Victorian Gentlemen

Directly ahead are 3 Victorians tombs commemorating noteworthy individuals who were essential to the establishment of the church and other community buildings in this area.

GUY TOMB: This pink granite tomb is that of another benefactor, Henry Guy, who always referred to St John’s as ‘His own dear little church’. Henry Guy was a Chelmsford publisher and insurance agent, who also became very wealthy.  He gave many gifts to the church (including the communion vessels now in Chelmsford Museum) and built for Dovedale House, just off Moulsham Street, for himself and his wife Jane. The original house is now part of Chelmsford College.  He is also commemorated by an unusual Sicilian marble tablet on the inside south wall of the church.

VELEY VAULT:  This is the vault belonging to the Veley family. Frederick Thomas Veley was a Chelmsford solicitor, benefactor and businessman who lived in what is now Yverdon House on New London Road. He contributed signifiant sums to the church and died in 1892, a very wealthy man, leaving nearly £24,000. His finest achievement was probably the Chelmsford and Essex Infirmary and dispensary, also in New London Road, for which he was the driving force.

MUSTON VAULT: This vault contains the remains of Christopher Ralph Muston, the first vicar of this parish, who died at Dover (where he had gone to recuperate) in 1859.  Christopher Ralph Muston was a priest who made the transition from Dissenting Minister (he was once pastor of a chapel in Bedford associated with John Bunyan) to Anglican vicar – a highly unusual move in early nineteenth century Britain. He was a prolific author, and royalties from his books enabled the school next door (now St John’s Court) to be built, and the church extended. The tomb contains his wife and his children, all of whom died young.