Widmerpool
St Peter

Monuments and Memorials

Chancel

On the north wall an inscription reads:

AD • MAJOREM • DEI • GLORIAM : ET • IN • MEMORIAM
BEVILLI • GREVILLE • BRVCE • GRENFELL • NEPOTIS • SVI :
HANC • CANCELLAM • DE • NOVO • FIERI • FECIT • H • A • ROBERTSON • 1895.

Translation: 'For the greater Glory of God and in memory of Bevil Greville Bruce Grenfell the family [or descendants] have caused this chancel to be made anew. H.A. Robertson 1895.' The west window also commemorates this child who died in 1884 aged six.

In the sanctuary are three memorials to past rectors.

The Rev W. E. Bird (died 1831):

UNDERNEATH THIS BRASS PLATE
LIES A STONE BEARING THE
FOLLOWING INSCRIPTION

HERE LIES THE BODY
OF THE REVD W.E. BIRD
LATE RECTOR OF THIS PARISH
WHO DIED THE 7TH OF MAY 1831
AGED 64 YEARS.

AN UNPROFITABLE SERVANT BUT
FOUND MERCY WITH HIS GOD
THROUGH THE ATONING BLOOD OF
CHRIST

SINNER SAVED BY GRAVE DIVINE
ABOUNDING IN HIS SON.

ΑΠΟθΑΝΩΝ ΕΤΙ ΛΑΛΕΙΤΑΙ.

The Rev Arthur Thorold Wood (died 1905):

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ARTHUR THOROLD WOOD,
35 YEARS RECTOR OF WIDMERPOOL,
DIED APRIL 16TH 1905,
IN HIS 84TH YEAR.

TO HIM TO LIVE WAS CHRIST
AND TO DIE IS TO GAIN.

The Rev Edward John Palmer (died 1955):

In Loving Memory of
EDWARD JOHN PALMER MA
Rector of this Parish 1905-1934
Born 7 Feb 1862 Died 18 Jan 1955
Buried at Wimbledon

North Aisle

In the westernmost bay of the north aisle stands a beautifully carved monument to Harriet Annie Robertson (1849-1891). In white marble by an Italian sculptor, she holds a spray of white lilies.

An inscription at the base of the monument reads:

THINKING THAT OUR REMEMBRANCE
THOUGH UNSPOKEN
MAY REACH HER WHERE SHE LIVES
HARRIET ANNIE ROBERTSON
DIED JUNE 13TH 1891

The monument is etched with the initials 'G.F. Florence 1894.'

In the corner of the bay is a carved female bust of Harriet Robertson on a pedestal.

On the west and north walls of the bay are several family memorials.

Major George Coke Robertson (1839-1924) was Harriet's husband:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND
IN MOST LOVING MEMORY OF
MAJOR
GEORGE COKE ROBERTSON
D.L., J.P.
OF WIDMERPOOL HALL
1839 – 1924
BENEFACTOR OF THIS CHURCH
FOR 50 YEARS
AND GENEROUS FRIEND TO ALL

“He asked life of Thee, and
Thou gavest him a long life:
even for ever and ever.”

William Mackay Low (1860-1905):

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
WILLIAM MACKAY LOW
OF WELLESBOURNE HOUSE, WARWICKSHIRE.
BORN AUG 3RD 1860 – DIED JUNE 8TH 1905.

Major George Robertson’s mother and father, Commander George Coke Robinson RN (1796-1862) and Sarah Sophia Coke (1808-1891):

Sacred
To the Memory
of
GEORGE ROBINSON, COMMANDER, R.N.
4TH SON OF JAMES ROBINSON,
OF WIDMERPOOL,
BORN 1792, DIED 1867.

ALSO OF
SARAH SOPHIA, HIS WIFE
BORN 1808, DIED 1891,
DAUGHTER OF
D’EWES COKE, ESQUIRE,
OF BROOKHILL HALL, DERBYSHIRE.

“UNTIL THE DAY BREAK,
AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY.”

