Churches,  Gravestones,  Poetic Gravestones

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 John Clayton of Bradford.

The peace of poetry inscribed beneath John, Mary and Michael’s names celebrates death with the belief that the deceased are leaving a world frought with pain and suffering to enter into everlasting bliss in heaven with Christ.
Bland-howarth