Antigua and the Antiguans Volume I Part 19

The communion-table is covered with dark purple velvet, fringed deeply with gold; and on either end lie cushions to match. The communion-service plate is very handsome; the large salver, measuring eighteen inches in diameter, was presented to the church by John Otto Baijer, Esq., about the year 1724. It displays a representation of the "Lord's Supper," the figures in beautiful _ba.s.so-relievo_, and bears the following inscription:-

Donum Domini Johannis Otto Baijer Ad Templum Divi Johannis Antigua.

The two smaller salvers and the cup are inscribed as follows:-

In usum Templi Divi Johannis in Antigua Gulielmus Jones Parochialis hujus olim Rector Donum Dedit.

Besides the communion-plate, the table supports a pair of tall silver lamps, with ground-gla.s.s burners, bearing the inscription-

Donum Domini Petre Lee ad Templum Divi Johannis in Antigua.

And on each side of the table stand quaint-looking chairs, for the accommodation of the bishop and archdeacon, which have been used for that purpose since the dismantling of the "Bishop's Pew."

The pulpit and desk are of dark oak, as also the railings to the stairs; and, like the communion-table, have each their drapery and cushions of dark purple, with deep gold fringe and ta.s.sels, and the "I. H. S." encircled with its golden rays. Formerly the pulpit, surmounted by a sounding-board, stood further down the nave; but after being removed once or twice, the desk has been separated from the pulpit, and they are placed at the entrance of the chancel, on each side the aisle.

About the centre of the church is suspended a bra.s.s chandelier, consisting of ten branches, which have been lately fitted up with ground-gla.s.s burners; it was a gift (by will, 2nd May, 1740) to the church, from Phillip Darby, an old inhabitant of Antigua, and rector of St. John's.

At the entrance of the church from the north vestibule stands a small marble font, of a semi-spherical form, ornamented with four heads of cherubs, and supported by a corniform pedestal. It is intended to be placed at the extreme end of the middle aisle, immediately before the west entrance, and opposite the altar-a site far more applicable for it than where it now stands.

The church is lighted by fourteen windows: six in the north aisle, six in the south aisle, and two in the east end of the building. Formerly they were all fitted up with _jalousies_; but within these last few years, the eight nearest the altar have been reglazed with ground gla.s.s, arranged in a Gothic pattern.

These windows are divided into six compartments; and are so contrived, that, by aid of a turnscrew, they can be opened to a certain height. They certainly add to the _beauty_ of the edifice, but deteriorate from its _comfort_ by rendering it warmer than it otherwise would be: a circ.u.mstance not desirable in this fervid climate.

Several fine monuments grace the walls of this sacred building; but the oldest sepulchral inscription is upon a stone slab, in the chancel, to the memory of Mrs. Gilbert, wife of Mr. Gilbert, who introduced methodism[71] in Antigua, and who died in 1747.

In the south aisle are the following monuments:-

An elegant mural monument of white marble upon a black ground, erected to the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Ottley, wife of Richard Ottley, Esq., and daughter of Ashton Warner, speaker of the house of a.s.sembly in 1716. The ornamental part of this monument consists of the figure of a seraph with outspread wings, leaning upon a sepulchral urn, bearing a coronal of undying laurel leaves in its right hand; and in its left an inverted torch, partly extinguished, emblematical of the uncertainty of human life. The inscription is as follows:-

"Near to this place is laid, with the remains of her honoured parents, the body of Elizabeth, the pious, amiable, and much-beloved wife of Richard Ottley; who departed this life, in the Island of St Vincent, on Thursday, 28th August, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, in the thirty-second year of her age.

"She was the daughter of Ashton Warner, Esq.,[72]

Attorney-General of Antigua, by Elizabeth, his wife, and was born the 7th June, 1735, O.S.; married 25th October, in the year 1753, and left issue surviving her, one son and three daughters-viz., Drewry, Elizabeth, Mary Trant, and Alice.

"She possessed a graceful person, an excellent understanding, and a sweetness of disposition that engaged the esteem of all that knew her, and performed with so much complacency the several duties in her family, and those of a good friend and neighbour, that it may be truly said she died universally lamented, and a real loss to that infant colony. Her inconsolable husband (in whose arms she expired, after bearing with admirable fort.i.tude and resignation the excruciating pains of a long and difficult labour) caused this monument to be erected to her memory.

"The son with whom she died reclines upon that breast which would have nourished him had the Almighty so permitted."

A very chaste and elegant white marble tablet, forming a Gothic arch, erected to the memory of the Honourable Sam. Otto Baijer, a descendant of Bastien Baijer, who signed the capitulation in 1666, bearing the following inscription:-

As a last mournful token of affection, This Tablet is erected by Elizabeth Mary Otto Baijer, To the memory of her beloved Father, The Honourable Samuel Otto Baijer, Of Pares Estate, in this Island; Who died at Philadelphia On the 20th of December, 1835, Aged 54 years.

Also to the memory of her Mother, Elizabeth Mary Otto Baijer, Who died in 1813, at Dove Hall, In the Island of Jamaica, In the 27th year of her age.

Also to the memory of her Brother, Rowland Archibald Otto Baijer, Son of the above-named Samuel Otto Baijer and Mary Elizabeth his Wife, Who died at Pares Estate, in this Island, On the 24th of November, 1837, Aged 25 years and 8 months, And whose remains repose near this spot.

