Kelham St Wilfrid

Monuments and Memorials

Lexington Chapel

Lexington monument

In the centre of the chapel is the impressive freestanding tomb of Robert Sutton, Lord Lexington (died 1723), his wife Margaret, Lady Lexington (died 1703). It also commemorates two of their children, William (died 1712) and Leonora (died 1715). The reclining life-size figures of are in Roman dress and are the work of William Palmer. The tomb dates from 1726.

John Throsby, writing in the 1790s, provides a mildly critical description of the monument:

'Lord Lexington and his lady are figured in marble, reclining on a sort of matrass. They are fine pieces of sculpture; but they are not, I think, in the happiest position; a resting posture is not the best conceived for one of an active life, like that of lord Lexington's. Nor do I think their being placed back to back is agreeable with a life of mutual affection. He has one hand on a coronet, and in the other, he holds a book, open, the arm of which lies over a human scull. She bears in her hand the ring of eternity.'

There are inscriptions on the north, east and south sides of the tomb:

East side

The family of the SUTTONS has flourished in this County
From time immemorial.
In the year 1251, ROWLAND SUTTON married ALICIA,
One of the Sisters and Coheirs of ROBERT LORD LEXINGTON.
From this marriage issued in the fourteenth degree in direct
Line ROBERT SUTTON who in regards to his Descent on the Pater
nal side from the House of SUTTON, which had given Earls to
Warwick and Leicester and Lords to the Barony of Dudley
and the Maternal Side from one of the Coheirs of ROBERT,
Lord LEXINGTON, and likewise in consideration of his steady
Loyalty to his Prince was created Lord LEXINGTON of Aver
ham in the 21st of K. CHARLES the first. Upon his death which
fell out Oct. 13, 1668. He was succeeded in Honour and Estate by
his onely Son, ROBERT, Lord LEXINGTON here interr’d who dying
without issue Male left his Estates to his onley daughter BRIDGET,
Duchess of RUTLAND for Life, afterwards to her Second Son
the Lord ROBERT MANNERS on condition that he take the Arms
and Name of SUTTON.

North side

Here lyeth the Body
of ROBERT SUTTON Lord Lexington
The worthy Descendant of Great and Illustrious Ancestors
Graceful in person, polite in Behaviour
Of Conversation amiable
Prompted by youthful ardor he betook himself to Arms,
And serv'd with reputation.
In his riper years his Superior Genius shone out,
In ye clearest Judgement united with candour & good Nature
He understood and apply’d himself to business.
His whole conduct uncorrupt not adulterated by Pride
Hence he recommended himself to two Succeeding Princes,
And Under Different Administrations.
King WILLIAM brought him near his own Person
By constituting him one of the Lords of his Bedchamber,
Then call’d him into his most important Councils,
And sent him in Quality of his Envoy Extraordinary
To the courts of Vienna, Hanover and Zell,
In a very nice conjuncture of affairs.
Her late Majesty QUEEN ANNE
Equally convinced of his great Abilitys,
In the year 1711 sent him Embassador to Spain
Where he executed his Commission
With his usual skill and Success,
And had this happiness
In the discharge of his Publick Character
That he was in the highest Esteem
At the Courts where He resided
At the same time that he possessed the fullest Confidence

Of the Princes whom He served.
By his Negotiation King PHILIP was prevailed upon
To renounce all Claim to the Succession of ye Crown of France,
And Treaty’s of Peace and Commerce
Were happily concluded
Between the British and Spanish Monarchy’s.
During his Residence at Madrid he had ye misfortune to lose
His Dear and only son a Youth of the greatest hopes
And this together with an ill State of Health
Determi’d Him to retire to a private Life.
But the Serenity he here expected was interrupted
By the Death of his Eldest Daughter
Which had been irreparable to Him.
Had he not enjoyed the signal felicity
Of seeing his other surviving Daughter
Married to JOHN DUKE of RUTLAND
And observing in her all the accomplishments
A tender Parent could wish
Joyn’d to the prospect of a numerous issue from that Union.
To preserve the Names of MANNERS and SUTTON
And perpetuate the virtues of those Noble Family’s
He departed Sept 19, 1723
And such was the captivating and rare sweetness of his
Manners and Conversation that he liv’d without Enemy’s
He dy’d regretted by all that knew Him
Particularly by his Daughter BRIDGET
Who in filial gratitude
To the most indulgent and best Father
Hath erected this Monument.

