BROMLEY COLLEGE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—In 1666 John Warner, Bishop of Rochester, founded Bromley College in Kent for the reception of necessitous widows and daughters of the Clergy of the Church of England, within the Realm and Overseas.
As an ancient and honourable foundation, and as a gem of Jacobean architecture, it stands with few rivals. The often meagre stipends of clergy, and the difficulty they find in making suitable provision for their dependents, make it all the more desirable that our appeal should receive a full measure of public support. The original endowments, formerly sufficient to maintain the fabric of the building and also to give a small pension with each house, are now quite inadequate—having remained stationary whilst the cost of repairs, local rates, &c., have, since the War, been more than doubled. Consequently, these small pensions have haat' to be withheld from all ladies newly elected, who now have to possess larger private means. The Trustees, therefore, are at present compelled to refuse those widows of clergy who most need these houses.
For this reason, we appeal to the generous public for their help. £30,000 would so endow the College that not only could these pensions be restored, but one of the most beautiful old brick buildings in England could be kept in repair, which at present is an imperative matter. If all who love beauty and simplicity in architecture, and have the interests of our Clergy and their families in any way at heart, will help us by sending a donation to the Treasurer, A. C. Norman, Esq., The Rookery, Bromley Common, Kent, we shall be deeply grateful.—We are, Sir, &c., Aterntra S. HICHENS (Chaplain) ; CAMDEN ; HUGH CECIL, M.P. ; CORNWALLIS ; JOYNSON-HICKS ; EDWIN LUTYENS, HA.; JOHN SIMPSON, K.B.E., F.R.I.B.A. ; ROBERT NEWMAN, Bt., M.P. ; E. GUY DAWBER, A.R.A. ; CUTHBERT JAMES, M.P.
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