Forums

Posted: 19-05-2013 15:54 Post subject: John Dee Plaque

More than 400 years after his death the final resting place of John Dee, the Elizabethan alchemist, astrologer, mathematician, navigator and mystic has been marked in the church in Mortlake where he was buried.

John Dee, who was the central figure in Damon Albarn’s opera ‘Dr Dee’ performed at the English National Opera last year, was one of Queen Elizabeth I’s most trusted advisors. He used astrology to determine the most favourable date for her coronation, and provided valuable navigational information for the great explorers of the era. He was the first person to propose the establishment of a British Empire to rival the Spanish and Portuguese.

He travelled Europe lecturing on astronomy and mathematic and studying with other mystics to discover the secrets of alchemy and the philosophers stone.

He lived much of his life in Mortlake, where he built laboratories for his alchemical experiments, and attempted to contact angelic spirits. His house contained what was probably the largest library in England at the time.

After his death in 1609 he was buried in Mortlake Parish Church, but the location of his grave was not marked.

Since the 400th anniversary of his death the John Dee of Mortlake Society has campaigned and fundraised to install a permanent memorial to one of England’s greatest scholars.

A plaque of Welsh slate, reflecting Dee’s Welsh origins, been hand-cut by the artist Emily Hoffnung, and this is now placed in the church near his burial place.

The plaque was formally unveiled on Tuesday 7th May 2013, by Benjamin Woolley, the author of a biography of John Dee, 'The Queen’s Conjurer'.

You can see a photo of the plaque and the artist who cut it here:

http://pelicanist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/remembering-doctor-dee.html

Mortlake Church (St Mary the Virgin) is situated on Mortlake High Street, London SW14, a short walk from Mortlake station and convenient for the 419 and 209 buses from Hammersmith. The church is open to the public most days until about 5.00 pm.