Friday 15 March 2019

St Mary's Church, Wanstead, Essex. Part 1, The Monument to Sir Josiah Child.


The Monument to Sir Josiah Child (1630 - 1699).

Attributed to John van Nost the Elder.

A few notes and images -

This attribution was first made by Mrs Esdaile.


Child was created Baronet Child of Wanstead in the County of Essex, in 1678. In 1685 he was elected MP for Ludlow. He served as High Sheriff of Essex in 1689.

He was appointed Governor of the East India Company in 1681.

For a reasonably good potted biography of Josiah Childs see:-



see - Sir Josiah Child, Merchant Economist by William Letwin, (Cambridge, Mass., 1959).
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St. Mary the Virgin Wanstead is considered one of the finest Georgian churches in England. Its virtually unaltered state includes the original oak box pews in the nave, the grained pine box pews in the gallery, the ironwork, the magnificent wooden pulpit and most of its original architectural features.









The church has recently undergone some interior redecoration and the exterior Portland stonework is currently being overhauled, damage has been caused by the original iron cramps rusting.



St. Mary’s is the third church to stand on a site dating back to 1200. 

The current building was designed by architect Thomas Hardwick, who was also responsible for St. Mary’s, Marylebone Road as well as the renovation of both Inigo Jones’ St. Paul’s (Covent Garden) and Wren’s St. James’ (Piccadilly).



The foundation stone was laid on 13th July 1787, after which “numerous gentlemen and ladies were elegantly entertained with cold collation at Wanstead House”. 

Once completed, the church was consecrated by the Rt Rev'd Beilby Porteus, Bishop of London, on 24th June 1790. 













The Child Monument viewed from the balcony.
















































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Sir Thomas Spenser





Monument to Sir Thomas Spenser (d. 1684).
Yarnton Oxfordshire 

Attributed to John van Nost

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Monument to James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry and his wife Mary
attributed to John van Nost.
 at Durisdeer, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland



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Monument to John Lord Digby Third Earl of Bristol, in Sherborne Abbey Dorset 
Signed by John van Nost.


Image from:



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For a Brief Biog. of John Nost III see -


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For three lead statues by Nost see -


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Monument to Thomas Strode
John van Nost.

1698

Strode of Parnham House.
St Mary's Church.
Beaminster, Dorset.

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