Several things about this memorial caught my eye. It is remarkably good condition to say it is 300 years old, but that is no doubt due to it's position inside St Mary's church. Then there is the word Presbyter, it is unusual to see this in York where I am not aware of a strong Presbyterian tradition. Next comes the text which is less interested in praising the deceased than in saving the soul of the reader, a very altruistic approach. Then finally there is that fabulous winged skull, usually only seen nowadays on bikers leather jackets, which symbolises the ascension into heaven.
Even 300 years after his death William Mason comes across as a man with a strong desire to teach people to live a god fearing life, and secure in the knowledge that he would be judged by how well he accomplished this task.
Taking part in Taphophile Tragics
Interesting - and great photos on your blog :) Thanks for visiting Bristol Daily, the photo was taken in North St Bedminster / Ashton.
ReplyDeleteFascinating to have such history preserved so well.
ReplyDeleteThere was certainly a great amount of fear in the 18th C for the 'judgement after death'!
ReplyDeleteFantastic monument, I love the skull. They just don't make them like that anymore.
ReplyDeleteHerding Cats
The skull is a bit frightening on a gravestone. Everybody knows you once will look like this, but to put it this way you rub it in a bit too much.
ReplyDeleteWow that skull is something else! The whole grave puts the fear of the Lord into you.
ReplyDeleteI like English gravestones. You either get interesting commentary on the dead or lessons in how to live the life the deceased no longer has.
ReplyDeleteYou've shown us some interesting graves! This is right up there among the most intriguing.
ReplyDeletePresbyter might not necessarily have meant he was a Presbyterian. Back then words often had more than one meaning, could be he thought of himself as an elder of the church in this context.
ReplyDeleteDo as you would be done to does not sound like a biker's motto, Deb. (It *is* mine.) But I see what you mean abut the winged scull. This plaque does not particularly endear me to the deceased, but then we live 300 years apart. I'd guess he was a personality to be reckoned with. :-)
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