Paten Cover
1697-1698 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Although its proportions resemble those of secular guild cups, this cup was used in church to serve the consecrated wine during Holy Communion. Along with a paten, it was given to St Mary Abbot’s Church, Kensington, in 1697. The foot of the cup is engraved ‘Christiana Verney’ and the bowl bears her coat of arms with the Latin inscription, ‘To God and the church of Kensington’.
Christiana was wife of John Verney, eldest son of Lord Willoughby de Broke of Compton Verney, Warwickshire. St Mary Abbots was a then fashionable church, situated close to Kensington Palace and attended by members of the court.
Christiana was wife of John Verney, eldest son of Lord Willoughby de Broke of Compton Verney, Warwickshire. St Mary Abbots was a then fashionable church, situated close to Kensington Palace and attended by members of the court.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, engraved |
| Brief description | A silver communion cup and paten supplied by William Denny and John Bache, 1697, for the use of St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington |
| Physical description | circular dish on stand with engraved crest of the Verney family in the centre |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Maker's mark for William Denny and John Bache and the crest of the Verney family 'a king's head'. |
| Gallery label | Communion Cup and Paten
Although its proportions resemble those of secular guild cups, this cup was used in church to serve the consecrated wine during Holy Communion. Along with a paten, it was given to St Mary Abbot’s Church, Kensington, in 1697. The foot of the cup is engraved ‘Christiana Verney’ and the bowl bears her coat of arms with the Latin inscription, ‘To God and the church of Kensington’.
Christiana was wife of John Verney, eldest son of Lord Willoughby de Broke of Compton Verney, Warwickshire. St Mary Abbots was a then fashionable church, situated close to Kensington Palace and attended by members of the court.
London, England, 1697–8; by William Denny
(died 1707) and John Bache (active 1673–1729)
Silver
Lent by the Vicar and Churchwardens of St Mary
Abbots with St George, Kensington, London(22/11/2005) |
| Credit line | Vicar and Churchwardens, St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington |
| Object history | The paten cover was given to St. Mary Abbots, Kensington by Christiana, wife of John Verney, the eldest son of Lord Willoughby de Broke of Compton Verney, Warwickshire Historical significance: The donor was a prominent member of the local community in Kensington. Many women recorded their active involvement with the church in this way. |
| Historical context | Gifts to the Church Gifts were the most important source of English church plate in the 17th century. The donor was usually a prominent member of the community, which in country parishes often meant the local landowner. But gifts came from other sources too. Many were given by women, showing their active involvement with the church. Churchwardens also took pride in commissioning new silver and often contributed to the cost. Occasionally, gifts like Lord Hertford's chalice and flagon were made to win support for a political cause. Not all of these gifts were new. Old-fashioned domestic plate, often richly decorated with secular ornament, was welcomed and used for the service of communion or the collection of alms. With King William and Queen Mary in residence at Kensington Palace, St. Mary Abbots became the fashionable parish church for members of the court. |
| Summary | Although its proportions resemble those of secular guild cups, this cup was used in church to serve the consecrated wine during Holy Communion. Along with a paten, it was given to St Mary Abbot’s Church, Kensington, in 1697. The foot of the cup is engraved ‘Christiana Verney’ and the bowl bears her coat of arms with the Latin inscription, ‘To God and the church of Kensington’. Christiana was wife of John Verney, eldest son of Lord Willoughby de Broke of Compton Verney, Warwickshire. St Mary Abbots was a then fashionable church, situated close to Kensington Palace and attended by members of the court. |
| Bibliographic reference | E. Freshfield, The Communion Plate of the Parish Churches in the County of London, Rixon and Arnold, 1895,p.45 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:ST MARY ABBOTS.4 |
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| Record created | February 11, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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