Furnishings

Altar and Altar Rails

These date from the 17th century and the rails comply with the regulations laid down by the Bishop of Norwich in 1663: "Neer one yarde in height, so thick with pillars that dogges may not get in".

Pulpit

This was originally a three-decker, dating from the 17th century, and adapted to its present form in 1908. After the bombing the present copy was made, incorporating the original vertical carving, door and Southernmost panel.

Chained Books

The only chained books in any London Church and consist of the 'Vinegar' Bible (1717), so called from a misprint in the column heading to the Parable of the Vineyard in St Luke XX, two volumes of Foxe's Book of Martyrs (1684), a Prayer Book (1723) and Homilies (1683) which is “to be read in Churches by Ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they then may be understood by the people.” and also  bears on the title page the autograph of Sir Jonathan Trelawney, who as Bishop of Bristol was once of the seven bishops tried in 1688 and subsequently as Bishop of Winchester became a parishioner and seat holder in Chelsea Old Church, The Bishop's Palace being then in Cheyne Walk.

The gift of Sir Hans Sloane

Further information here at www.londnr.com

Font

The Font dates from 1673. The marble is original, the cover a reproduction of the one destroyed in the bombing that was gilded by Charles Lewis ARCA, ARBS.

Ashburnham Bell

Hanging from its headstock in the Porch is the bell presented by the Hon. William Ashburnham as a thank-offering

In 1679 he was travelling through Chelsea late in the evening in the midst of winter, lost his way and got into the Thames. The tide was high, the water cold and he was lost but at a critical moment the Church clock struck nine by the sound of which he was able to ascertain his situation and hence saved his life. In gratitude he gave a bell to the Church inscribed with his name and left a sum of money to pay for the bell to be rung every evening at nine o'clock from Michaelmas to Lady Day. The ringing was discontinued in 1822. 

Clock

Present clock made by Dent, who built Big Ben, installed during rebuild. However recent research by horologist has discovered that the 1761 Edmund Howard clock, that was assumed destroyed in 1941, was present at Dent's workshop in 1958 and can be seen from 1 minute 59 seconds to 2 minutes 10 seconds in the Pathe film here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpoVTvvAT6U

So the search is on for the Howard clock.