Minutes of the Commissioners: 1712

14. [p. 32] 6 June 1712

1. Read act of Parliament for enlarging time and giving further powers to the Commissioners.

2. Jennings and Annesley to make an abstract of powers in the act.

3. The Committee formerly appointed to consider what is proper to be done for executing the act, and report to next meeting.

4. Commissioners to meet here on Wed. next at 10 a.m.

15. [p. 33] 18 June 1712

1-3. Sites proposed for new church, etc., at Limehouse to be reviewed by the Dean of Canterbury, Sir John Cass, Nelson, Hoskins, Vanbrugh and Chris. Wren, of whom Vanbrugh and Wren to be two. Godfrey to have notice thereof. Only three petitioners for each site to attend committee.

4. Resolved that whatever was done by the Commissioners before expiration of their Commission, 24 Dec. 1711, shall stand confirmed.

5. Hawksmoor to submit plan of the ground of old church and church yard at Greenwich, with an upright plan or draught of a new church, and detailed estimate, with value of old materials fit to be used or disposed of.

6,7. Hawksmoor, being called in, produced plan and estimate. Consideration referred to the Committee.

8,9. Committee to consider of proper models for the new churches. All models offered by any of the Comissioners to be considered by Committee.

10. Beckley to settle title and purchase of site of St George's chapel [Ormond Street], on terms formerly agreed; and to do the like for all other proposals formerly agreed to, or hereafter to be agreed to by the Commissioners.

11. Secretary to give Beckley copies of such proposals.

12. All such reports made by Beckley to be in writing.

13. Bertie, Jennings, Annesley, and Nelson to consider of some proper way to treat with patrons of parishes where new churches are intended to be built, about patronage thereof.

14. Committee's resolution relating to assigning certain times and places for meetings to be considered on Wednesday next; notice to be given by Messenger.

16. [p. 36] 25 June 1712

Read minutes of last meeting.

1. Earl of Rochester to request Queen to assign Commissioners some place in Somerset House for their public meeting, for putting into execution the powers granted by Parliament.

2-4. Considered Hawksmoor's report on the two sites proposed for a church for Limehouse hamlet. Curate of Stepney and one from each party were heard. Resolved that the church be built on Westfield.

5. Hawksmoor to leave plan of Greenwich church with Secretary.

17. [p. 38] 2 July 1712

1. Read minutes of last meeting.

2,3. Lord Treasurer to be desired to direct Exchequer to receive by loan £10,000 upon credit of the coal duties. Signed draft to Lord Treasurer.

Committee to consider Dean of Canterbury's proposal about site for new church at Deptford.

Committee to consider designs and estimates proposed and to be proposed for new church at East Greenwich.

19. [p. 40] 9 July 1712

1. Considered two several plans proposed by Hawksmoor and James for Greenwich new church; they were severally heard.

2. James's plan not to be received; Hawksmoor's, as improved by Archer, is preferable.

3. Hawksmoor to submit particular estimate of his design so corrected; and with the following materials:

Brickwork, well banded with good brick and mortar.

2nd, ashler with coins, and banded with stone.

3rd, estimate of a stone cornish.

4th, a timber cornish.

5th, a roof of oak.

6th, a deal roof.

7th, a basement two feet above ground.

8th, covering with best Derbyshire lead, eight lbs to the sq. ft.

12 [sic]. James to have liberty to propose any other plan, with estimates of each sort of building.

13. Committee to consider Deptford site at next meeting.

14. Committee to meet at Secretary's house on Friday, 11 July at 4 p.m.

19. [p. 42] 16 July 1712

1. Read Wise's resolution about site for church, etc. in Deptford; referred to the committee.

2. Read and approved letter proposed by Secretary pursuant to order of the committee of 11 July.

3. Letter to be sent forthwith to N. Curzon, Esq.

4. Agreed to resolutions of the Committee made on 11 July [see 495], with amendments; that:

5. One general design or form be agreed upon for all the fifty new intended churches, where sites will admit thereof; the steeples or towers excepted.

6. Situations of all the churches be insular, where sites will admit thereof.

7. Ministers' houses be as near the churches as conveniently may be.

8. There be at East end of each church two small rooms, one for vestments, another for vessels or other consecrated things.

9. There be at West end of each church a convenient large room for parish business.

10. Fonts in each church be so large as to permit Baptism by dipping when desired.

11. All pews be single and of equal height, so low that every person in them may be seen either kneeling or sitting, and all facing the communion table.

12. Movable forms or seats be so contrived in the middle aisles as to run under the seats of the pews, and draw out into aisles.

13. Chancel be raised three steps above nave or body of church.

14. There be handsome porticoes to each church.

15. No person be admitted as a general undertaker to build any new intended churches, but every artificer be separately agreed with to perform all the work belonging to his particular trade or business.

