

In 1643, a sessment of 1s. in the pound was laid upon all the houses and lands in the parish, to repair the east wall of the church-yard and three windows in the church. This wall was again repaired in 1651. In 1655, the church-wardens petitioned the corporation for stone out of the Manors, "to build up the east end of the church." They also had recourse to another expedient to defray their expenses, which was the revival of the use of bells at funerals, which had been discontinued since the year 1644. The steeple was repaired in 1657: and in 1661, the Four and Twenty and the "Auncients of the Parish" were assembled, in consequence of the east wall, and other parts of the church, having become "very ruinous and if not timely prevented would fall into utter ruine and decay;" when it was agreed that £200 should be raised by a cess, to defray the expenses of their repair, and that no land should be valued above half its rent. (fn. 2)

In 1694, a cess of £100 (which in the following year was increased to £150) was ordered to be levied for the repair of the church. The old wall at the east end of the church fell down in 1699, and damaged the house of John Ogle, Esq. in Cowgate, for which he received a compensation of £12 from the parish: the rebuilding of the wall cost £35, 16s. In 1704, a notice occurs for building a new gallery between the north and east galleries; and in 1712, the altering of the west gallery and repairing the organ amounted to £143. Several of the church windows were repaired in 1753; and in 1764, the interior of the church was repaired, and the church-yard enclosed and beautified. Three years afterwards, the middle aisle of the church was ceiled; but in December. 1785, the south pillars in the interior gave way, which prevented the performance of divine service on Sunday the 18th, and also prevented the magistrates from attending on the afternoon of the following Sunday.

The decayed and ruinous state of the church having now excited considerable alarm, which was further increased by the south wall shrinking considerably, the church-wardens, on the 29th of December, gave directions to Mr. William Newton, architect, to examine the building, and to deliver a report of its condition, with an estimate of the expenses likely to be incurred by the necessary alterations and repairs. This gentleman proposed various alterations and repairs, the expense of which he estimated at £1688, 13s. His report was referred to a committee appointed to carry it into execution; and the proceeding obtained the approbation of Vicar Lushington, then residing at Latton in Essex. However, Dr. Sharp, the archdeacon of Northumberland, objected to the design of shortening the chancel 26 feet, and altering the form "of an old Gothic church." Doubts being thus raised on the expediency of the plan proposed, the committee desired the professional opinions of Messrs. David Stephenson and John Dodds; and, in communications from these gentlemen on the 28th of March, 1786, it appeared that the south wall was in danger of falling by the pressure of the roof, one of the pillars of the steeple had considerably shrunk, and the steeple itself inclined to the east, the stone of the groined arches under the bells were decayed, the timber and bells in great danger of falling in, the stone in several windows decayed, the walls were rotten, and the lime had lost its cement, and become almost dust. Mr. Stephenson stated that, from the number of unforeseen circumstances that would occur in the prosecution of the work, no correct idea of the expenses could be estimated; and Mr. Dodds concluded his report, by observing that "this decayed building cannot be repaired but at as much expense as building a new one. If one part is taken down, the rest will follow."

On the 7th of April, a meeting of the committee was held in All Saints' vestry, the archdeacon of Northumberland in the chair, when the matter was thoroughly discussed; after which, it was proposed by Dr. Hall, and carried unanimously, that "the propriety of building a new, or repairing the present church," be referred to the parishioners and land-owners. Accordingly, a general meeting, consisting of upwards of an hundred of the most respectable inhabitants of the parish, was held in the vestry-room on Easter Tuesday, April 18, when the proposal of erecting a new church was carried unanimously. Arrangements were now made for the demolition of the church, a considerable part of which was taken down previous to the following August; but the eastern extremity of the chancel was suffered to remain for some time. The demolition of the steeple was, on the evening of September 2, attended by a melancholy accident. It was found necessary to blast some parts of the tower with gunpowder; and one explosion not producing an immediate effect, Captain William Hedley incautiously stepped within the great west door, when some stones fell upon his head, which instantly deprived him of sense, and, in a few hours, of life. (fn. 3)

CHANTRIES

There were seven chantries founded at successive periods in this ancient church.

