MINUTES OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE, 1711

Lambeth MS 2690

These minutes are written at the back of the volume containing the minutes of the Commission (above, 1-202). The page references given below are to the modern numbering from the front of the volume. The contemporary numbering of the pages from the back of the volume is confused.

478. [p. 446] 10 Oct. 1711, Banqueting House, Whitehall

William Dickinson (Surveyor) and Minister and churchwardens of Stepney called in.

Surveyors to report on sites for four churches proposed by parishioners of Stepney by 16 Oct.

Skeat (Agent and Solicitor) to attend surveyors.

479. [p. 445] 16 Oct. 1711, St Dunstan in the West

Trustees of St George's chapel, Ormond St, delivered answer to Commissioners' letter; desired more time for designating boundaries, if made a parish church.

Resolved that chapel be made parochial; and that trustees' proposals are reasonable.

Surveyors presented surveys of Stepney hamlets; minister and churchwardens of Stepney examined thereon.

Resolved that five of the 50 new churches should be erected within Stepney; that the chapels of Bow and Poplar, in Stepney parish, be made parochial.

That one of the five new churches be at Bethnal Green, with a parish of the hamlets of Bethnal Green and Mile End New Town; and that a convenient site for church, churchyard and minister's house is a freehold estate of two acres called Hare fields, priced at £200.

That another new church be at Limehouse, with a parish of that hamlet; and that West's field, a freehold of near three acres for £400, is a convenient site.

That other new churches be erected in Upper Wapping, Lower Wapping and Spitalfields.

Surveyors and Agent to discourse proprietors of sites proposed for new churches and deliver account of the lowest prices; and to inquire whether any other sites in the hamlets obtainable at lower rates.

Churchwardens of Deptford delivered reply to Commissioners' letter; resolved that one of the new churches be erected in Deptford.

480. [p. 443] 19 Oct. 1711

Read, act for confirming to Brasenose College Oxford purchase of advowson of Stepney.

A motion to be made at next meeting of Commissioners that a letter be written to Brasenose College, desiring concurrence in division of parish of Stepney under New Churches Act; as this Committee does not consider itself empowered to do so.

Read, Dr Lamb's representation about Bow chapel. Dr Lamb requested to make it fuller and attend Committee on 23rd inst.

Surveyors to survey parishes for sites for churches, cemeteries and ministers' houses, acquainting parish authorities that they are authorized to expedite the matter: Dickinson to survey St James Westminster and St Martin in the Fields for two and three sites respectively; Hawksmoor to survey St Andrew Holborn and St Giles in the Fields for two sites each. Surveyors to consider a proper number of houses for each parish, and where the divisions should be made.

Read, representation from parish of St Saviour Southwark; Surveyors to view site proposed before next meeting.

Surveyors to provide a large map of London, Westminster and suburbs, showing parishes where new churches are intended to be built, and adding buildings erected since making of map.

Agent to go to parishes written to by Commissioners to quicken their returns, which should have parish plans annexed.

481. [p. 441] 23 Oct. 1711

Dr Lamb and Mr Hardesty attended.

Read, answer of churchwardens of St Botolph Aldersgate to Commissioners' letter.

Agent reported visiting churchwardens of St Clement Danes, St James and St Margaret Westminster, St Andrew Holborn, and St Giles and St Martin in the Fields, to quicken their returns, which should be ready within three weeks.

Dr Marshall, minister of St George's chapel, Ormond Street, and several inhabitants, delivered account of proposed new parish, with plan. Resolved that the plan contained a convenient district for the new parish.

Commissioners be moved to write to Sir Nathaniel Curzon to inquire terms on which he will sell freehold of the chapel.

482. [p. 440] 26 Oct. 1711

Resolved, to move Commissioners for general power to correspond with persons for expediting work.

Read, representations of minister and parishioners of St Botolph Bishopsgate and inhabitants of Hatton Garden, Norton Folgate, and Old Artillery Ground.

Resolved, that one of the new churches be built in parish of St Botolph Bishopsgate and the precincts of Norton Folgate, Old Artillery Ground, St Mary le Spittle.