16. Hawksmoor to see Sir J. Thornicroft about site he offered at Stockwell.

17. Committee to meet at Church house at the east end of St Clements Danes on Friday 18 July at 4 p.m.

18. Committee to draw an application to be delivered to Queen by Bishops of London and Winchester and Earl of Rochester, or any two, for assigning Commissioners the place they now make use of, or some other, for their public meetings.

20. [p. 45] 23 July 1712

1. Read letter of 19 July from N. Curzon, Esq.

2. Curzon to be informed Commissioners accept his offer of £1,000 for site of St George's chapel, Ormond Street; ready to complete as soon as title laid before their counsel.

3. Advowson not in their power to grant; if they have a power to grant him a seat, they shall be ready to gratify him.

4. Beckley to ask Kent to concur in Curzon's proposal.

5. Dean of Carlisle, Nelson, Jennings and Vanbrugh to enquire after a proper meeting place for Commissioners and their Committees.

6. Hy Smith, Esq. presented a patent under Broad Seal constituting him Treasurer; read by Secretary; to be entered into Book of Muniments.

7. Agreed to Wise's demand, delivered by Dean of Canterbury, 16 July, in all things except his having a pew in the new church [at Deptford], settled to himself and family, and Sam. Prestman's being sexton, neither being in the Commissioners' power to grant.

8. Secretary to acquaint Wise with Commissioners' resolution.

9. Rev. Dr Browne's demand of £200 for his interest in Pardon church yard, proposed for site of new church in St James Clerkenwell parish, is reasonable, provided tenant has a customary right to renew his lease for 21 years, before its expiration, for £3. 10s.

10. No site to be approved as proper for a new church, etc., until it be viewed by some of the Commissioners.

11. Proposed site at Goulstone Square, Whitechapel.

12. Plans to be prepared of all sites purchased by the Commissioners for new churches, etc., to annex them to conveyances.

13. Hawksmoor to submit plan of a church to be built conformable to Commissioners' resolutions of 16 July.

14. Committee to meet at Secretary's house on Friday, 25 July at 4 p.m.

21. [p. 48] 30 July 1712

1. Sir Jas Etheridge offers his interest in two houses next the Snuff house in Goulstone Square, Whitechapel, at usual rates.

2-4. Concerning St Alphage's parish, and annexing part of St James [sc. Giles] Cripplegate thereto.

5. Any persons delivering estimates for building churches to set down the thickness of the stone they design to use in each part, and sort of stone they intend to use; calculations to be on supposition that ashlar nine inches thick one part with another.

6. A time to be fixed by the Commissioners for persons to submit designs and models for new churches.

7. Resolved to proceed upon building Greenwich church, although a general design be not yet agreed upon for the fifty new churches.

8. A model for East Greenwich church to be fixed upon by this day fortnight.

9. A general design or form for the rest of the new churches to be fixed upon before Christmas next.

10. Referred to Committee the Lord Treasurer's reference about the sufficiency of Hy Smith's security as Treasurer.

12. Committee to meet at Secretary's house, Friday, 1 August, at 5 p.m.

22. [p. 50] 6 Aug. 1712

1,2. Smith's security of £5,000, Rob. Cotton being bound with him for the whole, considered sufficient.

3. Ministers of St Alphage and Cripplegate to attend.

4. Considered designs submitted for East Greenwich church.

5-10. Fixed upon the smallest of Hawksmoor's designs. The pillars to support the gallery only; only one portico, at east end; to be 37 ft high within, 90 ft long, and 65 ft wide; to be built with stone, ashlar nine inches thick. To be proceeded upon with all convenient speed.

11. Committee to meet at Secretary's house on Tuesday next at 4 p.m. and receive proposals from masons and bricklayers for said church.

23. [p. 52] 13 Aug. 1712

1,2. Petitions received for and against annexing part of St Giles Cripplegate to St Alphage parish. Consideration deferred.

3-6. Question of a church yard in St Pancras parish for St George's chapel, Ormond Street.

7. Mr Wren and Vanbrugh reported that they had considered proposals of Edw. Tufnell and Strong, masons, and Hues and Billinghurst, bricklayers, referred to them by the Committee, and that they had therefrom drawn two other proposals, one for mason's work and the other for bricklayer's, in East Greenwich church, and proposed that they be called in and shown same, and asked whether they would do the work specified at rates therein proposed. Done accordingly, and they severally agreed.

8. Tufnell offered to find scaffolding at £100, and Strong at £110; after which the artificers were again called in and asked whether, if any should subsequently undertake to build any of the fifty new churches at a cheaper rate and make their work of equal goodness, they would agree to abate their prices accordingly; to which they severally agreed.

9. Tufnell and Strong to be jointly employed in mason's work, Greenwich church.

10. Hues and Billinghurst to be jointly employed in the bricklayer's work there.

11. Committee empowered to finish contracts with said masons and bricklayers and to proceed to do all other things necessary for forwarding building of the church.

12. Committee to be further empowered to agree and contract for such sites for churches, etc., as they think fit.

13,14. About obtaining chambers in Lincoln's Inn for the Commission.