1. The chantry of St. Thomas is supposed to have been founded by John Pulhore, clerk, about 1356. Its yearly value was £4, 8s. 4d. William White was the last incumbent, and had a pension of £3, 10s. or 18s. 6d. per annum. This John Pulhore, in 1346, was rector of Whickham; and, in 1352, he resigned the rectory of Whitburn for Warkworth vicarage. He was also constable of Durham Castle, and receiver-general to that magnanimous prelate, Bishop Hatfield, but was removed by the bishop from these two offices.

2. Our Lady's chantry was an old establishment; but the name of its founder, and the time of its foundation, are lost. In 1334, Thomas de Kariol, of this town, granted to Peter Draper and Cecily his wife, and their heirs, his patronage of the chantry of the Virgin Mary, in All Saints' church, reserving to himself one turn of presentation. Its yearly value was £4, 5s. 10d. Robert Manners, chaplain, was the last incumbent of this chantry, during the years 1518 and 1527. He had a pension of £4, 6s. 4d.

3. The chantry of St. John the Evangelist was founded by Richard Willeby and Richard Fishlake, "to fynde a prieste for ever to pray for their sowles and all Christen sowles and to kepe two obitts yerely for the founders sowles." Its yearly value was £4, 15s. 4d.

4. St. Peter's chantry was founded by that celebrated patron of Newcastle, Roger de Thornton, who also founded, at the same time, the hospital of St. Catherine, or La Maison Dieu, on the Sandhill. (fn. 4) This chantry was above the vestry, and opposite to Thornton's tomb. The window at its east end was formerly adorned with images of St. Lewis, St. Barbara, St. Laurence, St. Elizabeth, &c. The adjoining window contained a representation of several figures kneeling before an altar, supposed to have been the children of its pious founder.

5. The chantry of St. Catharine was founded in the reign of Edward III. who, by a charter, granted licence to Robert de Chirton, burgess of Newcastle, and Mariot his wife, daughter and heiress of Hugh Hankyn. to give a stipend to a chaplain to perform divine service in the church of All Saints, for the souls of the said Hugh and Beatrix his wife. Gilbert Hankyn, his father, &c. (fn. 5)

6. The chantry of St. Loye, or St. Elgie, was founded in the reign of Edward III. by Richard Pickering. Its yearly value was £3. 8s. 4d. The last incumbent, William Brown, had an annual pension of £3. 2s. 8d. John Ward, merchant of Newcastle, in 1461. left a salary of eight marks per annum, for a priest to perform divine service at the altar of St. Loye, in All Hallows church. By an inventory of the ornaments, their value was estimated at 71s. 8d.

7. The chantry of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist was founded by John Warde, "to fynde a preest for ever to say masse and pray for all Christen sowles. Yerely value 106s. 8d. value according to this survey £7, 15s. 8d. as apereth by a rentall whereof is paid owt for a rent resolut' 38s. 6d. and for the kingis majesties tenthes 10s. 8d.—49s. 2d. and remayneth clerly 106s. 6d. whiche ar employed to the sustentacion and relief of William Hepson priest incumbent ther accordyng to the said foundacion Ornaments &c. nil here because all the goodes and ornaments of this chauntrie be charged before in the value of the goodes and ornaments of St. Loye's chauntrie within the sum of 71s. 8d. as is ther declared. Ther were no other landes &c." As this chantry was founded at the same altar as that of St. Loye, these ornaments were used indifferently for both.

