My first visit to St. Peter’s Church in Monks Horton in November was frustrating as I didn’t get to see inside and it’s such a beautiful church in a great location. So I was lucky to get a chance to revisit and get access inside. I’m glad I took the time as I found a couple of memorial stones that are incredibly well preserved if not fully accessible due to the furniture in the vestry. But first let’s take a look around…
The ancient glass window in the church is touched upon in the notes found in the church itself. There seems to be debate as to whether it is ‘the Magdalen’ or Saint Barbara. Frederick Cole, director of the Canterbury Stained Glass Studio confirmed it as Saint Barbara at the time of restoration as did Dennis King the notable stained glass restorer of Norwich. I particularly liked the quote used from the book ‘A Guide to Stained Glass in Britain’ by Painton Cowen who said “The whole business of analysing the iconography of the saints is an area where even angels fear to tread….”
Situated inside the vestry are several wall mounted memorials and vault stones. The earliest I saw was for Ursula Rooke (died 1629) which is situated close to a stone mentioning several members of the Robinson family who died around 1746. The stones on the floor were of particular interest due to their clarity and condition - they’ve avoided the footfall of parishioners for several hundred years so are remarkably well preserved. Unfortunately the ones I wanted to study were partially obscured by bulky furniture but the notes in the church revealed some wonderful transcriptions of parts of the stone.
Thomas Morris (died 25th June 1697) drowned at London Bridge when returning from Holland. The notes state that several people lost their lives that day and I assume it was a boat accident. The final part of the stone reads -
Curst be that arch of London's lofty pile.
the glory once, but now the shame of th'Isle.
Let Thames no more ebb through it nor seas flow,
Where waters pass'd now let the dry land grow,
Let drowth now make it dust and let it be
A monument unto itself and thee.
Next to Thomas is the stone for Martha Morris who died aged five years. She looks to be the daughter of Thomas Morris and his wife Sarah and possibly sister to Thomas who is mentioned above.
Her inscription ends -
Here lyes embalm'd in careful parents tears
A Virgin branch cropt in its tender years.
Dear Virgin child farewell; thy Mother's tears
Cannot advance thy memory, who wears
A Crown above of stars, yet will I mourn
And show ye world my offerings at thy urn.
Reader as in a glass thou here maist see
How all things here below uncertain be.
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