The “Chapels” of 18th century molly houses were really just rooms where mollies could go to have sex, the name was part of molly slang presumably originating from “marrying” being slang for sex. In contrast the “Chapel” in the White Swan, an early 19th century molly house, had an actual chaplain; Reverend John Church.
The White Swan in Vere Street, Clare Market was established by Yardley and James Cook in 1810. The White Swan was a molly house much like those of the 18th century, however the “upper part of the house” functioned as a brothel. (Rictor Norton, Mother Clap's Molly House, p188)
Cook wasn’t a molly himself. He stated that sodomy was “abhorrent” to his “nature” and explained that he was prompted by “Avarice only”. (Robert Holloway, The Phœnix of Sodom, p8) It was Kitty Cambric, a molly well known in Vere Street, who persuaded Rev. John Church to serve as chaplain at the White Swan. As chaplain it was Church’s job to officiate molly marriages.
When the Vere Street Coterie was discovered reports of Church and the molly marriages hit the public. Religion & Morality Vindicated Against Hypocrisy and Pollution reported:
Church was a constant attendant in Vere-street, and that gang of miscreants who met at the public-house there, some of whom stood in the pillory about two years and a half since, had nominated him to be their Chaplain; and that he officiated in that capacity. By virtue of his functions, in this situation he was often employed in joining these monsters in the “indissoluble tie of matrimony!!!” They were absolutely wedded together. (p20)
And Robert Holloway wrote in The Phœnix of Sodom:
These marriages were solemnized with all the mockery of bride maids and bride men; and the nuptials were frequently consummated by two, three, or four couples. In the same room, and in the sight of each other!” (p9)
Church denied all association with the "infamous house”, dismissing the reports as “palatable falsehoods”. (Rev. John Church, The Foundling, p85) The reports are probably at least somewhat true considering the numerous accusations of sodomy against Church, the leaking of his love letters to Edward and his eventual arrest for attempted sodomy. Although he did deny all this too. (see Rictor Norton, Mother Clap's Molly House, chapter 13; A Child of Peculiar Providence for more on Rev. John Church.)
The question is were these marriages seen as genuine by the mollies who participated in them or was the Reverend just another aspect of theatrical sexual play. Certainly if Holloway is to be believed that “nuptials” were “consummated” by multiple couples in "the same room” it sounds more like sexual play than a genuine wedding. However Holloway tells of a Chimney Sweeper who “married a little Catamite, called Miss Read, according to the rites of the Vere-street church,” who “took his precious spouse to live in the house with him”. (p21) So it would seem, at least for the Chimney Sweeper and Miss Read, their marriage was more than just a night of fun at the White Swan.
Above: Adolf Hitler at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new section of the Reichsautobahn highway system, 1933. (Bundesarchiv)
Mildred Gilman was one of the highest paid female reporters in the 1920s, interviewing everyone from murderers to heads of state. But when she arranged to interview Adolf Hitler in 1933, the Gestapo got nervous and threw her out of the country.
Feb. 10, 1934 cover by Harry…
Edit: I was advised one of the photos posted by James on his instagram stories wasn’t supposed to be public so out of respect, I’ve removed it from this post.
Music that Makes you think of Prongsfoot (and Why)?
Inspirational prongsfoot music? Come on...if I want to share them all, y'all will laugh at me because in all honesty I am capable of imagining prongsfoot even with a nursery rhythm. 🙈
Let me share a few 🙇♀️
Payphone by Maroon 5
Natalie don't by RAYE
In your head by OREN
Broken promises for broken hearts by She Wants Revenge
Dirty Mirrors by Saint Rock
Maps by Maroon 5
Never let go by Alex Yardley
Twin Demons by Placebo
Shamelessly sharing my inspirational music for two of my current wips as well. 😭
Gossip by Maneskin and House of Memories by Panic! At The Disco (inspiration for my prongsfoot fest wip which still doesn't have a name)
Masquerade by Lindsey Stirling and The Show Must Go On by Queen ( inspiration for my drag queen opera singer James and Mafia boss Sirius )