In the old records of the Trinity, frequent mention occurs of an altar in this church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, where divine service was performed by a chaplain, who was supported by the Trinity House, and whose salary in 1540 was £4 per annum. The situation of this altar, and of some of the other chantries, is unknown. It was most probably in the porch, behind the Trinity Gallery, which Brand supposes to have been a chantry, founded by the Trinity House, on their having first become a secular guild. In the Trinity books are the following items:—"1541 Item pd for weshin the alter close in the churche 12d. 1542 Item pd to Wyllm Hette for helping the morne mess 2s. 1545 Item pd for sallmes and deryge 6s. 8d. 1539 Item pd for a deryge and pawper &c, 8s. 6d.

THE OLD CHURCH.

This ancient structure had no pretensions to architectural beauty, though its internal arrangements were convenient, and afforded accommodations for upwards of two thousand persons. It was 166 feet in length, and 77 feet in breadth. The steeple and west end occupied the scite of the present structure; but the chancel extended eastward over part of what is now the burial-ground.

The steeple was a low, square, inelegant tower, supported by buttresses at the corners of the west side, and terminated with large embrasures. From the centre rose a small square turret, surmounted by a short spire, and terminated with a gilt vane. The belfry windows, except the south one, were narrow, and divided by a single mullion; but above the west door was a large and beautiful Gothic window.

The principal entrance into the church was by the west door of the steeple, which corresponded in size with the western entrance into St. Nicholas' church. This led into an open area, or porch, of considerable extent, lighted by a large pointed window, and communicating with porches at the north and south extremities, the former leading into Silver Street, the latter projecting a few feet beyond the body of the church, to a flagged passage, which extended from thence to Pilgrim Street. At the junction of the stately groined arches which supported the belfry, was the same legendary prayer noticed at St. Nicholas':—"Orate pro anime Roberti Rhodes." But the grandeur of this noble and lofty ceiling was destroyed by the bell-loft. From the middle of this porch an aisle extended eastward into the body of the church, and terminated in a small area, on each side of which were stalls similar to those in cathedrals. It was here that the rood-loft anciently marked the entrance into the chancel, and which was afterwards supplied by a new erection, called the Butcher's Gallery. East of this gallery was the chancel, which was supported by a large crypt or vault, described by Wallis (fn. 6) as "of a square figure and spacious: a strong pillar in it, the support of eight large stone arches, the entrance on the north side of the church-yard." It was visited by Brand in 1783, who observed traces of windows in it, which had been built up greatly below the level of the floor of the old church, which he suggests might have been raised by the great number of burials in it during a long course of time. The chancel was inclosed with handsome wainscot pannelling in the beginning of the last century, and was adorned with several allegorical ornaments. The communion table was of marble, the gift of John Otway, merchant, February 6, 1684. There was also a prothesis, or side altar, on the south side of the chancel. In 1776, a miserable painting of "The discovery by the breaking of bread," was put upon the altar-piece.

The pulpit stood on the south side of the middle aisle, against one of the pillars _ which supported the roof; a line of these, with rudely formed capitals, supporting Gothic arches on each side, separated in the middle from the north and south aisles, which were furnished with pews similar to those in St. Nicholas'. They both contained numerous burial-places. (fn. 7)

The Seamen's Porch and Gallery were in the north aisle. By an inscription on the front of the latter, it appears to have been built and finished by the Trinity House in Newcastle, A. D. 1618, John Holbourne then master. In the year 1720, it was beautified by the Trinity House, Robert Bailiff being then master. The following devices were painted on the pannels of the front:—"St. Paul cast ashore on the island of Miletis."—"Our Saviour asleep in the storm." The centre was decorated with the arms of the Trinity House, and the remaining two pannels contained representations of "Our Saviour taking Peter by the hand when he was sinking in the waves," and "Jonah vomited up on the dry land."

The windows of this church were large, divided by stone mullions, branching into compartments, and ornamented with stained glass. The south-east window of the chancel contained a full-length figure of Our Saviour, which, during the time of the rebellion, was wholly taken away. On the adjoining window, on the south side, was the picture of a boy standing upon chequered pavement, and beneath him was inscribed—

"Like as the Jamen moist and cold,
Is full of tempest day by day,
So is one child of ten years old,
Hath no understanding but all on play."

