The most impressive memorial in the churchyard is to the Victorian poet, editor and man of letters, William Ernest Henley. We have created in the church an exhibition about Henley, his work and his connection with important figures in the world of art. Henley is also commemorated in an impressive memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral crypt and which was designed by Auguste Rodin, whose early work Henley championed.
Henley’s most famous poem is 'Invictus'. This has recently come to prominence because Nelson Mandela recited the poem to other prisoners incarcerated alongside him at Robben Island. Memorable lines from the poem include ‘My head is bloody but unbowed’, ‘I am the Master of my Fate, I am the Captain of my Soul’ .
Henley was the inspiration for the character of Long John Silver in Robert Louis Stevenson’s 'Treasure Island'. Come and read why Stevenson chose Henley as his model.
Another literary connection with Henley is his daughter, Margaret, who may have been the inspiration for the name of the character, Wendy, in J M Barrie’s Peter Pan.
Why not visit the church and choose your favourite Henley poem from a selection on display.