The Rev. Thomas
Lancaster became Vicar of St. Mary the Virgin, Merton in April 1801. In September of that
year Nelson arrived to live at Merton Place and he asked
“Is there a good Church at Merton, we must set an example to the people of
Merton.” Thereafter, he attended regularly with Lady Hamilton and often with his
nephews and nieces, especially Horace and Charlotte, the children of his brother William.
It was said
that Charlotte used to turn the
pages of the Prayer Book for her Uncle as he found it difficult with one hand.
The Rev.
Lancaster welcomed Nelson to the Church and apportioned a fine box pew for the household,
the seat of which remains to this day in the Church. He also, at one time, changed the
name of the small school he ran at Eagle House, (near the war memorial on Wimbledon
Common) to Nelson House in honour of his famous parishioner. In 1805, when his son Henry
was 14, Lancaster sent him to join
the “Victory” and he travelled to Portsmouth and on to Spithead, arriving at the
same time as Nelson, who had come from a fortnight's leave at Merton Place.
After Trafalgar, which Henry survived, the Rev.
Lancaster received a memorial ring from Nelson's executors. It was the fashion to present
such rings to relatives and friends after a person's death. The full list of the
recipients of Nelson's rings is kept at the British Museum.
People
sometimes wonder why the Rev. Lancaster accepted Nelson so readily knowing his
relationship with Lady Hamilton. It could be that he was delighted to find an aristocratic
household among his flock and relished the prestige that came with it. I say it was
Nelson's CHARISMA !
Top of page |