Minister and churchwardens of St Botolph Bishopsgate and inhabitants of Norton Folgate and Old Artillery Ground desired to attend again on 6 Nov.

Consideration of Hatton Garden representation postponed until return received from St Andrew Holborn.

Hawksmoor reported on St Andrew Holborn and St Giles in the Fields, with plans of sites. Further consideration postponed till parish returns received.

Dickinson to survey parish of St Botolph Bishopsgate and precincts of Norton Folgate and Old Artillery Ground, and report on proposed sites on 6 Nov.

Dickinson reported on St Martin in the Fields and St James Westminster; consideration postponed till parish returns received.

483. [p. 438] 27 Oct. 1711

Read, petition of several inhabitants of Limehouse that proposed new church be erected on Rigby's Garden.

Hawksmoor, accompanied by Sherlock and Isham, to survey and report on this and previously-proposed Limehouse site, inquiring values.

Read, Mr Walkden's petition proposing site in Grays Inn Lane, parish of St Andrew Holborn; resolved, not a proper site.

Read, representation from inhabitants of St Sepulchre Without for dividing parish, with plan. Hawksmoor to view site proposed.

Hawksmoor to survey following parishes for sites, ascertain parish boundaries and number of houses in proposed new parishes, and prepare plans.

Secretary to write to overseers of poor for White Friars for account of constitution and condition of that precinct.

Names of the several parishes with the number of churches at present proposed to be erected in them:

484. [p. 436] 6 Nov. 1711

Read, offer from Dean and Chapter of Westminster of site in Tothill Fields or any other waste ground belonging to them for new church etc in St Margaret's parish. Commissioners to be moved to return their thanks.

Request from Rev. Sir George Wheeler that nothing be done respecting Norton Folgate till he could be heard. Consideration of Norton Folgate deferred to 16th inst.

Curate of St Giles Cripplegate reported that churchwardens and parishioners could not agree on return to Commissioners' letter.

Read, representations from St Mary le Strand, St Giles in the Fields, St Ann Westminster and Bermondsey.

Hawksmoor to report on site proposed for new church in Bermondsey.

Resolved that it is not proper for the Commissioners to present petition annexed to representation from St Mary le Strand to the Queen.

Dean of Carlisle to acquaint Commissioners with request of Dean of Rochester and several inhabitants of St Mary le Strand to state in petition to Queen that it is the Commissioners' opinion that one of the new churches should be erected for the parishioners of St Mary le Strand.

Read, letters from Brasenose College and Nathaniel Curzon Esq. Henry Box to discourse John Kent Esq about purchase of freehold of St George's chapel [Ormond Street].

Read, Dickinson's report on St James Westminster, St Martin in the Fields, Norton Folgate and Old Artillery Ground. Sir C. Wren, Archer, Vanbrugh and Mr Wren to view the three sites in St James parish proposed by Dickinson, who is to inquire after further sites.

Agent to inquire into value, etc., of sites in Windmill and Warwick Streets proposed by Dickinson.

Consideration of report on St Martin's parish deferred to 9th inst.

Skeat to inquire whether Lord Conway willing to sell his house in Queen Street as site for church, etc.

485. [p. 433] 9 Nov. 1711

Read, representations of St James Clerkenwell, St Martin in the Fields, St Clement Danes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St James Westminster.

Thomas Elford, churchwarden, reported that there are about 7,200 souls in St James Clerkenwell, and two proper sites for new churches, etc, viz. Vinegar house, Woods Close (Lady Northampton's), and St John Close.

Representation from St Martin's computed population at about 29,600; site proposed vested in Mercers' Company and leased to Mr Vandeput.

Inhabitants of St Clement Danes left a map, computed population at about 10,140, and proposed as site Grange Inn (freehold vested in Mr Hewer of Bushey Hall, Herts).

Population of St James Westminster computed at about 20,000. Read, certificate relating to chapel in Hatton Garden.

Mr Russell, Rector of St John Wapping, delivered petition and plan; resolved, that one of the fifty new churches should be erected in parish of St John Wapping.

Inhabitants of Spitalfields delivered plan of one and a half acre site and stated population of hamlet at 18,000 or 20,000; there is one French church there, fit to be made parochial.

