3-074-940 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Funeral of Robert Browning in Westminster Abbey, 1890. 'On Tuesday, Dec. 31, the funeral of the poet Robert Browning, who died at Venice on Dec. 12, took place in "Poets' Corner"...The Dean of Westminster conducted the funeral service, accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury, not wearing his robes of office, and the Dean of Windsor...The service began in the choir, with the chanting of the 90th Psalm to Purcell's music, the reading of the lesson, and the singing of Dr. Bridge's new musical composition with the verses of Mrs. Browning's beautiful poem, "He giveth His beloved Sleep," followed by Wesley's anthem "All go to one place." The coffin was then carried to the grave in Poets' Corner; the pall-bearers were Mr. Hallam Tennyson, Sir Fitzjames Stephen, the Master of Trinity. Sir Theodore Martin, the Master of Balliol, Archdeacon Farrar, Sir F. Leighton. Professor Masson, Sir George Grove, Sir James Paget, Professor Knight, and Mr. George Smith. The remainder of the service was performed at the grave, and was ended with the Benediction, after which the organ played the Dead March from "Saul." The inscription on the coffin was simply, "Robert Browning, born May 7, 1812; died Dec. 12, 1889".' From "Illustrated London News", 1890.