John Churchill
On a pillar in St Margaret's church Westminster is an elaborate marble cartouche for master carpenter John Churchill. He served the King and later Queen Anne from 1706 to his death in this capacity and did work at St James's Palace, Windsor Castle and on the Abbey Chapter House when it was a repository for public records. His father in law Matthew Bankes jnr. held the post before him. The tablet is attributed to Robert Churchill and reads:
Underneath lyeth interred the body of John Churchill, late of this Parish, Esquire, who departed this life the twenty eighth day of November 1715 aged 49 yeares
He was buried on 9th December. The painted coat of arms below shows "sable, a lion rampant argent, debruised with a bendlet gules impaling sable, on a cross or, four pellets between four fleurs de lys argent"
Further reading
The History of the King's works, vol. V, edited by H.M. Colvin, 1976
This image can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library
Image © 2025 Dean and Chapter of Westminster