A silver-gilt communion cup and paten presented in 1733 for the use of the sick in St. George's Hospital, Hyde Park Corner, London

A small silver gilt communion cup of tumbler form on trumpet shaped foot with central rib with separate footed paten.

Lent by St. George's Hospital Charity.

This chalice and paten were given to St. George's Hospital in about 1733 by Viscountess Scarsdale of Kedleston, Derbyshire

The maker's mark can be identified as that of Edward Feline (about 1695-1753). Feline served his apprenticeship with Augustin Courtauld from 1709 and established his own workshop in Rose Street, Covent Garden in 1720. Feline made a table centrepiece for the Williams family of Bodelwyddan, Clwyd, now in the National Museum of Wales and a Christening bowl and cover as George II's present to his goddaughter Lady Emilia Lennox, daughter of the Duke of Richmond in 1731

Historical significance: When St. George's Hospital opened in 1733 Richard Willis, Bishop of Winchester was elected President. Hospital governors recognised the importance of religion in educating and nurturing those for whom they cared. Regular communion was seen as part of the healing process. By 1772, Maitland recorded in his History of London, II, p.1504 'Prayers are read daily to the Patients. A Sermon is preached every Sunday, the Communion is adminstered every Month and the Chaplain attends at other times to catechize and to perform other religious offices, as often as their cases require and when the Patients are discharged, religious Tracts are given to each of them for their further Education.'

Gifts to Charity
Public benefactions were seen as evidence of the donor’s faith. In 18th-century London, leading citizens founded institutions to assist the poor, sick and isolated. Prevention was better than a cure, and in 1758 the Asylum for Female Orphans was founded to prevent prostitution. In the same year the Magdalen Hospital was established to reform repentant prostitutes.

Hospital governors recognised the importance of religion in educating and nurturing those for whom they cared. Regular communion was considered part of the healing process. In poorhouses parish officers saw that communion was celebrated and prayer books distributed.

St. George's Hospital was established in Lanesborough House, Hyde Park Corner in 1733 with thirty beds although this soon increased to sixty. The first patients were received on New Year's day 1733/4. By 1735 Lanesborough House was enlarged and able to accommodate 100 patients. This small communion cup and paten were used to give communion to the sick.

This small cup was used to serve consecrated wine to the sick, during services of Holy Communion at St George’s Hospital in London. Along with a paten (for the consecrated bread), it was bequeathed to the hospital by Lady Curzon.

In 18th-century London, leading citizens founded institutions to assist the poor, sick and isolated. This charity was seen as evidence of the donor’s faith. St George’s Hospital was established in 1733 at Lanesborough House, Hyde Park Corner. Richard Willis, Bishop of Winchester, was the first president, followed by Frederick, Prince of Wales. There were only 30 beds.

LOAN:ST GEORGE HOSP.1&.2