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Why do I love visiting historic churches?
“Historic Church” – There must be thousands of these signs scattered across the country yet every time I see one I am gripped! My mind races and I wonder what could be waiting for me at the end of that road. ‘Shall I follow the sign?…Do I have time?…Will I be late?…It probably won’t even be open…’ are some of the thoughts that fly through my mind. But I can’t drive past. What if… just what if I miss something amazing? So I follow that sign. I follow a spire or a tower. I follow bells! Location Unless you have already spied a spire or tower it can sometimes be…
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‘Weep not for me your sighs and tears are vain’
In the quiet leafy churchyard of St. Everilda’s church in Nether Poppleton I came across this beauty: Husband farewell and earthly friends adieu What in my power I’ve done for you My debt is paid, sec urely now I rest And trust through Jesus’ merits be blest Weep not for me your sighs and tears are vain I hope in heaven we all shall meet again The headstone is written in memory of Jane Bewley, wife of John Bewley of the city of York. She died at the age of 51 on 22 January 1703. Like many headstones this one is losing out in its battle against time and weather…
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Hannah Hartley – Haworth
Weep not dear friends, but be content, For I was only to you lent; In love we lived, in peace I died, You ask’d my life, but was denied. Gravestone in memory of Hannah Hartley wife of John of Stanbury. She died on December 19th 1854 aged only 26 years. Also interred here are two children of John Hartley’s latter marriage with Alice Hartley. William Edward died in the first year of his life (1862) and Frederick who died at only 10 months of age (1864). The beautiful sentiments on this gravestone mirror the sadness that must have been felt by the man who lost his wife so young and…
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John Bland – Haworth
“Farewell vain World thou shop of toil and pain. With the Redeemer now we hope to reign. Welcome sweet death thou entrance into bliss. A place of rest owhat a change is this.” This gravestone is to be found in the churchyard of St. Michael and All Angel’s, Haworth – famed for its connection with the Bronte family. It commemorates the lives of John Bland who served in the army for 30 years as sergeant of the 1st Dragoon Guards. He died in 1821 aged 68 years. Also memorialised are his wife, Sarah and his son Michael – who served in the same regiment as John. Finally is John’s Grandson…
