Bletchley, who tells us that he would never be content with any rector who did not spend all the profits of the rectory on the church, adds in his humorous way that any of his nominees who felt he had already spent a good deal and Was not inclined to do anything further, had better resign gracefully as soon as possible. [1] We are also told that he ' did not affect a married clergy,' and that his opinions on this subject were so well known that a certain curate at Bletchley actually went up to London to be married, and kept his wife there secretly for years, for fear of displeasing his patron ![2] But there can be no doubt that an example of some kind was sorely needed, and the notices of Browne Willis's benefactions in the returns of Bishops Wake and Gibson show that such cases were by no means common.[3] We learn thence, and with more detail from Cole, that he beautified his own parish church at Bletchley at a cost of over 1,200[4] ; that he built and adorned a chapel which had long been needed at Fenny Stratford,[5] and did a great deal by his influence and generosity to bring about a very necessary restora- tion of the church at Bow Brickhill.[6] His own epitaph in the chapel of Fenny Stratford shows the effect upon his inner life of the study of Christian antiquity, and may well be compared with the fulsome inscriptions in which his contemporaries delighted :
O Christe, Soter et Judex,
Huic peccatorum primo
Misericors et propitius esto.
The rector of Bletchley has left us a full description of the parish church as it appeared after its restoration, and this may perhaps serve as a specimen of what was thought sufficient and even admired at the time. After the necessary repairs to roof and windows, a new altar of inlaid wood was provided and set in its proper place ; the chancel floor was raised by two steps above the level of the rest of the church, and its walls wainscoted and hung with eight neatly framed texts ; the eastern wall had pillars and curtains painted on it, and the ceiling was adorned with the word ' Jehovah ' in a ' glory ' surrounded by cherubims, just above the altar, besides full length figures of the twelve apostles. The altar-piece is described as 'very handsome,' made of Norway oak, and had panels in it containing the Lord's Prayer, Creed and Decalogue; the arms of Queen Anne were in the pediment, with an urn on either side. A ' neat screen ' separated the chancel from the church, which was now newly paved and pewed, and there were sixteen framed texts provided for the walls. On Sundays and festivals the altar was covered with a rich crimson velvet cloth edged with gold lace and fringe ; the
- ↑ Add. MS. 5821, f. 190.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Under Bletchley is the entry ' ecclesia multum ornata a patrono Browne Willis.' The building of Fenny Stratford chapel by him is also noticed. There are no similar entries at all.
- ↑ It is not clear whether this includes the painting of the church, which cost 140. Add. MS. 5821, f. 200.
- ↑ Ibid. f. 153. The need of the chapel was noted in one of the Surveys of the Commonwealth period (Lambeth Library, Augmentations of Livings, vol. rooi, f. 78).
- ↑ Add. MS. 5839, f. 32d.
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