It is conjectured that the other months were also represented in this window, but the above is the only one seen by Bourne. It also was taken away during the time of the rebellion. In the windows above the choir door, on the south side of the church, were the figures of two men and three women, kneeling at altars. In Bourne's time, only one of the women remained. He supposed them to have represented the children of Roger Thornton, an opinion which has been doubted by some. In the second window from the porch were formerly the effigies of the twelve apostles. Of these, in Bourne's time, there remained St. Matthew, St. James the Less, St. Andrew, St. Philip, St. James the Greater, and another. They were also destroyed long before the demolition of the church. These, and a few fragments with which the windows had occasionally been repaired, constituted the whole of the stained glass of which any account has been transmitted.

The exterior of the east end of the church was formed by three gables, separated by square buttresses, and containing four large pointed windows with stone mullions, divided by arches in the middle, and branching into plain compartments at the top. Two of these windows were contained in the gable on the north side, and were also divided by a small buttress. The whole of the roof was covered with lead, and that of the middle aisle was ceiled.

The west gallery extended from side to side, and, besides many pews, (fn. 8) contained accommodations for the children of the charity-schools of the parish. The organ was placed under a pointed arch, in the middle of this gallery. This instrument is first mentioned in 1631, about which time it seems to have been purchased. In 1633, is a charge of £2 for "a pair of new bellowes for the organnes:"—"paid to Thomas Tunstall for playing the organs, 10s." and to John Pattison, "for blowing organs 4s." As the organ is not mentioned for many of the subsequent years, its use was probably discontinued during the prevalence of puritanism.

The font stood near the entrance into the body of the church. It was a plain, octangular, stone pillar, the sides of which, extending outward at the top, formed large cavettos, supporting an octagon of larger size, with concave sides, decorated with armorial bearings. It was new painted and gilded in 1700, and, on the demolition of the church, was given to Alderman Hugh Hornby. It is accurately delineated in Brand's History of Newcastle.

The steeple contained a good clock, with chimes. The machinery was placed in the bell-loft, and communicated with two painted dials, one on the south side of the steeple, the other in the inside of the church, against the south pillar of the great west arch. The bells, five in number, were cast in 1696, by Christopher Hodgson, of London, and weighed 58 ewt. 3 qrs. 18½ lbs. Bourne says they were founded in the ground belonging to St. Austin friars, behind the hospital of the Holy Jesus, and describes their sound as not being so melodious as the others in the town, but their note exceedingly exact, and more tuneful than the others.

