3-077-941 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Curious Easter custom at a City church, Allhallows, Lombard-street: gifts to Christ's Hospital boys, 1890. 'A London City merchant in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Peter Symondes, mercer, by his will and testament in 1586, made a bequest in trust to the Mercers' Company, out of which £3 2s. 8d., worth perhaps £30 in our days, was to be paid yearly to the Parson and Churchwardens of Allhallows or All Saints. Half of this money was to be given on Good Friday to threescore of the children of Christ's Hospital, who were to come that morning to receive it in the chancel of the church. Besides the sixpence for each child, they were to get each a small packet of raisins. "And," says the testator, "although this gift may be thought very frivolous, yet my mind and meaning being hidden, may, notwithstanding, be performed, praying God to make those Children happy Members of the Commonwealth. Amen." Amen, good Peter Symondes, to this day! Each of the boys also receives a new penny, and an Easter Card, given by the Churchwardens, to whom, and to the Clerk and Sexton of the church, and beadles of Christ's Hospital, small gratuities are expressly bequeathed for their pains in making the distribution. We give an Illustration of this curious old custom'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.