2-970-089 - /Heritage Images

The Bishop of Bath and Wells (Lord Auckland) preaching the Thanks-Giving Sermon, in Westminster Abbey, before the House of Peers, on Sunday last, 1856. Church service in London attended by members of the Houses of Parliament. 'The whole of the official staff of the House, comprising the librarian, the keeper of the papers, &c., the various ushers and messengers, were present; and, although the number of peers was not great, the procession was sufficiently full. There was a large choir, and full cathedral service was chanted...so great was the crowd, and so very ill-adapted for hearing is the part of the Abbey appropriated for the accommodation of the major part of the congregation, that little if any part of the discourse reached those who were not in the immediate vicinity of the preacher'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.