Footnotes

  • 1. The following inventory of articles belonging to this church appears to have been written in the year 1630. It has been printed in a neatly written account of this church, by Mr. T. Sopwith, just published in one volume 8vo. and from which several curious particulars have been obtained:— "An Inventory of all Goods and ymplemts belonging to the Church of All S.s.—Inprimis. One great Bible with 3 comunion Bookes.—One great booke of the Acts and Monumts of the church chained in the Quire.—One Booke called the Defence of the Apologie of the Church of England made by that worthy instrument of Gods glory mr Doctor Jewell chained in the Quire.—One other booke of the Defence of the Apologie lying in the Vestry.—One booke of homilies and one Postill booke conteining the exposition of the gospells.—One Booke of Canons and constitutions of the churche and one booke of articles wch conteines the fundamentall points of Christian Religion wch is now wanting.—One Comunion Table, one Table in the Vestry, nine long fforms in the church for men to sitt on, one fforme in the Vestry and one Deske for the Comunion Potts.—One fframe in the church to sett corps on when there is a funerall sermon.—One Carpett of broad green and another of Tapestrie worke for the comunion table.—One Carpett of broad greene for the table in the Vestry.—One Lynen cloth for the comunion table, two long towells and two surples.—FFoure silver Cups for the Comunion whereof one is gilt.—Two silver Boules for the Comunion Table.—FFoure fflagon Potts for the Comunion Table two greater two lesser with two saucers also one litle flagon.—FFifteene Velvett Cushions Twelve redd Cushions with the Churches name sowed on them and nine old Cushions to serve att the font.—One Cloth of Imboydered worke for the Pulpitt and two Coffin clothes of Velvett for corps.—One whole houre glasse, one half houre glasse, foure masers cups, foure tian boxes, Three yron floores for candles, one brush for the churches clothes, one little box with two cast of counters in it and one Standish for Penn and Inke.—One great Chist in the Vestry for books and writings, one little coffer with Evidence of the church and one coffer for the Register booke.—One new booke for the accompts of the church treasure one stall booke, one box for the churches treasure and another for the poores treasure.—One Iron Gavelock and one Sweatree with two rollers for taking and laying down Lair-stones, five Coffins for Corps two for the elder sort, one for the middle sort and two for the younger sort, one hack and four showels for making graves.—FFoure Locks and Keys for the foure dores one Lock and Key for the Vestry dore, ffyve Bells in the steeple, Twelve water Bucketts, two long sparrs for trying Dropps of raine in the leades, one long ladder, one soe for carrying water, one barrow for carrying stones or flaggs.—One Branch candellstick of Brasse containing 12 lights given by Mr. Samuel Cocke Master and Mariner of this parish to the use of Church in the yeare of our lord god 1632 which now accordingly hanges by in ye body of ye church.—A Good Benefactor."
  • 2. It was customary for persons to bring the heads of foxes, slain within the parish, and nail them to the church-door, for which they were paid by the church-wardens a shilling per head. An order was made at Easter, 1674, that the new chosen church-wardens should not allow the continuance of this singular practice, but that all such persons should go to the town-chamber, and there demand the old custom. In the same year, it was ordered that there should be no further expenses incurred by feasting or collations, &c. by the church-wardens, except for the entertainment of such strangers as preached in the absence of the parish minister, and then not to exceed a pint of sack, or other wine, which was to be allowed in the account.
  • 3. The many amiable qualities of this much lamented gentleman had not only procured him the respect and esteem of his friends, but, in one instance, were the object of national gratitude. The infant son of a wealthy person in Bourdeaux having fallen into the river, no inducement could prevail on any of the numerous spectators to attempt its preservation, until Mr. Hedley plunged into the water, and reached the child. The cries of admiration of his conduct were succeeded by lamentations for his supposed loss, on seeing both the infant and him disappear. With considerable difficulty, however, he succeeded in restoring the child to its agonized parents. To their grateful acknowledgments he replied, "It is I who am most happy in giving consolation to a worthy family, and you owe me nothing, since this event has procured me a pleasure I shall never forget. There are few men who would not do