Builders find remains of archbishops

The remains of five former Archbishops of Canterbury have reportedly been discovered beneath a church.

The find was made by builders renovating a medieval parish church next to Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s official London residence, according to a national newspaper.

Workmen found 30 lead coffins while carrying out the work at the Garden Museum, on the site of deconsecrated church of St Mary-at-lambeth.

Metal plates bearing the names of five former Archbishops of Canterbury, going back to the early 1600s, were discovered upon further inspection.

Among the remains are those of Richard Bancroft – Archbishop from 1604 to 1610 – who oversaw the publication of the King James Bible. Also at the site are believed to be the remains of former Archbishops John Moore (archbishop from 1783 to 1805); Frederick Cornwallis (1768-1783); Matthew Hutton (1757-1758) and Thomas Tenison (1695-1715).

St Mary-at-lambeth was originally built in the 11th Century.