In 1847 a transcription was made of the monuments at Swanage parish church.
This was later pasted into Volume 8
of A. M. Broadley's Extra Illustrated edition of Hutchins' History and Antiquities of
the County of Dorset. Since this time the church and churchyard have seen
major alterations. Furthermore, additional burials were made in the churchyard
(until its closure to new burials on the opening of Northbrook Cemetery in 1856)
and new inscriptions added. No detailed survey has been made of the monumental
inscriptions which now survive.
The following survey has been made in
conjunction with the earlier transcript and the burial registers and aims to
record exactly what appears on each monument. Each monument has been numbered
and mapped so that they can be easily located.
Contents
1. Crypt and church - Crypt transcribed 27 November 2004 by kind permission of the verger, church transcribed September
2005.
2. Churchyard - transcribed 27 November 2004. Please note that locations have changed since this survey was completed -
work; was completed in 2005 on improving access to the church entrance which affected stones around the area
numbered 47-49 (flat stones now obliterated by the new paving covering) and 60-67 along the boundary.
3. Upper Churchyard, Church Hill
(consecrated 12 October 1826) - transcribed 21 December 2003
1. Saint Mary's Church and Crypt
Crypt
1.
Raised flat tomb (situated back right
from the entrance): partially obscured by wall
In Memory of
MARY wife of THOMAS RANDELL,
who departed this life
October 18th 1766 aged 65 Years
Also
THOMAS RANDELL their Son
who died August 31 1776
aged 44 Years.
A Husband kind. A father dear
A faithful friend, lies buried here
My days are past my glass is run
My Children dear prepare to come
Also
…EMIMA DAUGHTER of THOMAS And MARY …DELL And GRANDAUGHTER of the Above …OMAS RANDELL who died Dec.12th 1817 Aged 18 YEARS
Also
...AMES her Brother who died April 4th 1832. Aged 36 Years …lso MARY RANDELL wife of THOS RANDELL and Mother
…f the above mentioned Jemima and James RANDELL
Who died JANY 3 1841 Aged 75 Years
Also
THOMAS RANDELL son of the last mentioned
… ...HOMAS RANDELL husband of MARY. and father …JEMIMA and JAMES RANDELL,
who died November 29th 1848, Aged 84 Years.
Also
of MARY BROWN RANDELL DAUGHTER OF
THE ABOVE THOMAS AND MARY RANDELL
WHO DIED JANUARY 31st 1855 AGED 54 YEARS
2.
Crypt: Tablet leaning against the north wall. Depicts urn with shroud
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN HARVEY
MASTER MARINER
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 1ST OF JANUARY,1843
AGED 39 YEARS
He was an affectionate husband
a tender father and a sincere
friend
ALSO of
ELIZABETH VICTORIA DAUGHTER OF
THE ABOVE WHO DIED FEBRUARY 8TH
1847
AGED 5 YEARS
Her happy spirit shall arise
And dwell with Jesus in the skies
North Aisle
In Floor
3.
Here lyeth the Body
of THOMAS CHAPMAN
who died ye … Ja…
1711
in the 63rd year of …
4.
Here Lieth the Body
of JOAN the Wife
of Thomas Chapman
who died ye 26th of June
1727 Aged 80 Years
On Wall
5.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF PETER MARSH
LATE OF THIS PLACE MERCHANT
WHO DIED APRIL 10TH
1811
AGED 45 YEARS
ALSO HESTER MARSH WIFE OF
THE ABOVE WHO WAS BORN
JANUARY 15TH 1757 AND DIED OCT 6TH 1845
6.
LEWIS COCKRAM JOHN ALFORD
CHURCHWARDENS
NOVEMBER 28 1684
7.
THIS MEMORIAL IS RAISED TO NATHAN CHINCHEN
A NAME WELL KNOWN IN THIS VICINITY
IN HIS GENERATION
HE WAS THE FITTED INSTRUMENT
IN THE HANDS OF A MERCIFUL GOD, TO
DISPENSE
BLESSINGS TO THE WIDOW AND TO THE FATHERLESS
AND TO THEIR CHILDRENS CHILDREN.
HE WAS EXCELLENT IN ALL THE RICH
ENDOWMENTS
OF A NOBLE AND GENEROUS HEART
ON THE 16TH MAY 1840,
IN THE 85TH YEAR OF HIS AGE
HE CLOSED A LIFE DEDICATED TO ALL THE VIRTUES
AND VALUABLE TO AN EXTENSIVE
COMMUNITY
DERIVING A BENEFIT FROM HIS TOILS.
