Commemoration of the 353rd Anniversary of the Birth of the Founder, Sir John Cass, Kt
As I noted last year in this blog entry, and as I have done for several years, I attended the commemoration of the birth of Sir John Cass, Founder of Sir John Cass's Foundation yesterday, 12 February 2014.
Sir John Cass was born in the City of London in 1661 and, during his lifetime, served as both Alderman and Sheriff. He was also MP for the City and knighted in 1712. In 1710 Cass set up a school for 50 boys and 40 girls in buildings in the churchyard of St Botolph-without-Aldgate. Intending to leave all his property to the school, when he died in 1718 of a brain haemorrhage, Cass had only initialled three pages of his Will. The incomplete Will was contested, but was finally upheld by the Court of Chancery 30 years after his death. The school, which by this time had been forced to close, was re-opened, and the Foundation established.
Map of Aldgate
I also took some photos in the church for my own pleasure:
Lastly, this is the back page of the programme of service, giving a bit more background on why Sir John Cass and his foundation are so significant in the life of the City of London
