Rev. James Stillingfleet M.A.

If you walk in Worcester Cathedral there are at least three places where you will find something in reference to the Rev. James Stillingfleet.

This plaque is on the north-west wall and mentions Knightwick where he was once the vicar.

Near this place rests the body of
the Rev'd. James Stillingfleet M.A.
Sometime Fellow of Merton College, Oxford.
He was Rector of Knightwick, and
for 45 years Prebendary of this Cathedral.
Deceased July 8th, 1817. Aged 87.
Also of Katherine his Wife, daughter
of *Herbert Mackworth, Esq.,
of Gnoll Castle, Glamorganshire.
Deceased February 27th, 1782. Aged 47.

The last of Evan's descendants to own Gnoll House was Sir Herbert Evans, who died in the late 17th century. Sir Herbert's daughter and sole surviving heir, Mary, married Humphrey Mackworth (later Sir Humphrey) in 1686 and on her death ten years later, Mackworth became owner of the estate.

Mackworth extended the house (sometimes known as "Gnoll Castle"), and developed various coal mining interests locally, as well as branching out into other industries. His eldest son, 
*Herbert Mackworth, continued his industrial interests, and developed the Gnoll copper works. Sir Herbert Mackworth, 1st Baronet, Herbert's son, increased the amount of coal mining carried out on the estate.

The house no longer exists and the area is now a country park.

This wall monument can be found in a small open area on the north-west side of Worcester Cathedral.

Near this Place
Are deposited with the Ashes of his Ancestors
The mortal Remains of
The Rev'd., JAMES STILLINFLEET, M.A.
Formerly Fellow of Merton College Oxon.
Rector of Knightwick, and more than forty five Years
Prebendary of this Cathedral.
who died on the 6th Day of July A.D. 1817
In the 88th Year of his Age.
Supported by those sacred Principles of Christian Faith & Hope,
which he was ever zealous to inculcate and adorn.

Assiduous in the Study of the Original Scripture.
Instant in Prayer for the Wisdom that descendeth from above,
and warmly attached to the Apostolical Doctrine
and Polity of the Established Church.
He conscientiously persevered to a very advanced Age,
In testifying the Gospel of the Grace of God.
And approved himself a faithful Steward of the divine Mysteries.
In Social and domestic Life.
The Mildness of his Disposition the Urbanity of his Manners,
and the Purity of his Example
Conciliated general Esteem and gave Weight to his
Public Instructions.

He left three Sons by his first wife KATHERINE. Daughter
of HERBERT MACKWORTH Esq., of Kings Walden Park Herts,
who dedicates this Monument
to the Memory of her much lamented Husband.

A walk around the Crypt at Worcester Cathedral shows numerous grave markers reused to pave the floor, some came from the floor of the Lady Chapel and Retrochoir, others from the Nave and Cloisters. This one on the left was the grave marker of the Rev'd., James Stillingfleet and Katherine his wife.

Here lieth the Body
Of the Rev'd., James Stillingfleet M. A.
PEBENDARY of this CATHEDRAL
and Daughter of the late Herbert Mackworth Esq.,
Member of Parliament for Cardiff.
She departed this life Feb., 27, 1782, aged 47.
Behold and faith and deed in whom there was no guile
They who knew her before gave Praise
of her Character as a real Christian
whose understanding was enlightened
with a saving knowledge of God's word
whose Heart was devoted to his Service
and whose Mouth was filled with his Praise.
In seeking continual opportunities of doing good
to the Souls & Bodies of her Fellow-Creatures.
She plenteously brought forth the fruit of good works
while she neither unified nor glorified in them,
but in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
World was Crucified with her and she unto the World
Prepared for her great change.
She was ready upon the short notice of a few hours illness
to go forth with Oil in her Lamp
To meet her heavenly Bridegroom.
For Christ was her gain both in Life and Death.
She left a Husband, three Sons to feel the Loss
may they head in the Steps of her Faith & Practice
And follow her as she followed Christ.
The following Lines express the Sentiments which for
many years married her Soul in the Path of duty,
and gave her firm Support in the Hour of death.
Jesu thy Blood and Rightousness
My Beauty and my glorious Dress
Midst flaming Worlds in their arrayed
With Joy shall lift up my Head
When from the Dust of Death rise
E'en then shall this be all my Plea
Jesus hath lived and died for me.

From: BIOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE, 1820.

JAMES STILLINGFLEET, M. A. Prebendary of Worcester, 1772,
Was born September 14th, 1729, and was the son of James Stillingfleet, of Doctor's Commons, Registrar of the Diocese of this See, grandson of James Stillingfleet, Dean of Worcester, and great grandson of Bishop Stillingfleet. He received his education at Westminster School, under Dr. Nichol, and being removed to Oxford, obtained a Hebrew Fellowship at Wadham College, and was afterwards elected Fellow of Merton. Here he became a proficient in the Hebrew language, which he read without the points. His associates were eminent for piety and learning, and under the influence of some of them, he imbibed the principles of the Hutchinsonian system of philosophy. He held the living of Shawbury, Shropshire, for some years. Under the patronage of the Earl of Dartmouth, he was promoted to a Prebend in this Church, which he continued to occupy till his decease; he also held, at different times, the livings of St. Martin, in this city, and of St. John, in its vicinity, and was many years Rector of Knightwick and Doddenham.

He published three single sermons, viz. 1. "The Christian Ministry and Stewardship," preached before the University of Oxford, June 8, 1760; 2. "Unity of Faith, Righteousness of Life, and Obedience to the Civil Powers commended," preached in the Cathedral Church of Worcester on a general fast, Feb. 21, 1781; 3. "National Gra- titude," a thanksgiving sermon, preached November 29, 1798, on occasion of the victory obtained over the French fleet, off the Nile, by Lord Nelson. He also wrote, in 1763, "An Account of the Life and Ministry of the Rev. Samuel Walker, Curate of Truro, in Cornwall," prefixed to that author's Lectures on the Church Catechism, to which he only attached the signature of his initials. He died at at his house at Malvern, 6th July, 1817, in the 88th year of his age, after being for five-and-forty years Prebendary of this Cathedral, leaving three sons by his first wife, Katherine, daughter of Herbert Mackworth, Esq. of Gnoll Castle, Glamorganshire; and two daughters by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of William Hale, Esq. of King's Waldon Park, Herts; and was buried in this Cathedral, where is a mural slab to his memory, close to the monument of Bishop Hough.