HIS BELOVED REMAINS ARE DEPOSITED
IN A VAULT IN THE BURYING GROUND ADJACENT
WHERE HE WAS PLANTED IN THE SURE
AND CERTAIN HOPE
THAT WHEN THOSE
THAT SLEEP IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH SHALL AWAKE
HE WILL RISE CLOATHED IN HIS
REDEEMERS RIGHTEOUSNESS
TO EVER LASTING LIFE
8.
(Brass Plate)
SUSAN COCKRAM WIFE OF BRUNE COCKRAM PARSON
OF SANWCH, OF THE AGE
OF 44 YEARES INTERRED
SEPTEMBER THE 7TH 1641
On partition of St. Aldhelm's Chapel:
THIS CHAPEL WAS DEDICATED TO ST ALDHELM
BY THE LORD BISHOP OF SALISBURY ON MAY 25TH
1971
TO PERPETUATE THE ASSOCIATION OF THIS
SAINT WITH THE CHURCH
WHICH STOOD IN GROSVENOR ROAD DURLSTON FROM 1892-1970
THIS WINDOW TAKEN FROM ST ALDHELM'S
CHURCH
COMMEMORATES THE OLD BOYS
OF DURLSTON COURT SCHOOL
WHO WERE KILLED IN THE
WORLD WAR 1914-1918
St. Aldhelm's Chapel:
9.
South-west window dedicated to:
PRAY FOR FRANCIS ARTHUR PARRISH
1894 -1970
DEAR HUSBAND OF MARY AND FATHER OF SHEILA
for many years printer of this town
10.
Tablet set on west wall:
IN HAPPY AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF MADELEINE BRADY
FOR TWENTY YEARS BELOVED HEAD OF
SENTRYFIELDS, 1917-1937
"We Thank Our God For Every
Remembrance of Her"
11.
North-west window dedicated to:
JOHN MORTON COLSON
DIED JULY 9 1866 AGED 69 JULIA COLSON
DIED NOVEMBER 13 1865 AGED 70
12.
Brass plaque on north wall, in
north-west Corner:
IN PROUD MEMORY
OF CAPTAIN G.H. ATKINSON
45th RATTRAY'S SIKHS
KILLED IN ACTION IN MESOPOTAMIA
1ST FEBRUARY 1917
ERECTED BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS
13.
Marble plaque below the above:
IN LOVING AND
GRATEFUL MEMORY OF GEORGE THOMAS ATKINSON
FOUNDER AND HEAD OF DURLSTON COURT
FROM 1903 TO 1928
WHO DIED DECEMBER 15 1938 AGED 83
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY OLD BOYS
PARENTS AND FRIENDS
EDITH JESSIE
ATKINSON
WIFE OF THE ABOVE
IN EVER LOVING MEMORY
14.
Western half of window to west of north
entrance dedicated to:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING
MEMORY OF LIEUTENANT BASIL JAMES CARLISLE WISE ROYAL
NAVY KILLED IN ACTION HMS GLORIOUS
8TH JUNE 1940 ALSO OF HIS BROTHER BRIGADIER
ADRIAN WATSON WISE D.S.O. M.B.E. 13.10.1980
15.
Eastern half of window to west of north entrance dedicated to:
IN MEMORIAM GRANT WALTER STEWARD DE JERSEY
BELOVED PHYSICIAN
1901-1972
AND ALESIA HIS DAUGHTER 1934-1971
16.
Tablet above north entrance:
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF GEORGE BISSETT ESQR Commander in the Royal Navy
Eldest Son of the late ANDW BISSETT ESQRSolicitor Edinborough,
who departed this life 21st
Novr 1843
AGED 53 YEARS
Sincerely lamented by his
Family
and a large circle of Naval
Friends
17.
Window to east of north entrance dedicated
to:
WILLIAM MORTON
GREY PITT; HIS WIFE GRACE AMELIA
HIS SON WMG PITT;
HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER HARRIETT MARCIA MARGARET
IN MOST LOVING
MEMORY OF THE ABOVE LOUISA LORA PITT
Sanctuary
North wall
18.
