Grinling Gibbons’ Transubstantiation Oath (Drapers’ Company declaration signature book 1689-1876)
Creator(s): Worshipful Company of Drapers
Date: Entry for 1712 (contained within Declaration Signature book dated 1689-1876)
Accession Number: DR/MD1
Materials: Work on paper (book)
Location: Drapers’ Hall, Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2N 2DQ
Credit Line (copyright notice for material) : © The Drapers' Company
NOTES ON THE ARTWORK
In 1712, Grinling Gibbons was elected as the Second Master Warden of the Drapers’ Company. In order to hold such a position, company liverymen (as indeed any holders of public office) were required to swear an oath that they did not believe in the religious principle of transubstantiation, in effect confirming that they were not catholic.
Alongside four other liverymen’s names, Gibbons’ signature confirms his acceptance of the oath:
‘I do declare that I do believe that there is not any Transubstantiation in the Lord’s Supper or in the Element of Bread and Wine at or after the Consecration thereof by any person whatsoever’.
Gibbons' signature confirming his declaration that he did not believe in the principle of transubstantiation © The Drapers' Company
