The Archbishop's Bones
Jane Austen's Regency World|88 – July/August 2017

An important discovery was made recently in a London church. Maggie Lane was quick to spot the connection with Jane Austen

 

The Archbishop's Bones

The coffins of five archbishops of Canterbury from the 17th and 18th centuries were recently found deep beneath the high altar of St Mary’s-at-Lambeth, a deconsecrated church attached to Lambeth Palace in London. Workers discovered the vault by chance when they were working on the floor of the chancel to extend some exhibition space, and found a six-inch hole opening up beneath them. Having lowered a mobile phone to take a photograph of what was down there, they saw a brick stair and vault with a red and gold archbishop’s mitre placed on the topmost coffin. They realised that they had made an historic discovery.

Further investigation revealed that there were 30 lead coffins, some bearing the names and dates of their occupants. But what no one remarked on when the story broke was that one of the archbishops, John Moore, who died in 1805, had a family connection with Jane Austen. She was on visiting terms with his widow and his eldest son, who had married her brother’s sister-in-law. Some of his grandchildren were well known to her.

Lambeth Palace, on the south bank of the Thames, has been the London home of all Archbishops of Canterbury since the 13th century, and is still used as such. There is a chapel within the palace for the Archbishop’s use but additionally, until the 1970s, services were held in a small adjoining church of medieval origin, known as St Mary’s-atLambeth. It was then considered redundant and deconsecrated; for a few years there was danger of demolition, but a new use was found for it and its surrounding churchyard. It is now home to the Garden Museum, a small but charming green oasis for visitors in the busy heart of London.

This story is from the 88 – July/August 2017 edition of Jane Austen's Regency World.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the 88 – July/August 2017 edition of Jane Austen's Regency World.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM JANE AUSTEN'S REGENCY WORLDView All
How Did Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice Become A Christmas Story?
Jane Austen's Regency World

How Did Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice Become A Christmas Story?

HO, HO, HO…how did Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice become a Christmas story? Devoney looser investigates

time-read
8 mins  |
102 - November/December 2019
Jane's Beloved Friend
Jane Austen's Regency World

Jane's Beloved Friend

Judith Stove introduces her new biography of Anne Lefroy

time-read
4 mins  |
102 - November/December 2019
Women Of Peterloo
Jane Austen's Regency World

Women Of Peterloo

MEN WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES DEMANDING REFORM IN AUGUST 1819. MANY WOMEN CAME TO MANCHESTER FOR A DAY OF PROTEST, AND NOT ALL OF THEM MADE IT HOME, AS SUE WILKES REPORTS

time-read
8 mins  |
102 - November/December 2019
Darcy's Picture Gallery
Jane Austen's Regency World

Darcy's Picture Gallery

WHAT MIGHT ELIZABETH BENNET HAVE SEEN AS SHE WANDERED THROUGH THE CORRIDORS OF PEMBERLEY? VICTORIA C SKELLY CONSIDERS HOW THE OWNERS OF GREAT ESTATES IN JANE AUSTEN’S TIME VIEWED ART

time-read
7 mins  |
102 - November/December 2019
Austen's Festive Music
Jane Austen's Regency World

Austen's Festive Music

A LARGE COLLECTION OF MUSIC WRITTEN OUT BY JANE AUSTEN REVEALS SOME POPULAR NURSERY RHYMES AND HER CHRISTMAS FAVOURITES, WRITES ROS OSWALD. PICTURES FROM THE NOVELS, BY CE BROCK

time-read
7 mins  |
102 - November/December 2019
Candour And Comfort
Jane Austen's Regency World

Candour And Comfort

Female friendships outside the family group rarely feature in Jane Austen’s fiction, yet she and Cassandra enjoyed a close relationship with the three youngest daughters of many down park, Hampshire as Hazel Jones explores 

time-read
6 mins  |
89 - September/October 2017
Keeping The Faith
Jane Austen's Regency World

Keeping The Faith

Quakers, Catholics and Methodists fared badly compared with Anglicans in the Christian Britain of a Jane Austen’s time, writes Penelope Friday

time-read
6 mins  |
89 - September/October 2017
Austen In Australia
Jane Austen's Regency World

Austen In Australia

The Jane Austen society of Australia

time-read
4 mins  |
89 - September/October 2017
Culture Club
Jane Austen's Regency World

Culture Club

The Jane Austen society of the UK 

time-read
3 mins  |
89 - September/October 2017
Last Days In Winchester
Jane Austen's Regency World

Last Days In Winchester

Jane Austen left Chawton on may 24, 1817, to seek medical help in the nearby city of Winchester. Elizabeth Jane Timms traces those final weeks of her life. line drawings by Ellen Hill c1901

time-read
5 mins  |
88 – July/August 2017