LONDON MOVE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 49, 27 August 1934, Page 7

LONDON MOVE

A MEMORIAL TO LAMB

A. LOVER OF THE CITY '

None of Wren's churches is seen to so little advantage, perhaps, vas Christ Church, just off Newgate Street. This is because so few people take tho trouble, or show tho curiosity, to look into its garden—one of the few green survivals left in the confines of the city, says tho "Sunday Times."

The church itself is a sort of monument to the older church of tho Greyfriars, partly destroyed in the Great Fire; this older building dated back nearly to the friars who came to London in . the lifetime of their founder, St. Francis, seven centuries ago. As for tho friary proper, this was replaced in the sixteenth century by tho famous Bluecoat School, but still bore, as it bears to this day, the more pious name of Christ's Hospital. Christ Church served as the school chapel for more than 350 years, until 1902, when, owing to city pressure, tho school transferred itself to Horsham.

There are. many who love tho old church, and its garden, and mako an excuse to use tho right-of-way leading past its porch to tho General Post Office. Some of them know its tombs of famous people,' from its three- queens (Margaret, Isabella, and Joan of Scotland) to Richard Baxter, immortalised by his "Everlasting Rest." Few fabrics in the city have been so well preserved, and none make a better show than Christ Church on tho day ■n-hen the Lord Mayor and Coroporation attend for the Spital Sermon after Easter, or on.St. Matthew's Day,_when Tjoys and girls como back to maintain the Christ's Hospital tradition of going in procession to the Mansion House to receive their gifts in coin and kind. It is in view of these memories that the Elian Society, who have lately lost their-first president, Mr. Augustine Birrell, are promoting a fund for the erection of a memorial to mark the present centenary year of Charlos Lamb's death. Of all the old school's famous pupils, Camden, Stillingflect, Coleridge, Leigh Hunt, ' Sir Henry Maine, and Lord Baden. Powell, Lamb remains the*best-loved and the most eloquent in London's praise. The author who comes nearest to him in delicate and sprightly fancy is Sir James Barrie, and he has joined hands with Mr. E. V. Lucas and Mr. Edmund Blunden in issuing an appeal. The idea is to plant among the lime-trees in the church garden a recessed monument with, a tableta,ry inscription and a niche to contain a bronze portrait-bust of Elia. At the same time, if funds allow, it is to be fitted with seata to accommodate the pilgrim, and the passer-by. ' The Rector, tho Rev. T. H. Hine-Hay-eock, and his wardens, have assented to. the scheme on condition that the work shall bo reticent and dignified, so as to harmonise with their beautiful .church and its precincts.