what I have done." He then burst from them, amidst the acclamations of the multitude, and cautiously eluded all the enquiries which were made with a design to give due tribute to so disinterested a being. The following is an extract from an eulogium, published in France, concerning him:—"All that could be learnt was, that his name was HEDLEY. Let this name, then, be consecrated on the records of humanity. May these trifles, dictated by sentiment, fall into the hands of this respectable Englishman, and may he not regret this tribute of justice and gratitude paid him through me. My countrymen will not contradict me! Behold, ye of all nations and countries, such an eulogium as the heart ought to seek to be made known to the world. Without doubt, we ought rather to preserve the name of Hedley, than that of a warrior followed with blood, or of a politician, whose negotiations are but a string of his perfidies. Unhappy mortals! will you never be dazzled but by a sort of brightness which yourselves lend to infamy, in decreeing it the honour of that immortality which ought only to be the recompence of those who do well. Bury, therefore, in eternal oblivion the oppressor and all who are dishonourable to their species. Virtue alone deserves our remembrance."
  • 4. The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of colleges quoted p. 239 et seq.:—"The chauntrie of St. Peter in the parishe churche of All Saynts ibid. was founded by reporte to fynde a priest for ever to the mayntenaunce of Godds service ther and to pray for all Cristen sowles and the said priest to have for his stipend or salary £6 yerely to be paid out of all the possessions of the hospital of Saynt Katheryn called La Maison Dieu in the towne of Newcastell and the same order is observed ther at this present by reporte.—Yerely value £6—value accordyng to this survey £6 as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid to the kingis majestye for the tenthes 12s. and remayneth clerly 108s. which ar employed to the sustentacion of William Teisdale clerk now incumbent ther accordyng to th' order of the foundacion.—Ornaments &c. 8s. 5d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."
  • 5. In June, 1522, the church-wardens of St. Andrew's, in Newcastle, demised a tenement in Sidgate (now Percy Street) to Thomas Holland, a burgess of that town, for which, inter alia, he was to pay to the perpetual chaplain of the chantry of St. Catharine the Virgin, in the church of All Saints, the sum of seven shillings, at a certain term for ever. In the certificate of colleges cited above, it is said to have been founded "by a licence of Edward III. to one Hugh Hawking and Betterresse his wyffe to fynd one prieste ther for ever to say masse and to pray for their sowles and all Christen sowles as by a dede of the foundacion thereof bering date 20th Jany. A. D. 1335 more playnly dothe appere and it is so used at this presente by report.—Yerely value 118s. 18d. value accordyng to this survey 103s. 8d. as apereth by a rentall whereof is paid owt for a rent resolut' 3s. and for the kingis majesties tenthes 10s. 9d. ob. qua. and remayneth clerely £4, 5s. 10d. qua. whiche ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of Myles Swalwell prest now incumbent ther accordyng to the ordynnaunce of the said foundacion.—Ornaments &c. 119s. 4d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the same. Ther were no other lands &c." On the outside, at the south-east end of the church, there is said to have been formerly the letters E and F, and on each of them the representation of half of Catharine's wheel. Who the letters were intended for is not known; but Bourne, in whose time all traces of them were obliterated, supposes the wheels to have indicated that the chantry, or altar of this saint, was under the south-east window.
  • 6. See his Hist of Northumb. vol. ii. p. 228.
  • 7. The following are the most remarkable Monuments and Monumental Inscriptions in the old church. The most beautiful and interesting tomb-stone stood against the exterior of the chancel, and belonged to the famous Roger Thornton. It consisted of an altar, the front of which was enriched with beautiful Gothic compartments and armorial bearings, over which rose an elliptic canopy, surmounted by a spiral arch rising in the centre, and terminated with a tower, the crest of the Thornton family. The whole was included in a wall, with a semi-octagonal tower at each end, and embrasures along the top. On this part of the monument was the representation of two small figures, supporting the family arms. But the principal ornament of this monument was the large brass plate which covered the top of the altar, on which were beautifully engraved the figures of Roger Thornton