Here’s an unusual fundraising idea for churches: sell off the crown jewels! An astonishing collection of jewellery once owned by the Prince Regent has fetched a staggering £30,000 at an auction to raise funds for church repairs. The jewels, all peridots (a type of opal) set in gold, included a necklace, two bracelets, earrings and five brooches. And they sparked a bidding frenzy when they went under the hammer! Bidders were intrigued by the provenance of the items, which had been owned by Prince Regent George IV. The jewels were a gift from George to Lady Charlotte Cotes, a Lady-In-Waiting, requesting she wear it at his daughters wedding in 1816. The lot also included an accompanying letter written by George begging her to accept the Chrysolites - an old English word for the gems. The letter read: “My dear Miss Coats, I write in great haste by command of the Prince Regent to beg you to accept the set of Chrysolites which I send with this Note. He hopes You will wear it at the Wedding [2 May, 1816] as a proof of his regard. I fear I have not said half enough to Your Sister but they are all talking to loudly I scarcely know what I am saying. Yours sincerely. George. April 30th, 1816.” George IV was king of Britain and Ireland and king of Hanover following the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820, until his own death ten years later. From 1811 until his accession, he served as Prince Regent during his fathers final mental illness. The extraordinary items were given to monks at the Community of the Resurrection by a distant relative of the Prince Regent with ties to the monastery, to help pay for major renovations to their church, which has fallen into disrepair. They organised the auction as part of efforts to raise £2.3million to save their church. A monastery has existed in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, since 1898 and currently has 22 members. The monastery also features the College of the Resurrection, a theological training college where both men and women come to train for the priesthood. Other items sold include a Bishops Mitre for £60, a chasuble worn by clergy for £120, and a silver paten and chalice studded with amethysts for £900. In total the auction raised £50,000. Last year the brethren sold famous Mouseman Robert Thompson furniture which fetched £17,800, and along with other items in last years auction brings the grand total to £100,000. Father John Gribben said: “Organising the auction has been a great responsibility. Im glad its over but I have enjoyed every minute.” dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2231487/Fetching-princely-sum-Auction-stunning-jewellery-owned-English-royalty-help-monks-raise-30-000-pay-monastery-repairs.html
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:25:09 +0000
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