TO
THE MEMORY OF
THE REVD JAMES LEONARD JACKSON MA
OF SIDNEY SUSSEX COLLEGE
CAMBRIDGE
LATE RECTOR OF SWANAGE
BORN MAY 9TH 1777,
DIED AT MELCOMBE REGIS
DECR 10TH
1854, AGED 77 YEARS
BURIED AT RADIPOLE, NEAR WEYMOUTH
ALSO OF
LOUISA DECIMA HYDE JACKSON,
DAUGHTER OF REVD FRANCIS WOLLASTON
CHISEL HURST, KENT
WIFE OF THE REVD J.L.
JACKSON
BORN DECR 6TH
1778,
DIED AT MELCOMBE REGIS
MARCH 17TH 1854.
AND THIS IS THE RECORD, THAT GOD
HATH GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE, AND
THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON.
1 JOHN, CHAP. V. V.11
South wall
19
A GRATEFUL TRIBUTE
TO THE MEMORY OF
THE LATE REV SAM GALE M.A.
NINE YEARS RECTOR OF SWANAGE
WHO WAS BORN AT SCRUTON IN YORKSHIRE
AND DIED SEP 16 1816
AGED 69 YEARS
HIS REMAINS WERE INTERRED
IN STUDLAND CHURCH YARD, AT HIS OWN REQUEST
THIS TABLET WAS ERECTED BY SUSANNA DUDLEY, HIS ADOPTED CHILD
THE SWEET REMEMBRANCE OF THE JUST
SHALL FLOURISH WHEN THEY SLEEP IN DUST
Chancel
South wall
20.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE REVEREND GEORGE TAYLOR M.A.
LATE OF EXETER COLLEGE OXFORD AND
CURATE OF LANGTON MATRAVERS
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE
SEVENTH
DAY OF JULY 1834 AGED 26 YEARS.
THIS TABLET IS PLACED OVER HIS
REMAINS BY HIS BROTHER AS A
MEMORIAL
OF AFFECTION, OF ESTEEM FOR
THE MANLY VIRTUES OF HIS
CHARACTER,
AND OF REGRET FOR THE LOSS OF A
FRIEND
WHOSE AMIABLE DISPOSITION AND
KINDNESS
OF HEART ARE ATTESTED BY THE FOND
RECOLLECTIONS OF HIS FAMILY AND OF
THOSE
TO WHOSE INTERESTS HIS SHORT BUT
FAITHFUL MINISTRY WAS DEVOTED.
21.
IN THE VAULT BENEATH
ARE DEPOSITED THE MORTAL REMAINS
OF
THE REVEREND WILLIAM TAYLOR
A NATIVE OF ST CHRISTOPHERS IN THE WEST INDIES
AND FOR MANY YEARS
RECTOR OF THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST
ANTHONY
IN HIS MAJESTY'S ISLAND OF MONTSERRAT
HE DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 28TH
DAY OF MAY 1823
IN THE 78TH YEAR OF HIS AGE
HIS WIDOW AND CHILDREN
HOPING TO PRESERVE THE MEMORY OF HIM THEY SO MUCH LOVED
BEYOND THE TERM OF THEIR OWN FRAIL EXISTENCE
HAVE ERECTED THIS TABLET IN
TESTIMONY OF
THEIR AFFECTION, AND OF HIS SUPERIOR WORTH
22.
(Metal Plaque)
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ANNIE AND EMMA RUST BURT
DAUGHTERS OF GEORGE AND ELIZABETH
BURT
OF PURBECK HOUSE, SWANAGE
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY THEIR
NEPHEWS AND NIECES AS A TOKEN OF
THEIR GREAT LOVE AND RESPECT, A.D. 1920
23.
(Brass plaque under south window)
This window is dedicated by their
children
to the memory of Rear Admiral Sir
Eaton S. Travers K.H.
who died on the 14th
March 1858 Aged 80
and of Anne Palmer his Wife
who died on the 8th
August 1864 aged 72
24.
(a) to (d) - Four marble plaques on
south wall
(a)
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF MRS COVENTRY OF THE GROVE SWANAGE
THE MOTHER OF THE THREE CHILDREN
WHOSE DEATHS ARE RECORDED UNDERNEATH
SHE FELL ASLEEP AT SWANAGE WHERE
SHE HAS DESIRED ON THE 30TH SEPR
1865
IN THE 70TH YEAR OF HER AGE
IN PEACE AND IN FULL ADDURANCE OF HOPE OF A GLORIOUS RESURRECTION
SHE RESTS IN A VAULT IN THE
ADJOINING BURIAL GROUND, BY THE SIDE OF
ONE OF HER DEARLY LOVED CHILDREN
"I KNOW, O LORD, THAT THY JUDGEMENTS ARE RIGHT, AND THAT
THOU IN
FAITHFULNESS HAST AFFLICTED ME"
PSALM - 119 - 75.