15. Committee to meet at Secretary's house on Friday next at 4 p.m.

16. Hawksmoor to submit to the Committee the forms of proper contracts to be made with masons and bricklayers for East Greenwich church.

24. [p. 55] 17 Sep. 1712, at Secretary's house in Doctors' Commons

1. Earth dug in making foundations of Greenwich church to be laid in the body of the church, or where else necessary, at bricklayers' charge.

2. Resolution of 26 August to be communicated to Lady Mordaunt and Sir John Bennet.

3. All papers or models that shall be in future be delivered to Commissioners or Committee and approved by either of them shall be kept by Secretary, and not redelivered without order.

4. Secretary to read the minutes every day to Commissioners or Committee before they rise; Chairman to sign them before he depart.

5. No person in future to be employed by the Commissioners till he has stood proposed a week at least.

6,7. About proposed site in Red Lion Street, Spitalfields.

8. Nelson and Jennings to agree with Mr Brewer for his chambers in Lincoln's Inn Great Square for one year at £30, and to direct alterations for the Commissioners' reception.

9. Consideration of site in Whitecross Street, Cripplegate, deferred until Ironmongers' Company give in their proposals.

10. Committee to meet here on 24 September.

25. [p. 57] 28 Oct. 1712, at the Banqueting House, Whitehall

1. Read petition of John James.

2,3. Agreed with Committee to accept Wise's demand for £400 for a site of two and a half acres at Deptford for a church etc. Crop on the ground to be valued.

4. Committee appointed by former Commissioners to be continued; Sir Nat. Lloyd, Marriott, Child, Bettesworth, King and Halley to be added; all Commissioners attending to have votes.

5. Committee to meet next Friday at Lincoln's Inn at 4 p.m.

26. [p. 59] 12 Nov. 1712, at Lincoln's Inn

1. Agreed with the Committee in their resolution of 7 November (509), to give the three proprietors £1,260 for ground proposed for a church, etc. in Red Lion Street, in Spitalfields, if their titles be approved.

2. Secretary to sign counterpart of minute relating to purchase of site if vendors require it.

3,4. Secretary stated he had received two bills from Mr Lowther for passing the two Commissions for building churches. Marriott to report if they are reasonable.

5. Committee to consider what salaries to be given to the officers, and what officers ought to be employed.

6. Committee to meet every Monday at 4 p.m.; advertisement to be put in Gazette, Postman, Post Boy, Spectator and Daily Courant.

7. Agreed with Committee's resolution of 22 August, that Hawksmoor finish model for East Greenwich new church in all its parts, in order to have an exact plan drawn therefrom to be annexed to agreements with the several artificers. Hawksmoor to finish model with all expedition.

8. Hawksmoor to measure foundation of Greenwich church, Archer supervising.

9. Referred to Committee to consider what further conveniences necessary in this place.

27. [p. 61] 26 Nov. 1712

1,2. Marriott reported he had examined the bills for passing the Commissions, which were reasonable; the bills to be paid.

3,4. Gratuity of £5. 5s. to be paid Brooks as Doorkeeper.

5,6. Nelson, Bulstrode and Hawksmoor to view site in Hatton Garden.

7. Hawksmoor to lay Greenwich church designs before Committee on Monday.

8. Agreed with Committee in following resolution, that:

(1) £200 p.a. be allowed Rous as Secretary, commencing 21 Sept. 1711.

(2) £30 p.a. be allowed Thos. Crocker as Messenger and Doorkeeper, from Michaelmas 1711.

(3) £100 p.a. to be allowed Skeat as Agent and Solicitor, from time aforesaid.

(4) Whatever has been already paid to be taken as part of salaries.

12 [sic]. None of the salaried officers to be allowed any perquisites or rewards but what first allowed by the Commissioners.

13. A balloting box to be provided. All questions arising at this Board to be determined by balloting, if demanded by any of the Commissioners.

14. Concerning burial ground for St Olave Southwark.

28. [p. 63] 10 Dec. 1712

1. Concerning St George's, Ormond Street.

2,3. Pardon church yard, in St James Clerkenwell parish.

4,5. Agreed with Committee that Hawksmoor and Dickinson be allowed £200 p.a. each as Deputy Surveyors and Clerks of the Works under this Commission, including all incidentals except charges of making wooden models, opening of ground, and travelling (if required) beyond parishes where any of the new churches are to be built. To commence from Michaelmas 1711, and what already paid them to be deducted from salaries.

6,7. Read Committee minutes of 1 December (514) relating to mason's petition for sheds for sheltering their workmen employed on East Greenwich church. Masons to provide sheds at their own charge; and to be allowed £25 for use thereof.

8. Commissioners to meet on 22 December to apply to Lord Treasurer for issue of money.

29. [p. 65] 22 Dec. 1712

1. Letter to Governors of the Charterhouse.

2,3. Application to Lord Treasurer for issue of £5,000.

4. All models proposed for any of the fifty new churches to be delivered to Secretary by 14 January, to be that day considered; notice to be given in summons.