Thomas More bought land stretching from the Thames up to the King’s Road in 1520. He chose this site as being midway between the King’s Thames-side palaces at Hampton Court and Greenwich. The house he built became known as Beaufort House after his execution. As you can see there were extensive grounds with gardens, orchards and stables in the North West corner.
It was from Beaufort House that Thomas More was taken by boat to the Tower. The house is long gone but the stables have been re-purposed.
“The Moravian Church in England was founded in 1742 by missionaries who had come to London from Moravia (now in the east of the Czech Republic) in search of passage to the British colonies in order to take the Gospel to the communities living there. They realised that there was also work to do in this country and that there were people like the Wesley Brothers with whom to do it. After holding worship meetings in private homes, a permanent chapel was created at Fetter Lane in the City of London. The Fetter Lane chapel was destroyed by bombing in 1941, and in the 1960s the congregation moved to the Chelsea site. This is where they have worshipped ever since, with the responsibility of looking after “God’s Acre,” which contains the graves of distinguished Moravians. Also buried there is an Inuit boy whom the Moravian missionaries had brought back from Canada.“ (The Chelsea Society)
The burial ground was first used in 1751. The gravestones are flat indicating the equality of the deceased and the burial ground is divided into four squares: two for single and married Sisters and two for single and married Brethren. Boys and youths lie on the west side of the NW square. Four fig trees are in the centre. To digress, when I was in Crete I saw the German war graves are also laid flat.
The Inuit boy, Nunak, was unbaptised. He came to England on a Moravian mission ship, Harmony, in 1787. The Captain was James Fraser, also buried here. The Harmony supplied the Moravian missionaries in Labrador with materials and trading goods and returned with whalebone and pelts as well as missionary families.
”We were also glad to see an Esquimaux, who came hither from Labrador on board the Harmony. He is a Youth of about 18 years of age, who tho’ not Baptised used to frequent the meetings in Labrador. He behaved here in the publick preaching & at a Lovefeast of the Single Brethren in a very orderly manner; and is very confidently and affectionate in his way. Were we but able to tell him in his own language that his Maker & Redeemer purchased him by his Blood.” (Fetter Lane Congregation Diary)
Nunak contracted smallpox and died. Because he was not baptised he is buried in the SW corner of the Moravian Close outside God’s Acre.
What a joy – and a moment of stillness during a fraught day. So glad I stopped to listen now!
Glad to learn more about Moravians too: I have a note to add to your last, but later … .
An interesting (as usual) pair of posts. The thin Moravian cookies have been a favorite since childhood, and there are some in the cupboard now. Though I have never been to Brno, I do have some pottery with Moravian designs purchased at a holiday market in Prague — where the statue of Jan Hus dominates one end of Old Town Square. He has always seemed a man ahead of his time, as you say.
Also quite enjoyed the video: have tickets to see Voces8 when they wander as far as Oregon this autumn.