THIS week in Down Memory Lane we look at our Four Weddings and a Funeral church St Clements, in West Thurrock.

It was opened for the period of the Olympics and many went down to view the church and grounds. One of many stories related to the church is the burial of a sea captain pickled in rum.

It turns out the burial records of the church help to illuminate the facts “Nathaniel Grantham Esq, one of His Majesties Commanders of a man of war, dyed ye 17th November 1723 and was buried ye 25th ye same month in linen.”.

Nathaniel was in fact the Lord of the Manor and owner High House. This is now becoming famous for being the location of the Royal Opera House production centre and recently opened National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills.

This medieval manor house and farm complex is well on its way to full restoration and also worth a visit.

However, back to Nathaniel, he must have requested his body be returned to his parish church and not buried at sea, as eight days later his coffin was interred within the church.

In 1906, some 183 years later, the incumbent vicar decided to dig up the coffin and on opening the lid, he reported the body was floating in a red liquor (assumed to be rum).

Clearly, as in the case with Admiral Lord Nelson, his body was placed in a cask of brandy mixed with camphor and myrrh, which was then lashed to the Victory’s mainmast and placed under guard.

Victory was towed to Gibraltar after the battle, and on arrival the body was transferred to a lead-lined coffin filled with spirits of wine to keep it stable until delivered home and he was buried on January 9, 1806, at St Pauls Cathedral.

On Friday, December 7, the friends of the church, with Proctor & Gamble, are holding a carol service, starting with mince pies and sherry (not rum) at 7pm and carol singing from 8pm.