Representation from St Botolph Aldgate computes population of manor of East Smithfield at about 9,000, and of whole parish at about 21,000; and proposes two sites: one at or near the May Pole, East Smithfield, 150 ft × 70 ft, on which are 15 old houses, rent under £100 p.a., freehold vested in parishioners of St Mary at Hill; the other, in same street, larger but cheaper, the property of Mr Paradice of Wiltshire. Archer proposed third site, waste belonging to the Crown, on Little Tower Hill at end of Minories.

Read, report from trustees of King Street chapel, in St James Westminster.

Box reported on interview with John Kent, who would write.

Hoskins reported that Lady Russell promised to reply soon to the Commissioners' proposals made to her by Bishop of London.

Archer reported on sites referred to him: at upper end of Haymarket; where the Bowling Green is, at the upper end of Marlborough Street; and at end of St James Street, Covent Garden. The first two (both in St James Westminster) he judges suitable, but the third not convenient.

Sherlock and Isham reported on the two sites proposed in Limehouse, judging West's fields preferable.

Consideration of representations deferred to this day adjourned to Tues. next.

Hawksmoor reported in favour of site proposed in Bermondsey, and that Lord Salisbury's steward promised to discuss it with his lordship.

Skeat to inquire of Mr Manly or his deputy about any further grant of the ground at the end of Windmill Street, at upper end of Haymarket, after Madam Panton's interest expires.

486. [p. 429] 13 Nov. 1711

Commissioners to be recommended to build a second new church in Spitalfields, the population being about 20,000.

Read, representations from Lambeth, White Friars Precinct, St Giles Cripplegate, St Sepulchre, and St Olave Southwark.

Read, answer from Lady Russell about proposed site for cemetery for St George's chapel; and for site for a church, etc. in Bloomsbury; to be laid before the Commissioners.

Refered to Commissioners, whether representation from King Street chapel trustees be laid before Archbishop of Canterbury, its benefactor.

Hawksmoor to survey Rotherhithe for a proper site for church, etc.

Dickinson to report on site for church etc. in St James Clerkenwell, proposed by Rev. Francis Browne.

Resolved, that there should be a cemetery wherever it can be had at a convenient distance from a new church.

Resolved, that a second new church should be built in Upper Liberty of manor of East Smithfield within St Botolph Aldgate; and that site on Little Tower Hill at end of Minories is proper for church and minister's house.

Hawksmoor to inquire for more proper site for lower part of manor of East Smithfield than either of those proposed.

Jennings to inquire about interest of Duchess of Portsmouth in Monmouth House, Soho Square, St James Westminster.

Resolved, that church for St Mary le Strand should be built at or near the Maypole in the Strand.

Hawksmoor to report on the ground.

Resolved, that one of the new churches for St Giles in the Fields should be built in Lincoln's Inn Fields, provided there be no churchyard, intramural burials or ring of bells.

Secretary to deliver to Surveyors a list of parishes wherein the Commissioners have agreed new churches should be built, and number allotted.

Vanbrugh to view chapel in Hatton Garden, and site proposed at north end of Hatton Garden.

Resolved, that one of the new churches should be built in that part of St Sepulchre's called St Sepulchre Without.

487. [p. 426] 16 Nov. 1711

Secretary reported offer by Sir John Thornicroft, lord of the manor of Stockwell, of two acres of waste at Stockwell town end.

Surveyors to report on site proposed in plan delivered by rector of Whitechapel.

Read, representations from St Andrew Holborn, St Giles Cripplegate, and trustees of new chapel in Tothill Fields.

Mr Hayes delivered offer of ground belonging to Red Lion and Green Dragon Inns, Holborn, for site for church, etc., in St Giles in the Fields.

Read, petition of some inhabitants of St Leonard Shoreditch; Mr Francis Coleman offered site in Holywell Lane.

Rev. Sir George Wheeler delivered representation and plan concerning his chapel in Spitalfields.

Rev Mr Brookes, minister of St Alphage, delivered petition and plan.

