SIR GEORGE BOWYER ANNIVERSARY - RIP

Today is the anniversary of the death of Sir George Bowyer, Bt, the pious and romantic founder member of the British Association, one-time possible Grand Prior of England, patron of 'our' Sisters of Mercy, and benefactor and builder of our Conventual Church of Saint John of Jerusalem in St John's Wood, in the pavement of which, before the high altar, his heart is buried.

Of your charity, pray for his soul. If you happen to be in St John's Wood, do make a visit to the church, where for various reasons he has been rather neglected of late. Chaplains are invited to remember him at the altar at Holy Mass. Gone are the days of an annual chantry Mass in the beautiful church he so generous gave us.

The engraving above is from the Illustrated London News of June 8 1860, in the possession of the Editor.

The window below of St Edmund of Abingdon shows Bowyer presenting his new church in that town to its holy patron. (Click  to enlarge.)