Photographs of the re-enactment of
the wedding of Dr Samuel Johnson to
Elizabeth (Tetty) Porter.
This page features pictures and historical information about the following:
The wedding re-enactment which took place in July 2004.

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• Photos of the wedding of Dr Samuel Johnson to Elizabeth Porter.
This annual event is celebrated in St Werburgh's church, Derby every year. It is the re-enactment of the wedding of Dr Samuel Johnson to Elizabeth (Tetty) Porter which originally took place on July 9th 1735.
The parts are being acted out by Dave and Christina Morley, the Vicar is Peter Elliott (alias the Reverend
Lockett).
This was the first time I had ever been inside St Werburgh's Church and I was amazed to see what it was like. The wedding re-enactment took place in the Johnson Chapel.
I would highly recommend seeing this even if you get chance next year.

So who was Dr Samuel Johnson?.....

If you have watched the well known BBC TV comedy series Black Adder the Third, there is an episode called Ink & Incapability which features Dr Johnson (played by Robbie Coltrane). In the episode Dr. Samual Johnson asks Prince George for support of his dictionary but it accidentally gets used for firewood by the brainless Baldrick, Edmund Blackadder tries to rewrite it before Dr. Johnson finds out. This is a classic episode and well worth viewing again if you have not seen it for some time.

Back to reality.....

Dr Johnson is best remembered as the compiler of the first comprehensive English Dictionary.
Born in Lichfield (Staffordshire) in 1709, he began to earn a living as a journalist and critic, whilst working on plays, poetry, and biographies. Johnson began a dictionary of the English language in 1747 but did not finish it until 1755.
Dr. Johnson's last great work was the 10 volume 'Lives of the English Poets' in 1781.
He died in 1784 and is buried in Westminster Abbey. Birmingham Central Library has a Johnson Collection, with 2,000 volumes of works by him, and books and periodicals about him.

Photo Description : The wedding vows
Image Reference No. : DP-100704DRSAMUELWED-01
Date photo taken : 10th July 2004
Other Information : Here we see the wedding vows being taken, the great backdrop is the Johnson Chancel built in 1699. The parts are being acted out by Dave and Christina Morley, the Vicar is Peter Elliott (alias the Reverend Lockett).
Photo Description : They are now married.
Image Reference No. : DP-100704DRSAMUELWED-02
Date photo taken : 10th July 2004
Other Information : They are now Mr and Mrs Johnson.
Photo Description : Outside St Werburgh's Church 1
Image Reference No. : DP-100704DRSAMUELWED-03
Date photo taken : 10th July 2004
Photo Description : Outside St Werburgh's Church 2
Image Reference No. : DP-100704DRSAMUELWED-04
Date photo taken : 10th July 2004
Other Information : Here we see Dr Samuel Johnson and Elizabeth Porter outside the door to the Johnson Chapel.

St Werburgh's Church is located on the corner of the Wardwick and Cheapside in the heart of Derby city.

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