Skeat reported that Lord Conway was not in town; and that Mr Manly promised an answer in about a week concerning ground at upper end of Haymarket. Read, petition of some inhabitants of Bethnal Green; resolved, that their reasons are insufficient to alter opinion about place to build church. Resolved, that parish of St James Westminster ought to be divided into four distinct parishes; and that the chapel in Berwick Street is not fit to be made parochial.

Resolved, that parish of St Martin in the Fields ought to be divided into four distinct parishes.

Resolved, that a second church ought to be erected in St Saviour Southwark; Hawksmoor to attend vestry of St Olave Southwark next Thurs.

Surveyors to attend Committee next Tues., with such maps and plans as they have.

488. [p. 423] 20 Nov. 1711

Surveyors to examine what approaches there are for coaches from Bethnal Green to Hare Fields.

Dickinson reported in favour of Farthing [Pardon] Churchyard site in St James Clerkenwell proposed by Rev. Mr Browne, who stated he would sell the remaining nine years of his lease of £200.

Dickinson laid plan of site in Norton Folgate proposed for one of the churches to be erected in Spitalfields.

Resolved, to determine first the sites for churches before considering division of parishes.

Hawksmoor to report on site proposed in Nightingale Lane for upper part of St John Wapping.

Vanbrugh reported that chapel in Hatton Garden was not fit to be made parochial. Ordered, that debate about the chapel be deferred until Lord Thanet comes to town.

Vanbrugh reported in favour of site at north end of Hatton Garden.

Resolved, that West's Fields is the most proper site in Limehouse for a church etc. Skeat to inquire owners and value, and for a house or ground for the minister.

Resolved, that site next Ratcliff Highway and Cannon Street is convenient for a church, etc, for Upper Wapping. Skeat to ask Mr Watts his price for it, and inquire for a house or ground for the minister.

Surveyors and Skeat to look for a house or ground for minister of Bow and Old Ford, Stepney.

Skeat to inquire whether there is any house belonging to chapel at Poplar.

Sir C. Wren, and Archer, Vanbrugh and Wren, Esqs., to survey and report on sites already or hereafter agreed upon by Surveyors. Secretary to give them list of sites already proposed, and whether approved or disapproved by this Committee.

Commissioners to be consulted, whether any site should be approved on which church cannot be built east and west.

Hawksmoor to inquire for a second site for a church etc in Bermondsey.

Resolved, that site on Little Tower Hill at end of Minories is a proper site for one of the two new churches for St Botolph Aldgate, and Archer to ask John Jefferys Esq. of Sheen his terms.

489. [p. 419] 23 Nov. 1711

1. Trustees of St George's chapel to be asked how much money necessary to make the church parochial, and to inquire for ground for a churchyard.

2. Resolution relating to proposed parish for St George's chapel to be laid before next meeting of the Commission.

3. The Committee resolved:

4. That Three Cups Inn, Holborn, is a proper site for one of the new churches for St Andrew Holborn.

5. Skeat to inquire about the site.

6. That a solicitor should be appointed to inquire into value of sites selected.

7. Hawksmoor to inquire for two more sites in St Andrew Holborn.

8. Surveyors to attend Committee at three o'clock every day they meet.

9. Surveyors to look for site for churchyard in out parts of St Ann Westminster.

10. Surveyors each to have a copy of Commissioners' resolution relating to placing churches east and west.

11. Approved, sites for two churches and ministers' houses in St Olave Southwark, one in Stony Lane and Vincorne [Unicorn] Yard, the other in Horsleydown Lane.