Vice-Admiral Harry Tremenherre Grenfell KCB CMG, 1845-1906, and his wife Dame Amy Grenfell, 1848-1907, who was the sister of Harriet Annie Robertson:

To the Glory of God
and in loving memory of
Vice-Admiral Sir Harry
Tremenherre Grenfell K.C.B.
Born March 9th 1845 – died February 19th 1906
and of his wife Dame Amy Grenfell
of Wellesbourne House Warwickshire
daughter of Andrew Low Esqre
of Savannah Georgia U.S.A.
Born August 7th 1848 – Died January 12th 1917.

North Aisle

On the north wall of the north aisle is a memorial to Catherine, wife of Richard Allen of Nottingham, who died 2 October 1837, aged 21 years:

PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD
ERECTED
IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
CATHERINE,
THE BELOVED WIFE OF RICHARD ALLEN OF NOTTINGHAM
OBT OCT II MDCCCXXXVII, AET XXI YEARS.
“BLESSED ARE THE DEAD THAT DIE IN THE LORD.”

South Aisle

On the south wall, beneath a framed Roll of Honour for those who served in the Great War is a separate framed memorial (with two photographs) to Reginald Palmer, son of the Rev Edward Palmer, who died from wounds fighting on the Somme in 1916. He was buried in a military cemetery at Amiens, aged 20, and mentioned in despatches.

Above the door to the vestry is a brass plaque to Palmer that reads:

TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF
REGINALD JOHN ALLEN PALMER
LIEUT 1ST BN THE WILTSHIRE REGIMENT
ONLY SON OF THE RECTOR OF THIS PARISH
WOUNDED NEAR THIEPVAL, JULY 7TH 1916, IN THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME,
DIED AT AMIENS, JULY 22ND, AGED 20 YEARS.
BURIED IN THE MILITARY CEMETERY OUTSIDE THAT TOWN,
MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.
Faithful unto death; and I will give thee a crown of life.

John Henry Lane, churchwarden for 37 years, who died in 1929:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
JOHN HENRY LANE
PASSED AWAY SEP. 20TH 1929 AGED 71 YEARS
CHURCHWARDEN OF THIS PARISH
FOR UPWARDS OF 37 YEARS
“Faithful unto death!

ERECTED BY PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS

Nave

On the west wall is a beautiful plaque to say that the church was restored in memory of Andrew Low by his daughter, Annie Robertson:

This Church was restored to the
Glory of God and in loving memory
of Andrew Low by his daughter
Harriet Annie Robertson AD 1888

Tower

There are five grave slabs set in the floor under the tower:

John Henson (died 1718):

HERE Lyeth ye
Body of Iohn
Henson he Departed
This life August the
10 Anno Domini 1718
And in the 78th Year
of his age

Thomas Parr (died 1721):

Here lieth the Body
of THOMAS PARR
who departed this Life
the 15th of July in the
year of our Lord 1721
In ye 51st Year of his Age

Edward Spence (died 1777):

IN
Memory of
Edward Spence, Son of
JOHN & HANNAH SPENCE
of Welham
in Leicestershire.
He departed this Life
February the 18th, 1777
Aged 33 Years.

Afflictions sore long Time I bore
Physicians were in Vain,
Till GOD did pleise to give me Ease,
And rid me of my Pain.
Farewel my Wife and Child so dear
Which in this World I’ve left behind,
Do not lament nor shed a Tear,
Eternity, be sure you mind.

Daniel and Sarah Chadwick (died 1778 and 1796 respectively):

In Memory of
DANIEL CHADWICK
Who Died
March the 25th 1778
Aged 53 Years
Also of SARAH his Wife
[Who de]parted this Life
[...] the 13th 1796
[...] Years

Thomas Henson (died 1761):

HERE
lieth interr’d the Body of
THOMAS HENSON
Who departed this Life
June the 30th
In the Year of our LORD
MDCCLXI
And the 78th Year of
his Age.