THE STATE OF LONDON CHURCHES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5603, 30 December 1892, Page 3

THE STATE OF LONDON CHURCHES.

At tbe Consistory Court of London, held at St. Faul'e Cathedral, an application was mado by Mr Arnold Stathatn for » faoulty to authorise the removal of a large quantity of human remains from underneath tbe Church of St. Mary Wooleburcb Haw, Lombardutreet, which wai causing un wholesome effluvia. 2,105 bodies were proved to huvo been buried under tbo church and ohur«byard, part of which had been taken ie 1630 for the formation of Ring William-street i and tbo raptor stated that on many Sundays during divino aervioo the congregation had (loan startled by hearing loaden coffini crush through wooden oofnns, vrhiob had given way through decay. Tho church was m co pestilential a state that it was intolerable to enter it m warm weather, and. the effluvium waa so foul as lo account for tbe deaths of several of the church officials, the reotor himself having suffered from an affection of the throat attributable to the decomposition of the bodies, Dr Sodgwick Baunders made a report to tbe Home Osce, wbiob led to an Order m Council being issued dealing ff}th the matter on »anifc«y grpandt. Jtßp'pparsd that the parishionera had subioribed £760, beaidps nbiuh the Charity Oomminionoro bud spont £1200 m attemptiDg to coment the vaults, but tbo smells were worse than ever. It had been found impossible to hermetically teal the vaults co as to preclude tbe escape of gas, and the vestry now desired to remove the remain* entirely, at a cost of £8,000. Or Tristram, Q.C., tbe Chancellor of London, made the order as prayed,' giving special directions for the disposal of pertain' bodies vrho:e tho relatives of tbe deceased desired special provision or them. _,