and Agnes his wife, with numerous effigies of the apostles and saints, many of them with the symbols of their martyrdom. Amidst them is a representation of a person playing on a violin, another on a lute, &c. They are all included in niches or canopies, formed by a most beautiful and complicated union of innumerable crocketed spires, and other appropriate devices in the Gothic style. The following is the inscription which surrounds it:— "Hic jacet domicella Agnes quodam uxor Roegeri Thornton que obiit in vigelia Sancte Katrine Anno Domini M.CCCCXI propicietur Deus Amen,—Hic jacet Rogerus Thornton M—cator Novi Castri super Tinam qui obiit Anno D—m Millesimo CCCC,XX,IX. et iii die Januarii." "There was in this part of the church a very large stone, insculped with brass, of which, several years before Bourne wrote, no more could be read than Hic tumulatus—dono Dei datus mitis clero—promotor ccclesiarum. It was by some conjectured to be the burial-place of Robert Rhodes, because of the words promotor ecclesiarum." These, however, were not legible in Bourne's time, who considers them a weak argument to prove that Robert Rhodes was buried there, as that person had founded a chantry in St. Nicholas' church, that his own soul and that of his wife might be prayed for, and people were usually buried in the same church, and near the very place where they erected a chantry or altar. The effigy on the stone is described by Bourne as "very tall, and surrounded with very curious pictures of saints and some other things, but the brass is now tearing off, and going very fast into ruin. It is a pity," he adds, "that it should not have more care taken of it, as it is an ornament to the church, and the monument of its benefactor. The promoters of churches should be always remembered with the most grateful respect, that they may be shining lights to the most distant ages." The chancel also contained the burying-place of "Ralph Fell, Merchant Adventurer, 11th Feb. 1680;" of "John Simpson, Hoastman," mentioned before; and of Maria Henrietta Airey, of Benwell, who died June 10, 1779, aged 31 years. "Henry Rawlin, Merchant Adventurer, Alderman and some time Mayor of this Town. May 8th, 1666." "Jesus be merciful to the souls of Richard Borrel his wife and children. He obiit 20th Nov. 1508 This is also the burial place of Mr Abraham Dixon master and mariner who dyed Nov. 11th, 1700." "Matthew White Esqr. twice mayor of this town governor of the Merchants and Hostmen's Companies, He had issue 10 children, Nicholas Margaret Elizabeth Martha Nicholas Matthew Mary Isabel Robert and Jane. He departed Octr. 12th, 1716. "William Aubone, Esqr. Merchant Adventurer Alderman and sometime Mayor of this town. Sepr. 20th, 1700." On marble, on the wall:—"Under the adjacent marble is interred the body of Thomas Wrangham the famous and beloved ship builder of this town. He married Jane the daughter of Mr. Robert Carr by whom he left issue two sons and one daughter Thomas William and Jane. He built five and forty sail of ships and died of a fever in the 42nd year of his age May 26th 1689. He was a man of a most generous temper, of a plain and unaffected conversation, and a sincere and hearty lover of his friend. Statutum est omnibus semel mori." This stone of the Wranghams formerly belonged to the family of Mr. Robert Babington, and had his arms on it. On a stone, to the memory of George Borne, who was church-warden of All Saints in 1578, was inscribed,— "All worldly pomp away doth pass Like fading flowers and withered grass George Borne cooper and his wives When death doth end all mortal strifes Trust by the precious death and blood shedding Of Christ to have life everlasting." "Near the church-porch," says Bourne, "was a large blue stone, the burial place of Mr. William Milbourne, Hoastman, who died in the year 1662. This stone formerly belonged to St. Austin's Friary, and was removed from thence by Thomas Ledger, when he was mayor in the time of the civil wars. He brought it to St. Nicholas' church, and ordered one Milbourne, a mason, to erase the ancient inscription, but finding no room to lay it where his father was buried in St. Nicholas', he sold it to the mason, who sold it again to the person whose name it bears." Here was also a stone inscribed, "Stephen Coulson, Merchant Adventurer, maried Mary, daughter of Mr. Henry Waters, Hoastman: she departed, July the 6th, 1728. He the above named Stephen Coulson, Esq; alderman, and some time mayor of this town, departed this life, October 25th, 1730." In going from the south aisle into the body of the church, was the large stone of Christopher Elmer, with his arms and skin mark. It is said to have had this inscription:—"Jesus have mercy of the souls of Christopher Elmer, his wife and children, and of all souls, mercy, mercy, Lord." There was an old stone bearing the following inscription:— "Here lieth buried under this stone, The Right Worshipful Mr. Robert Ellison, Merchant Adventurer, of this town twice Right mayor he was All worldly pomp for ever thus must pass. Elisa, his wife, his children, and friends him by, With all shall rise at the last cry. One thousand six hundred seventy and seven, The last of January, he went to heaven." Bourne relates that the church-wardens were desired by one Matthew Blount, to sell this stone, which they refused, on account of its bearing the name of a mayor of Newcastle. "John Armourer, Hoastman."