A small, unpretending marble tablet:-

Sacred To the Memory of Elizabeth Jane Harman, Who died on the 16th April, A.D. 1828, Aged 21 years.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels."

A pyramidal monument, supported by fluted pillars, and bearing a small sarcophagus, surmounted by two figures of children or cherubs, holding in their hands a scroll, on which is written texts from Scripture. The inscription is as follows:-

"Supported only by a meek obedience to the decrees of Eternal Wisdom, and a firm trust in the Atonement of a gracious Redeemer, William and Ruth Atkinson, once inhabitants of Antigua, and now of Dominica, as an inadequate evidence of their intense and aggravated anguish for the poignant and crushing trial they have undergone in the loss of both their children, pay this melancholy tribute, when advancing into manly, lively virtue, such as fills the parents' soul with solid comfort.

"George Atkinson, their first and last spared hope, had nearly reached his twelfth year. This blooming prop of their declining age-when, by a mild and artless truth, joined to innate goodness and suavity of temper, he had irresistibly won the esteem and love of all-quitted this life without a struggle on Sunday, 5th Dec. 1779.

"William Atkinson, their youngest, died in infancy.

What poets paint, what marbles feebly tell, Defective far are all; Such woes are only to be known To real feeling souls.

Where equal growing filial worth's bewail'd, The name of Son thus lost, all consolation fail'd.

1782."[73]

A small tablet, representing a white scroll upon a black ground, surmounted by a laurel chaplet, bearing inscription:

In memory of Auther Teagle, Who departed this life On the 20th November, 1839, Aged 43 years.

"Thy will be done."

In the north aisle are four monuments; the first, beginning from the east, erected to a late curate of St. John's. It consists of a white marble tablet, and above, the figure of an angel soaring upwards, and encompa.s.sed with clouds. The tablet bears the following inscription:-

To the memory of The Rev. William Thomas Bernard, A.B., Of Trinity College, Dublin, Late curate of this parish, Where, after a short residence of four months, In the faithful exercise of his ministry, and The manifestation of much private worth, He died of fever, Nov. 2nd, 1835, In the 26th year of his age, Most deeply and generally regretted, This tribute of esteem and affection Is erected, Partly by his much afflicted Sister, Ellen M. Baily, And partly by the Right Rev. William Hart Coleridge, D.D., Lord Bishop of this diocese, The clergy of Antigua, and other friends in the Island, who mourn his early loss.

Beneath the tablet are his coat of arms, with the motto-

"Bear and Forbear."

A white marble monument, with a deep border of variegated brown marble, to the memory of a descendant of Sir Thomas Warner. The ornamental part consists of a female figure enveloped in widow-like drapery, and leaning upon an urn. The inscription is as follows:-

This monument Is erected to the memory of The Honourable William Warner, Esq., Who was a member of His Majesty's Council, And Treasurer of this Island.

Honourable by his office of Counsellor, But More honourable as a man: For if Virtue alone is true n.o.bility, And if justice, moderation, temperance, meekness, Consummate honesty, charity, generosity, and Conjugal affection, are virtues that are held in any estimation Among men, This man, Who lived in the exercise of them all Was truly honourable.

He died on Friday, 11 October, 1771, in the forty-third year of his age, Universally regretted, and lamented by all orders and degrees among Us.

To commemorate her anguish for his loss, and as a public Testimony of her love and duty, his disconsolate widow hath Caused this memorial to be raised.

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

A very elegantly designed white pyramidal monument erected to the memory of an only child. A chastely sculptured female figure leans upon a "storied urn," with a beautifully chiselled wreath of flowers thrown around her. This monument has been unfortunately injured, one of the hands and part of the arm of the figure being broken off.

In memory of her only and beloved daughter, Sarah Kelsick, Wife of Mr. John Kelsick, merchant in Antigua, Who died on 20th day of March, 1785, In the 19th year of her age.

This monument was erected by her disconsolate mother, Sarah Eccleston, Wife of Isaac Eccleston, Esq., 1792.

From the parent, the husband, the friend, Her social and amiable virtues Claim the tribute of affliction, And though early cut off, She must ever live in the memory of those Who had the happiness of her acquaintance.

Vivit post funera virtus.

The next is an elaborate and splendid monument, erected by the country to the memory of Ralph Lord Lavington; and however peculiar the taste which dictated the design, the execution, at least, possesses merit. The top figure represents his lordship in a sitting posture, habited in the old court dress, and his plumed hat lying at his feet. The inscription is traced upon a light grey marble, hollowed out so as to allow of the insertion of a small sarcophagus, bearing his coat of arms, with a beautifully-executed branch of oak-leaves thrown across it.

Two female figures recline on each side; the one on the left hand, representing Astrea with her scales by her side, and the hilt of the sword of justice, very minutely and beautifully sculptured, protruding from behind the sarcophagus; her finely-formed and cla.s.sic face is up-turned towards the old lord.

In the other figure we behold the genius of the island, mourning for the loss of a favourite governor. She holds in her right hand a scroll, upon which is inscribed-"Resolved, that a monument be erected to his memory," while with her left hand she shades her features as if in deep grief. At the feet of these figures rolls the sea, the waves, surmounted with their foam, very well executed. This costly monument bears the following inscription:-

Sacred To the memory of Ralph Payne Lord Lavington, Of the kingdom of Ireland, One of His Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, Knight of the most honourable Order of the Bath, and Captain-general, and Commander-in-chief of The Leeward Islands.

Upon the base of the monument is the following brief biographical inscription:-