The Tied Chair

Dear friends,

The Revd John Coulson won’t be a name familiar to you, but the keen-eyed can find it on the board with the list of Rectors at the back of Checkendon Church. He was the second incumbent (=Rector) to be appointed by  University College, Oxford, in 1779, after the College had bought the rights to make the appointment in 1765. (This right of patronage, called the “advowson”, could, at that time be bought and sold, for profit. This practise has long since been outlawed, although University College do still nominally hold this title today.) The Revd Coulson only survived his Rectorship for nine years, passing away in 1788. He is buried in the church or churchyard, but sadly I believe his grave is lost. He has a memorial to him on the wall of the chancel, so there is a possibility that his bones may be either under the floor there, or outside the south wall amidst other incumbents past.

By all accounts Coulson was a colourful and very hospitable character, single handedly holding together the administration and tuition at University College, where he was a fellow for thirty six years, from 1744 until 1780, at times holding multiple offices (Dean, Senior Tutor, Registrar) in tandem. It is likely that the College “pensioned him off” to this country parish as a form of retirement, and, equally likely, as a way to get him out of their hair. Archives from the College contain numerous requests from Coulson for assistance with living expenses here, so he obviously found the income from the Checkendon glebe lands not quite up to that which he had been accustomed to receiving. It is also certain that no such assistance was forthcoming.

Which brings me back to my heading. Normally, for a cleric today, one is provided with a “tied house” – a vicarage or rectory – as part of the remuneration. Checkendon, however, is a rarity, in that it also comes with a “tied chair”. (See below) This, being large, square, and very uncomfortable, has languished in the loft awaiting restoration and a decent cushion. You’ll see from the inscription that it is a gift, from Coulson to his successors, made presumably under the terms of his will, as it is dated 1788. Arguably more suited to the dimensions of the Old Rectory, which would have been Coulson’s home, the chair nevertheless is Coulson’s permanent rejoindre to his former College, against whom he railed at the end of his life, for, upon arriving to take up his freehold, he was horrified to find that, unlike a Fellow’s college lodgings at that time, the Rectory came with not a scrap of furniture in it, and that his erstwhile patron would not be providing one whit to facilitate his furnishing it.

Next time you are in Checkendon Church, do see if you can spot Coulson’s memorial in the Chancel. He is worth a salutation for his wry post mortem humour – that every Rector must have “de minimis” a seat to sit in, whether tied to it or not.

Worship Services

Sunday 26th October (clocks go back!)

9.30am Holy Communion at St John’s Stoke Row with Revd John Blair

11am Holy Communion at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Revd John Blair

Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm  410 935 129

Sunday 2nd November

9.30am Morning Prayer at St John’s Stoke Row

11am Morning Prayer at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon.

Nature Notes

The green woodpecker  made a welcome return to the back garden this week, red capped, long beaked industry going for the ant mounds in the turf. Tits have now rediscovered the feeders, and are popping to and fro. The flower border fades, but graciously, so is being left a little longer before being cleared. The highlight of everything right now is the leaf fall, and the colours of yellow, gold, russet and bronze. October draws on, and the garden begins properly to close down for the winter. Although the gardener in us should be thinking ahead to the spring, there is time enough for that. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord for all his wonderful works. If you can this week, take a few moments, indoors or out, to be still, and wonder at the marvel all around you.

Thank you all for your support for your churches, and for all you do to bless one another. Half term is coming up, so the next one of these from me will be, God willing, on November 4th. Remembrance Sunday this year is on the 9th.

Yours, in the service of Christ

Revd Canon Kevin Davies