Samuel Flood Jones

Samuel Flood Jones was buried in the south cloister of Westminster Abbey. He was a Minor Canon of the Abbey from 1859 to his death and Precentor from 1869. Being responsible for the chanting of the services he took part at the burials of Lord Tennyson, Robert Browning and Charles Darwin among others. He was said to be an imposing figure with a tawny beard and a sonorous, clear musical voice. The inscription, which has been re-cut, reads:

+ Samuel Flood Jones M.A. for 25 years Precentor of Westminster Abbey, for 36 years Minor Canon. Born 3 October 1826, at rest 26 February 1895. He giveth his beloved sleep. When I awake up after thy likeness I shall be satisfied with it

He was a son of William Jones, solicitor, and his wife Maria (Cooper). His mother's sister had married the Reverend Samuel Flood, chaplain at Sierra Leone so he used this in his name. His brother was the Reverend William Henry Jones, vicar of Holy Trinity, Bradford upon Avon. Educated at Oxford he was ordained in 1852 and was minister at St Matthew, Spring Gardens in London from 1854-1876 and lecturer at Bow 1858-1876. He also held the living at St Botolph's, Aldersgate and was a priest in ordinary to Queen Victoria. At St Martin in the Fields on 29th April 1856 he married Catherine Wray and their daughters were Constance, Mildred, Margaret, Editha and Emily. Editha married Alfred Clemmens in the Abbey in 1886.