12. Approved, districts proposed by Dickinson for the two new parishes.

13. Surveyors to inquire for ground for one or more churchyards for the two new parishes.

14. That two acres should be allowed for each church yard when possible.

15. That site at the Maypole in the Strand is a proper site for a church for parish of St Mary le Strand.

16. Hawksmoor to inquire for sites for minister's house and churchyard for St Mary le Strand.

17. That Grange Inn is a proper site for church and minister's house in St Clement Danes.

18. Hawksmoor to inquire for ground for a church yard.

19. Gastrell and Cross to apply to Mr Ewers, proprietor of Grange Inn, for his terms.

20. Hawksmoor to settle a district for new parish with parishioners of St Clement Danes.

21. Hawksmoor reported that the approaches for coaches from Bethnal Green to Harefields may be made good.

22. Read proposal for house for minister of Bow and Old Ford.

23. Read Mr Kemp's proposal for site for house for that minister.

24. Hawksmoor to view Kemp's site, and if it is a proper one obtain Kemp's terms.

25. Skeat to inquire for site for house for minister of Poplar.

26. Mr Watts delivered his demand for site for church and minister's house in Upper Wapping.

27. Resolved that the demand is reasonable.

28. Hawksmoor to inquire for ground for a churchyard.

29. Skeat to inquire for sites for churchyards for the two new parishes to be taken out of St Botolph Aldgate.

30. Skeat to send to Mr Paradice for his terms for site in Lordship part of St Botolph Aldgate.

490. [p. 415] 27 Nov. 1711

1. Read proposal of Sir Nathaniel Curzon and John Kent Esq for freehold of St George's chapel, Ormond Street.

2. Resolved that the proposal is unreasonable.

3. Read, the case of the inhabitants of Lambeth Deane and Stockwell.

4. Resolved, that the new church in Lambeth parish should be erected in or about Stockwell.

5. Sir John Thornicroft offered two acres in Stockwell for building a new church.

6. Commissioners to be moved to thank him for his offer.

7. Mr Peterson delivered a proposal for an acre on which to erect a church in Upper Wapping.

8. Mr Watts offered two acres in Upper Wapping for £400.

9. Resolved that Watts's proposal should be preferred to Peterson's.

10. Read John Jefferys' demand for £400 for a site for a church and minister's house on Little Tower Hill at end of Minories.

11. Jennings to try to persuade Jefferys to abate his demand.

12. Henry Hoare delivered proposal from Rev. Dr Bray for districts of the two intended new parishes in St Botolph Aldgate.

13. Resolved that proposed district for the lower parish is a proper one.

14. Resolved that to district proposed for the middle parish there should be added all houses on both sides of the way from north side of Trinity Minories to Whitechapel Street, and all south side of Whitechapel Street from Aldgate to the Bars.

15. Read, Mr West's demand for £400 for three acres in West's Field, Limehouse for a church, etc.

16. Resolved that the demand is reasonable.

17. Hawksmoor proposed a district for a new parish to be taken out of Bermondsey, and a site for a new church, etc.

18. Resolved that district and site are proper.

19. Commissioners to be moved to desire one or more members to apply to Lord Salisbury to set moderate price for proposed site.

20. Hawksmoor proposed a district for parish to be taken out of St Sepulchre.

21. Resolved that St Sepulchre should be divided into two parishes by a line drawn through centre of Long Lane, across Smithfield on north side of the sheep pens and down middle of Cheek Lane to Fleet Ditch.

21. Crosse to apply to Sir John Robinson for his terms for site in St Sepulchre.

491. [p. 412] 30 Nov. 1711

Skeat to obtain Widow Moore's terms in writing for site agreed on in Limehouse.

Dickinson to inquire for another site within proposed district for St George Ormond Street.

Upon Skeat's report from Manley about proposed site at upper end of Haymarket, agreed he should enquire further of Madam Panton and Mr Taylor about any reversionary grant.

Hawksmoor reported in favour of site proposed by Kemp for house for minister of Bow, at £150. Hawksmoor or Skeat to obtain his written demand.

Secretary to give Mr Beckley a list of sites approved by the Commissioners.

Resolved that the Borough Liberty and part of the Clink Liberty from Dead Man's Place and Stony Street to the Thames ought to be continued to St Saviour Southwark.

That the Tenterfields on north side of Castle Street is a proper site for a church, etc, for a parish to be taken out of St Saviour's.

Resolved that the district for the middle parish to be taken out of St Saviour's be bounded by Bandy Leg Walk, Maiden Lane, the Bear Garden, down Rope Alley to the Thames. Site proposed in Pye Garden, on south of Maiden Lane, is a proper one for another church, etc., in St Saviour's, and its district should consist of the remaining part of parish, lying south-west of Maiden Lane.

Hawksmoor to inquire about two last-mentioned sites.

Mr Sclater delivered demand of £300 for three acres in Hare alias Cross Fields, Bethnal Green, as set out by Hawksmoor. Resolved that demand is reasonable.

