Brief for Rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral in London 1678

The Great Fire of London in September 1666 destroyed the Diocesan Cathedral for Essex: St Paul’s Cathedral.

On 26 February 1677/78 the King (Charles II) issued a Brief to all parishes throughout the kingdom requesting contributions towards the rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral. The project had been dogged with financial problems. Christopher Wren’s masterpiece was not finished until 1708 and finally paid for two years later. The return for the High Country parishes, along with others, is preserved at the Guildhall Library.

In my manuscript book made at the Library in February 2006 is a note of references for each parish with the words “perhaps next visit to list names”. This matter is an item I ought to have done which has been left undone.²⁰²

Greensted. Ref: 25747 f89-90

Stanford Rivers. Ref: 25565/9 f104-106

Stapleford Tawney. Ref: 25747 f197

Theydon Mount. Ref: 25565/9 f125-126

Footnote

²⁰² A project for someone to take on maybe?