IN ALL THEIR AFFLICTIONS HE WAS
AFFLICTED, AND THE ANGEL OF HIS
PRESENCE SAVED THEM, IN HIS LOVE AND IN HIS PITY HE RECLAIMED THEM
AND HE BARE THEM, AND CARRIED THEM AS IN THE DAYS OF OLD
18A - 63 - 9
THE LORD HATH LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL
18A - 53 - 6
(b)
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED
AS THE LAST TOKEN OF A BEREAVED MOTHER'S AFFECTION
TO THE MEMORY OF LOUISA CAROLINE JOSEPHINE
COVENTRY
DAUGHTER OF MRS COVENTRY OF THE GROVE IN THIS PARISH
SHE WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD, AND IT
PLEASED HER HEAVENLY FATHER
TO REMOVE HER ANGEL SPIRIT FROM IT
MAY THE 3RD 1841
IN THE EIGHTEENTH YEAR OF HER AGE
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT MARKED HER
SHORT BUT HEAVENWORD COURSE
"LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG SUFFERING,
GENTLENESS GOODNESS, FAITH
MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE."
GALT 22.23
THE LORD GAVE, AND THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD." JOB 1.21
(c)
THIS SECOND MEMORIAL OF A
SORROWING MOTHER'S AFFECTION
RECORDS THE DEATH OF ANOTHER MUCH LOVED CHILD
HER ELDEST BORN CAPTAIN FREDERICK COVENTRY OF HER
MAJESTY'S 29TH REGIMENT
THE LIFE OF THIS MOST AMIABLE AND
PROMISING YOUNG OFFICER
WAS SPARED IN THE BATTLE FIELD AT
SOBRAON
BUT HE FELL A VICTIM TO THE
CLIMATE OF INDIA AND DIED
AT KUSSOWLIE IN UPPER INDIA ON THE
29TH OF JULY 1846
IN THE 26TH YEAR OF HIS AGE
HIS REMAINS LIE DEPOSITED IN THE
BURIAL GROUND AT KUSSOWLIE
I SHALL GO TO HIM, BUT HE SHALL
NOT RETURN TO ME.
2 SAMUEL XII 23 (?)
(d)
A FEW SHORT YEARS,
AND THE SAME BEREAVED MOTHER'S UNDYING AFFECTION
HERE RECORDS THE DEPARTURE OF ANOTHER MUCH LOVED CHILD MATILDA BARBARA WIFE OF THE REVD T.G. CLARKE
VICAR OF ODIHAM, HANTS
SHE DIED MAY 26TH 1862
IN THE 38TH YEAR OF HER AGE
"BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN
THE LORD
FROM HENCEFORTH YEA SAITH THE
SPIRIT, THAT THEY
MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS, AND
THEIR WORKS DO
FOLLOW THEM"
REV 14 CHAP 13 VERSE
NOW JESUS LOVED MARTHA AND HER SISTER AND LAZARUS
JOHN 11 CHAP 5 VERSE
25.
(Tile Plaque)
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN EVER LOVING
MEMORY OF ROLF VINEY
COMMANDER ROYAL NAVY
WHO DIED 22 APRIL 1922
AGED 37 YEARS
BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART
DEATH IS THE GATE OF LIFE
26.
(Tile Plaque)
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN EVER LOVING MEMORY
OF PHILIP ERNEST VINEY
CAPTN LEICESTERSHIRE REGT
WHO DIED FOR ENGLAND AT
BAILLEUL 17 DEC 1914 AGED 26
TO LIVE IS CHRIST TO DIE IS GAIN
DEATH IS THE GATE OF LIFE.
27.
(Tile Plaque)
IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF J. ERNEST VINEY M.D.; M.A.; WHO
DIED 6 JUNE 1930 AT "CINTRA"
SWANAGE AGED 75 ALSO OF GRACE THOMPSON HIS SECOND
DAUGHTER WHO DIED 31 DEC 1929
IN ALASSIO ITALY AGED 43
IN THY PRESENCE IS FULNESS OF JOY
DEATH IS THE GATE OF LIFE
