Frank Abney-Hastings Memorial

Frank Abney-Hastings (1794-1828) was one of the most influential of all the philhellenes who fought in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829). A naval tactician he pioneered military techniques and technology to great effect against contingents of the Ottoman fleet and supply chain. Ultimately giving his life fighting for the freedom of the Greek people, he was mortally wounded while leading an attack on a fortification on the island of Anatolikon (modern day Etoliko) expiring several days later on June the 1st 1828.

Hastings was mourned greatly and given a national funeral. He was interred at the site of the old arsenal on the island of Poros. A site that from 1830 became the home of the Hellenic Navy and is currently a naval training base. A memorial to Hastings has been erected at this site in his memory.

Hastings memorial was commissioned in 1928 by the then minister of the Hellenic Navy Panagiotou Merlopoulou and commemorates the centenary of Hastings death. The memorial is is referred to on a plaque in the Anglican Church of St Pauls Athens, where Hastings heart is immured. The centenary was marked by a service which was attended by Sir Percy Loraine British Ambassador to Greece and other dignitaries.

The memorial carries two plaques which are illustrated below along with a translation of the inscriptions.

“ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE
THE CENTENARY OF THE DEATH
OF THE PHILHELLENE
FRANK ABNEY HASTINGS
WHO FOUGHT IN THE HELLENIC NAVY
FOR THE REBIRTH OF GREECE
DONATED IN GRATITUDE BY
THE MINISTER OF THE GREEK NAVY
PANAGIOTOU MERLOPOULOU
JUNE 1928”

“IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF
FRANK ABNEY HASTINGS
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR
THE CAUSE OF GREECE
THIS SITE WAS VISITED IN REMEMBRANCE
ON THE CENTENARY OF HIS DEATH
BY SIR PERCY LORAIN AMBASSADOR TO GREECE
REPRASENTATIVE OF THE KING OF ENGLAND
AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BRITISH NAVY”

What a testament to the enduring legacy of Hastings distinguished role in the Greek revolution.

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Frank Abney-Hastings Heart and the Anglican Church of Saint Pauls Athens

Frank Abney-Hastings heart is immured in the Anglican Church of Saint Pauls in Athens, Greece. Consecrated in 1843 the church has many monuments of historic interest.

Photograph by Mark Notaras

It is my understanding that Hastings heart was in the possession of his great friend George Finlay, philhellene and historian, who served with Hastings aboard the Karteria. On the death of Finlay’s widow, Arthur Hill church warden and treasurer from 1885 to 1903, found the heart in a box at her house. He subsequently had it immured in the west wall of the church, the location of which is marked by a plaque with inscription.

Photograph by Mark Notaras

“HERE LIES DEPOSITED THE
HEART OF CAPTAIN FRANK
ABNEY HASTINGS, YOUNGER
SON OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
SIR CHARLES HASTINGS
BART: WHO, HAVING BEEN
MORTALLY WOUNDED IN AN
ATTACK ON ANATOLIKON
DIED IN ZANTE, ON THE 20TH (OS) 
DAY OF MAY 1828, AGED
34 YEARS. HE WAS BURRIED IN
POROS, WHERE AN OBELISK
IS ERECTED IN THE OLD
ARSENAL TO HIS MEMORY.”

As indicated on the inscription the date of death is in the Old Style or Julian calendar.The 20th of May 1828 converts to the 1st of June 1828 as we would expect. Though it seems there may have been some confusion around the date for the plaque as it appears to have been amended by a stonemason at some point in time.

Among the many other interesting monuments in the church are the stained glass windows in the north and south transepts. Dedicated to Sir Richard Church (1784-1873), commander of the Greek military forces in 1827 during the Greek War of Independence, and statesman thereafter.

Photograph by Mark Notaras

St Paul’s is located on Philellinon Street about 250 meters south of Syntagma Square and makes a great visit when open during one of the services that are regularly held there. Details of current services can be found on the church gate.

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References
J.W. Day, et al. (1998) “The Anglican Church of Saint Paul’s Athens, A Short History”
Unknown, (1938) “Church Quarterly Review, Volumes 125-126”

The church booklet listed above contains a rich history and can be purchased from the church.

Photographs by Mark Notaras, subject to Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs creative commons licence.