Read, representation from Common Councilmen of St Bride's.

Barker delivered his demand for £2,200 for Three Cups Inn, Holborn. Resolved that demand is unreasonable.

Nelson to acquaint Lord Thanet with objections to making the chapel in Hatton Garden parochial.

Skeat to inquire for another site for church, etc. in Lower Wapping, Ballard's demand of £900 being unreasonable.

Skeat delivered demands of Mr Jackson and Mr Henshaw for site proposed in Stony Lane and Vincorn [Unicorn] Yard, St Olave's Southwark. Crosse to view site and inquire after a cheaper site near that place.

Resolved, that it should be reported to Parliament that part of St Giles Cripplegate should be added to St Alphage.

Skeat to obtain Mr White's demand for two sites proposed in St Giles Cripplegate, and details of the precincts of parish, and number of houses in each.

Resolved that Mr Smith's ground in St Margaret's Westminster is a proper site for a church and minister's house.

492. [p. 408] 4 Dec. 1711

Read, a second proposal from Sir N. Curzon and John Kent Esq. for the freehold of St George's chapel. Resolved, that the £1,000 demanded is reasonable.

Isham to try to persuade Barker to abate his demand for Three Cups Inn, Holborn.

Surveyors to report on chapel in Noble Street, St Giles Cripplegate.

Resolved that Plow Yard near Bloomsbury Market is a proper site for one of the churches to be built in St Giles in the Fields, containing 110 ft in front and 164 ft in depth. Hoskins to apply to Lady Russell for her terms.

Resolved that Hawksmoor's design for church to be erected within the great square in Lincoln's Inn Fields be laid before Commissioners. Sir Trenchman Masters and other inhabitants of Red Lion Square declared they were unwilling that a church should be built in that square.

Wm Cullpeper, Esq., delivered a written offer of a site for church etc. in St Leonard Shoreditch. Consideration adjourned until other sites are proposed in that parish.

Skeat to desire Ironmongers' Company's terms for a site for church house for Bow. Resolved that it ought to be accepted, as commodiously situated, and no other thereabouts.

Dickinson to inquire for site for church etc. in that part of St Bride's parish to the north of Fleet Street.

Skeat to desire Ironmongers' Company's terms for a site for church etc. in Old Street, within St Giles Cripplegate.

Duchess of Monmouth's demand for £3,000 for site in Soho Square is too high; Soho Square is the properest site for a church, so long as there is no peal of bells or church yard. Skeat to inquire who the proprietors are, and also for a site for a minister's house.

Skeat to inquire for sites for churches etc. in the following parishes: one in St Botolph Bishopsgate; two in St Leonard Shoreditch; two in St Mary Whitechapel; two in Spitalfields hamlet; one in St John Wapping; one in St Paul Shadwell.

Resolved that the site near the Swan with Two Necks in Tothill Street is proper for one of the new churches etc. in St Margaret Westminster. Dickinson to make a plan, showing approaches. Skeat to ask Mr Smith for his written demand for the sites of both the new churches, etc.; that near Millbank to be for a square of one acre and a quarter. Churchwardens to propose appropriate districts.

493. [p. 405] 7 Dec. 1711

1,2. Received representations from churchwarden of St Saviour Southwark, and minister, churchwardens and parishioners of Rotherhithe.

3,4. Resolved that St Saviour's representation ought to be laid before Commissioners; and that Rotherhithe's case be particularly represented in Commissioners' report.

5. Hawksmoor's proposed division of St Clement Danes is convenient.

6. White delivered written demand for site in St Giles Cripplegate.

7. Skeat to inquire for another site for church etc. in Lower Wapping besides that proposed by Johnson.

8,9. Skeat delivered Rous's demand of £350 for site in St Paul Shadwell; Sir R. Hoare desired to discourse Rous about price, exclusive of nine houses mentioned in his proposal.

10,11. Hawksmoor's division of St Paul Shadwell is convenient; as well as the five parishes he proposes for St Giles in the Fields.

12,13. Chapel in Hatton Garden not fit to be a parish church, but districts proposed by Hawksmoor for the other four parishes into which St Andrew Holborn to be divided are convenient.