—"Christian Bulman, Oct. 8, 1723."—Ralph Soursby, Merchant Adventurer." Near the choir door was a stone which formerly belonged to Mr. Robert Brandling, on which was the arms of the family, and the following inscription:— "Here lyeth laid under this place Robert Brandling, Merchant Adventurer by God's grace; Margaret his wife, and children dear, In fear of God they lived here; Like as the brand doth flame and burn, So we from death to life must turn." This stone was given by one Mr. Brandling, who lived at Ipswich, to Mr. Nicholas Fenwick, who erased the inscription, and set upon it the arms of the Fenwicks. Near to this was another stone belonging to the same family of the Fenwicks. Between the vestry and the door of the choir were the burial-places of Alderman Leonard Carr—John Gibson, Merchant Adventurer, dyed 17th Feb. 1594—William Robinson, goldsmith, 1652—William Ramsay, sometime mayor of this town, 1653—William Ramsay, jun. sometime mayor of this town, 1716—George Bulman, baker and brewer, 1710—Ralph Grey, Merchant Adventurer, sometimes sheriff of this town, May 30th, 1666, aged 82. In the north aisle,—"John Cosin, draper and alderman, died the 21st of March, Anno Dom' 1661."— "This John Cosyn as well as Mr. Rawlin, (whose monument is over against his in the south corner) was an alderman in the time of the rebellion, of whom Sir George Baker said they were not truly justices, though in the place of justices. This Cosyn was the first exciseman that was ever in Newcastle, and a captain against the king,"yet, continues Bourne, "Mr. Pringle, as they say, caused this to be written:— "A Conscience pure, unstained with Sin, Is Brass without and Gold within." But some took offence, and said thus,— "A Conscience free he never had, His Brass was naught, his Gold was bad."—Milbank. Here were also the burial-places of George Morton, draper, alderman, and twice mayor of this town, he departed this life the 26th day of November, Anno Dom' 1693—Henry Waters, Hoastman, and Dorothy his wife, she departed 24th of Feb. 1719—Garret Cocke, 1637—William Liddel, 1580—John Colvil, baker and brewer, 1689—"Jesus have mercy on the soules of John Hodshon taylor, Margaret his wife, and their children; he departed the 11th of Novr. 1505."—Joseph Colepits, Hoastman, 27th May, 1729, aged 41 years—Cuthbert Snow, 16th of August, 1694." The following inscriptions were on the floor of the Seamen's Porch:—"Willoughby Hall, ship wright."—"Jacobus Metham generosis vitam pro æternitate mutavit 23 April 1684."—"John Green confectioner, 13th May 1681."—"Near this place lieth interred the remains of William Cooper, Esq. doctor of physic, who departed this life on the 5th day of May in the year of our Lord 1758 and in the 60th year of his age—whose memory will be revered by his family honoured by his friends and valued by all men who knew the able physician the polite gentleman and the honest man." (He was killed by a fall from his horse.—The father of Sir Grey Cooper, Bart. and the late Rev. Dr. Cooper.—Brand.) There was a stone near the font, which had long been thought to be very ancient. There was nothing to be seen upon it but the figures of the four Evangelists, one at each corner. It was a blue stone, lying at the east side of the font, and in Bourne's time had on it the name of Ridley. "I shall close," writes Bourne, "the monuments of this church with an epitaph, said to have been made upon Robert Wallas, formerly clerk of this church. "Here lies Robin Wallas, The king of good fellows, Clark of All Hallows, And a maker of bellows: He bellows did make till the day of his death, But he that made bellows could never make breath." By an advertisement in the Newcastle Courant of the 15th of July, 1786, those persons who were entitled to any monuments or monumental inscriptions in the old church, were requested immediately to remove them, to prevent their being damaged by taking down the church.
  • 8. Stall rooms are mentioned in one of the parish books of the date of 1488, and the rents arising from them are regularly recorded in the parish books since the year 1630.