The Chapel Royal: Gentlemen

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

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Citation:

'The Chapel Royal: Gentlemen', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, ed. R O Bucholz( London, 2006), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp279-287 [accessed 26 November 2024].

'The Chapel Royal: Gentlemen', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Edited by R O Bucholz( London, 2006), British History Online, accessed November 26, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp279-287.

"The Chapel Royal: Gentlemen". Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Ed. R O Bucholz(London, 2006), , British History Online. Web. 26 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp279-287.

In this section

Gentlemen 1660–1837

The gentlemen of the chapel royal were appointed by the dean of the chapel via warrant to the sub dean. In the Later-Stuart period there were 32 gentlemen of the chapel royal, twelve of whom were priests and twenty plain gentlemen or lay clerks. (fn. 1) There was much fluctuation at the end of the seventeenth century, but the official establishment was reduced to ten priests and sixteen lay clerks at the accession of George II in 1727. (fn. 2) By that time thirteen gentlemen waited every month, divided into five priests and eight lay clerks. The senior gentleman or father of the chapel was excused from attendance. (fn. 3)

At the beginning of the period the gentlemen of the chapel royal received the same salary as they had under the early Stuarts: £40 per annum. This was raised to £70 in 1662. After 1689, their pay was settled at £11 8s 2d in wages, £61 11s 10d in or a total of £73. In addition, they received £2 per annum apiece in New Years gifts and riding wages. (fn. 4)

According to Chamberlayne, the confessor to the household `is to Read Prayers every Morning to the Family, to visit the Sick, to examine Communicants, to inform such as desire advice in any Case of Conscience or Point of Religion, &c.' (fn. 5) In the mid-eighteenth century he came to be referred to as the household chaplain and this became his official title from 1833. (fn. 6) He received an additional £10 in wages plus £26 10s in `for himself and to provide Surplices and Washing at 2s. p Day'. (fn. 7)

The clerk of the cheque was elected by the gentlemen of the chapel from among their number until 1720. Thereafter he was always the sergeant of the vestry and was, therefore, chosen by the dean. This officer was responsible for keeping the chapel cheque books, marking attendance and collecting fines from absentees. He received an additional 2d in the pound from each salaried gentleman from 1663. (fn. 8)

Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal 1660–1837

1660 Amner, R.
1660 Cooke, G.
1660 Courteville, R.
1660 Howes, W.
1660 Lawes, H.
1660 Peers, T.
1660 Blagrave, T.
[1660] Cave, J.
1660 Colman, E.
1660 Cobb, J.
1660 Cooke, H.
1660 Goodgroome, J.
1660 Nightengale, R.
1660 Purcell, T.
1660 Aug. Braddock, E.
By 1661 Bettenham, G.
By 1661 Frost, H.
By 1661 Harding, J.
By 1661 Hazard, T.
By 1661 Hunt, D.
By 1661 Low, G.
By 1661 Marsh, A., sen.
By 1661 Peniall, M.
By 1661 Purcell, H., sen.
By 1661 Sayer, J.
By 1661 Tinker, P.
By 1661 Thorndale, G.
By 1661 Watkin, N.
1661 16 Feb. Tucker, W.
1661 c.25 Nov. Hill, R.
1662 7 June Yardley, G.
1662 22 Oct. Wilson, J.
1662 14 Nov. Jackson, W.
1664 12 Mar. Low, G.
1664 14 Mar. Husbands, C.
1664 14 Mar. White, B.
1664 c.11 Aug. Richardson, T.
1664 25 Oct. Hopwood, W.
1666 1 Sept. Carter, A.
1667 c.12 Jan. Smith, H.
1667 24 Jan. Humfrey, P.
1669 c.18 Oct. Slauter, E.
1669 11 Oct. Turner, W.
1670 7 Nov. Hart, J.
1671 26 Apr. Hart, R.
1671 5 Oct. Trebeck, A.
1672 11 Sept. Howes, B.
1673 13 May Crispian, S.
1674 16 Mar. Gadbury, R.
1674 24 July Powell, W.
1676 6 Jan. Wise, M.
1676 12 Feb. La Marr, J. B.
1676 25 Apr. Marsh, A., jun.
1678 29 Mar. Heywood, T.
1679 28 Feb. Gostling, J.
1680 10 Jan. Abell, J.
1680 20 Feb. Harris, M.
1681 10 Apr. Woodesen, L.
By 1682 White, B.
1682 6 Aug. Boucher, J.
1683 23 July Vestment, N.
1684 10 Nov. Bentham, S.
1688 8 Nov. Gaches, J. J.
1692 8 Apr. Snow, M.
1694 Jan. Lenton, J.
1695 10 Dec. Damascene, A.
1695 10 Dec. Howell, J.
1696 c. 1 June Barnes, C.
1696 20 June Hart, G.
1697 1 Apr. Williams, D.
1697 1 Aug. Church, J.
1700 2 Mar. Edwards, T.
1700 2 Mar. Jennings, T.
1700 2 Mar. Linacre, T.
1702 8 May Crispian, S.
1702 2 Aug. Elford, R.
1702 5 Sept. Freeman, J. (joint)
1702 5 Sept. Griffith, H. (joint)
1702 9 Nov. Ratcliffe, J.
1702 9 Nov. Washbourn, W.
1702 23 Dec. Freeman, J.
1702 23 Dec. Griffith, H.
1708 c. 12 June Mason, J.
1708 15 July Gates, B.
1708 18 Oct. Hughs, F.
1711 c. 2 Jan. Battle, W.
1712 1 Jan. Aspinwall, E.
1712 2 Oct. Laÿe, G.
1714 29 Oct. Wheely, S.
1715 8 Aug. Baker, T.
1715 8 Aug. Carleton, G.
1715 8 Aug. Chittle, S.
1715 8 Aug. Morley, W.
1715 4 Dec. Flintoff, L.
1716 9 Nov. Gething, T.
1717 27 June Randall, P.
1718 12 June Chelsum, J.
1719 8 Aug. Younge, T.
1719 12 Sept. Blennerhassett, T.
1720 14 Mar. Bell, T.
1721 1 Nov. Perry, W.
1725 8 May Sharp, A.
1728 1 Jan. Pordage, B.
1728 1 Oct. Black, L.
1730 1 Apr. Abbott, J.
1730 1 Oct. Hughs, F.
1731 1 Dec. Cheriton, D.
1732 3 Sept. Howe, R.
1733 28 July Powell, R.
1733 21 Sept. Lloyd, E.
1734 13 Dec. Pottell, W.
1736 8 Dec. Higgate, J.
1736 15 Dec. Rowe, F.
1739 30 Mar. Smith, J.
1740 4 Apr. Gregory, P.
1740 16 Dec. Pinkney, W.
1741 29 Jan. Bayly, A.
1743 10 May Richardson, W.
1743 15 Aug. Ladd, N.
1743 12 Nov. Vandernan, T.
1744 13 Mar. Wass, R.
1744 13 Mar. Evans, H.
1744 14 Apr. Mence, B.
1744 14 Apr. Savage, W.
1745 24 May Baker, T.
1746 31 Mar. Barrow, T.
1746 26 Dec. Fitzherbert, W.
1747 16 Oct. Denham, R.
1751 2 Dec. Allen, F.
1752 3 Aug. Baildon, T.
1753 8 Jan. Wight, M.
1754 26 Feb. Buswell, J.
1755 29 Apr. Cox, H.
1755 16 Dec. Pearce, B.
1755 24 Dec. Coster, W.
1758 12 Jan. Cowper, R.
1758 4 Mar. Hudson, R.
1761 17 Sept. Morgan, D. W.
1762 20 Nov. Mence, S.
1764 5 Jan. Ayrton, E.
1764 5 Jan. Reynolds, J.
1764 28 Apr. Gibbons, J.
1764 3 May Soaper, J.
1765 19 Sept. Clarke, W.
1767 30 Nov. Hayes, P.
1771 9 Jan. Waring, H.
1771 27 Mar. Clarke, W., [sen.]
1771 28 Mar. Bellamy, R.
1772 1 Feb. Dyne, J.
1774 6 Jan. Medley, G.
1774 24 Jan. Hayes, W.
1774 8 Apr. Wood, D.
1777 9 Dec. Friend, J.
1779 24 Jan. Guise, R.
1779 2 Feb. Short, J. H.
1779 29 May Horner, J.
1783 21 Feb. Corfe, J.
1783 12 July Sale, J.
1783 11 Aug. Pearce, T.
1784 16 Dec. Smith, J. S.
1786 4 Mar. Luther, J. C.
1786 6 Nov. Knyvett, C.
1788 8 Nov. Gore, I.
1789 30 May Heather, S.
1789 30 Nov. Champness, S.
1789 30 Nov. Salmon, J.
1790 13 Nov. Fly, H.
1792 29 Feb. Pearce, T.
1792 5 Mar. Moore, J.
1793 27 Nov. Clarke, W., jun.
1794 26 June Neild, J.
1795 23 Feb. Holmes, W.
1795 19 Mar. Pridden, J.
1796 22 Apr. Cannon, E.
1797 12 Apr. Knyvett, W.
1797 30 Dec. Hickes, G.
1798 26 Nov. Beckwith, E. J.
1799 2 Jan. Bartleman, J.
1801 18 Mar. Webb, R.
1802 c.27 Dec. Welsh, T.
1803 10 Jan. Sale, J. B., jun.
1803 4 Apr. Hayes, W.
1803 28 May Houghton, T.
1803 28 May Vaughan, T.
By 1804 Tattersall, W. D.
1805 15 July Hawes, W.
1806 20 Mar. Goss, J. J.
1808 14 June Evans, C. S.
1814 9 Apr. Vander Meulin, J.
1815 28 Dec. Vivian, J. W.
1816 30 Jan. Beale, W.
1817 28 May Salmon, W.
1820 30 Dec. Knapp, H. J.
1820 30 Dec. Mullinex, H.
1821 3 Nov. Pack, C.
1821 5 July Roberts, J
1821 7 Jan. Clark, R.
1824 3 July Barham, R. H.
1825 22 Apr. Hall, W. J.
1825 14 June Packman, R. C.
1827 1 Apr. Hobbs, J. W.
1828 1 Jan. Goulden, H.
1831 26 June Wylde, H.
1831 25 Dec. Horncastle, F. W.
1833 6 June Wesley, C.
1833 1 July Povah, J. V.
1833 1 Oct. Dakins, J. H.
1834 25 Mar. Haden, J. C.
1836 29 Sept. Bradbury, O.

Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal in Extraordinary or Supernumerary 1663–1715; c. 1765–1774

1663 7 Aug. Wake, W.
1664 14 Mar. Richardson, T. (half pay)
1665 16 Jan. Carter, A.
1666 4 Oct. Smith, H.
1669 13 Oct. Slauter, E.
1671 23 July La Marr, J. B. [?in ordinary w/o fee]
1678 4 Dec. Dowsing, J.
1679 25 Feb. Gostling, J.
1679 1 May Abell, J.
1683 Browne, T.
1683 28 June Vestment, N.
1683 24 July Bentham, S.
1685 12 Apr. Morton, E.
1685 23 May Davis, W.
1685 10 Nov. Lenton, J.
1689 17 Dec. Snow, M.
1689 27 Dec. Linacre, T.
1690 6 Dec. Damascene, A.
1691 30 Aug. Howell, J.
1691 31 Aug. La Count, D.
1691 10 Dec. Battell, W.
1691 11 Dec. Corbitt, S.
1692 16 Dec. Williams, D.
1693 2 Jan. Greene, C.
1694 10 Sept. Barnes, C.
1694 10 Sept. Hart, G.
1697 31 Jan. Church, J.
1699 20 June Washbourn, W.
1700 2 Apr. Griffith, H.
1700 7 July Clark, J. (to suc. as Organist)
1700 7 July Croft, W. (to suc. as Organist)
1700 6 Dec. Freeman, J.
1701 6 June Weldon, J. (?Organist)
1701 13 Oct. Spalden, W.
1706 10 Apr. Mason, J. (w/pay)
1708 17 Apr. Gates, B. (w/pay)
1708 31 Aug. Hughs, F. (w/pay)
1708 31 Aug. Laÿe, G. (w/pay)
1709 29 June Aspinwall, E. (w/pay)
1709 29 June Battell, W.
1709 29 June Wheely, S. (w/pay)
1712 12 Jan. Morley, W. (w/pay)
1714 7 Feb. Carleton, G. (w/pay)
1714 8 Mar. Baker, T. (w/pay)
By 1765 Medley, G. (w/pay)

Confessor to the Household 1660–1834 (from 1833 `Chaplain')

1660 June Nightengale, R.
1661 29 Nov. Tinker, P.
1675 1 Nov. Crispian, S.
1697 24 Mar. Ratcliffe, J.
1716 9 Nov. Bentham, S.
1730 28 Feb. Sharp, A.
1736 8 Dec. Higgate, J.
1761 17 Sept. Morgan, D. W.
1795 28 Mar. Fly, H.
1833 1 Oct. Wesley, C.

Gospeller 1694–?1702

1694 Jan. Howell, R. (joint)
1694 Jan. Linacre, T. (joint)
1694 1 Oct. Linacre, T.
1697 8 Nov. Jennings, T.
1700 2 Mar. Ratcliffe, J. (joint)
1700 2 Mar. Washbourn, W. (joint)

Epistler 1694–1702

1694 24 Feb. Snow, M.
1694 1 Oct. Howell, R.
1695 10 Dec. Barnes, C.
1700 2 Mar. Edwards, T.

Clerk of the Cheque 1662–1837

(held by the Sergeant of the Vestry from 1720)

1660 Lawes, H.
1662 8 Nov. Blagrave, T.
1688 21 Nov. Braddock, E.
1708 12 June Williams, D.
1720 30 Apr. Smith, J.
1752 25 Feb. Lovegrove, W.
1777 1 May Dickes, W.
1790 20 Nov. Roe, J.
1816 28 Feb. Howse, R.

Footnotes

  • 1. Chamberlayne (1669, 2nd edn.), p. 228
  • 2. Lovegrove MS., p. 26.
  • 3. CCR [1751], p. 84; NCB, p. 130; Baldwin, p. 292.
  • 4. Rimbault, pp. 59, 233; LS 13/252, ff. 88v–89; Chamberlayne [1694] II, 215; Lovegrove MS., p. 26.
  • 5. Chamberlayne (1669, 2nd edn.), p. 228. See the corroborating testimony of Rev. David Walter Morgan in 1784: `a Place by many supposed a Sinecure but instead thereof, the Duty attending it is very hard indeed; the Confessor being obliged to visit all the sick in the House Baptize all Children born therein and Read Prayers at Eight o'clock every day in the week both Winter and Summer as also administer the Sacrament every Sunday morning': LS 13/181, f. 25v.
  • 6. Miege (1742), p. 65
  • 7. Chamberlayne (1692), p. 171; Lovegrove MS., p. 27.
  • 8. Rimbault, pp. 75–76, 83; Baldwin, p. 288, 296–98.
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