14. Dr Gastrell delivered rental of site of Grange Inn, St Clement Danes, for Mr Ewers, the proprietor, who required 15 years' purchase for freehold, besides lessees' interest.

15. Hawksmoor to inquire for another site in St Clement Danes.

16,17. Read a second proposal from Mr Thos Jackson for one of sites agreed on in St Olave Southwark. Skeat to apply to Henshaw for his demand for the freehold, exclusive of six houses fronting the street

18-20. Hy Smith, Esq., delivered written demands for two sites he proposed in St Margaret Westminster. That in Vine Garden, near Millbank, at £500 is reasonable. Dickinson to survey the ground adjoining Swan with Two Necks and report.

21. If part of St Giles Cripplegate is added to St Alphage, three new churches will be sufficient for the parish.

494. [p. 402] 11 Dec. 1711

1. Resolved that one new church is sufficient in St Leonard Shoreditch.

2. Three new churches sufficient in St Giles Cripplegate.

3. A church ought to be built for the use of the inhabitants of Norton Folgate, Old Artillery Ground and St Mary le Spittle; site proposed by Dickinson in Spittle Square near Lord Bolingbroke's house a convenient one.

5. A second church ought to be erected in Lambeth.

6,7. Site proposed near Brown's Lane is proper for one of new churches in Spitalfields; and that opposite Pater Noster Row for the other.

8. Hawksmoor's proposed division at Deptford is convenient.

9. Mr Wise's demand for £400 for three acres of Deptford is reasonable.

10. Site at upper end of Holywell Lane, St Leonard Shoreditch, convenient.

495. [p. 400] 14 Dec. 1711

Approved Rous's demand for £350 for site for church and minister's house, St Paul Shadwell. Hawksmoor to inquire for church yard.

Read second representation from trustees of St George's Chapel [Ormond Street]; consideration postponed.

Coleman delivered written demand for £450 for two acres for church etc. for St Leonard Shoreditch.

Robinson proposed to sell his site viewed in St Sepulchre Without for £600 without the materials on it, or £650 with them.

Mr Sheriff Stewart to be desired to inquire if City will part with their interest in the square within the rails, West Smithfield, for a church for St Sepulchre Without.

Several inhabitants of St Giles Cripplegate delivered written reasons against adding part of that parish to St Alphage. Surveyors to view St Alphage church and report how many it will contain decently.

Governors of Free School, St Olave Southwark, made written demand of £300 for site in Horsley Down, exclusive of leases thereon. Consideration postponed until leasees make their demands.

Report to Queen and Parliament to be general, praying further time and powers.

496. [p. 398] 18 Dec. 1711

Hooper, on behalf of Wm St John, Esq., Lord Bolingbroke's executor, and Mr Jeremy Sambrook, mortgagee in possession of the earl's lands in Norton Folgate, delivered written demand for land and houses proper for site for church, etc. of £2,117 15s. for the whole, or £1,603 15s. for part. Skeat to inquire for another site.

Read petition of ministers and some inhabitants of St Clement Danes; to be laid before Commissioners.

Approved demand for £80 by Exton and Chandler for site for minister's house at Poplar.

Skeat, Beckley and the Surveyors to proceed with all possible expedition during interval between Commissions, so that business will be ready when new Commission meets. In their inquiries, they are to fix on sites that lie amongst or near the better sort of inhabitants.

Mr Merrick delivered written demand for £720 for cemetery for the middle parish intended to be taken out of St Botolph Aldgate; consideration postponed until site for third church settled.

Read demand for £500 for site for a minister's house in St Margaret Westminster, including old house, etc. of which materials valued at £150 or £200.

Commissioners to be moved to appoint members to distribute the £200 advanced by Her Majesty towards defraying incidental expenses.

497. [p. 396] 21 Dec. 1711

Secretary to deduct for his own and messenger's expenses £19. 18s. 4d.; pay Brown, keeper of Quest Room, St Dunstan in the West, £8; Agent and Surveyors £40 each on account; Crocker £10; to discharge bill of Brooks, doorkeeper at Whitehall, and allow him 3s. for attendance every Commission day; and retain remainder in his own hands on account.