South side

Within this Vault is deposited the Body
Of MARGARET Lady LEXINGTON
The virtuous and only wife of ROBERT Lord LEXINGTON.
She was Daughter and Heir to Sr GILES HUNGERFORD
Of Colston in the County of Wilts
A Family Illustrious in the times of the Saxon Government
And therefore suteably united to the ancient House of SUTTON.
Such were the beautyes of her mind and Person
That as she liv’d esteem’d and reverenc’d
Her Memory will continue ever Dear to Posterity.
She dyed Apr. 17, 1703.
WILLIAM GEORGE SUTTON born at Vienna Sept. 25, 1697.
Dyed at Madrid Aug 15, 1712.
CORNELIA LEONORA MARGARETTA SUTTON born at Vienna
Nov. 4, 1695. dyed Oct. 18, 1715.
Children of ROBERT and MARGARET Lord and Lady LEXINGTON
Are likewise here interr’d.

North Wall

On the north wall of the chapel, normally half obscured by a large cupboard, is a mural monument to Grace Fanshawe (died 1763), widow of Thomas Fanshawe. Writing in the 1790s John Throsby noted that the monument was at that time located 'within the rails of the altar.'

Near this Place
Lyeth
the Body of Mrs Grace Fanshawe
Relict of Thomas Fanshawe Esq,
And
Daughter of the Revd Mr Hugh Cartwright
Once Rector of this Parish
Who departed this Life April 25
1763
Aged 59
H. H. H.

Stop: and Reflect awhile, my Friend;
And let Reflection make Thee wife.
Thy Years run fast, and Soon shall end
Then run and strive to win the Prize.

What Time is past, is ever lost :
What is to come, no one can say ;
Thou can’st not of to morrow Boast
Then Settle thy Accounts to day.

So shall sweet Slumber close thine Eyes;
In Death thy Soul shall know no Fears;
And thou to endless Bliss shalt rise,
When God's Eternal Son appears.
H. H. H.

Her hatchment is mounted on the wall directly above the monument.

At the east end of the north wall is a tablet to Charlotte Lockwood who died in 1792:

TO THE MEMORY
OF
CHARLOTTE MARY LOCKWOOD,
WHO WAS BORN AT FLORENCE
THE 18TH APRIL 1790,
AND DIED AT AVERHAM
THE 17TH OF FEBRUARY
1792.

South Wall

There is a slate and marble tablet in memory of Thomas Lord Manners, youngest son of Lord George Manners Sutton. He was Solicitor General to King George III and was in 1807 raised to the Peerage and appointed Lord High Chancellor of Ireland. He died 31 May 1842, aged 87.

TO THE MEMORY OF
THOMAS, LORD MANNERS,
YOUNGEST SON OF THE LATE LORD GEORGE MANNERS SUTTON,
(SON OF JOHN, THIRD DUKE OF RUTLAND)
BY BRIDGET, DAUGHTER AND SOLE HEIRESS OF
ROBERT SUTTON, LORD LEXINGTON, OF KELHAM:
WHO HAVING FILLED THE OFFICE SUCCESSIVELY OF
SOLICITOR GENERAL TO THE PRINCE OF WALES,
AND TO KING GEORGE THE THIRD,
AND ONE OF THE BARONS OF THE EXCHEQUER,
WAS IN THE YEAR 1807 RAISED TO THE PEERAGE,
AND APPOINTED LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND.
IN THIS EMINENT STATION,
WHICH HE HELD FOR UPWARDS OF TWENTY YEARS
HIS ABLE AND IMPARTIAL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
COMMANDED UNIVERSAL CONFIDENCE AND RESPECT;
WHILE THE KINDNESS OF HIS HEART,
AND THE COURTESY OF HIS MANNERS, ENDEARED HIM TO ALL
WHO APPROACHED HIM IN PRIVATE LIFE,
AND EVEN SOFTENED IN VERY DISTURBED TIMES,
THE ASPERITIES OF POLITICAL CONFLICTS.
THE GUIDING POWER OF RELIGIOUS AND MORAL PRINCIPLE
WAS EXEMPLIFIED IN EVERY THOUGHT AND ACTION OF HIS LIFE,
HIS PIETY WAS EARNEST AND CONSTANT,
SEVERE TO HIMSELF, BUT INDULGENT TO OTHERS.
HIS CHARITY WAS EXTENSIVE AND UNOSTENTATIOUS;
HE WAS AN EMINENT AND FAITHFUL PUBLIC SERVANT,
A TENDER HUSBAND, A GOOD FATHER, A KIND MASTER,
AND A ZEALOUS FRIEND.

HE DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 31ST OF MAY 1842,
IN THE 87TH YEAR OF HIS AGE,
IN HUMBLE RELIANCE ON THE MERCIES AND THE MERITS
OF A CRUCIFIED REDEEMER.

HIS WIDOW AND HIS SON HAVE ERECTED THIS TESTIMONIAL
TO HIS WORTH.

Chancel

A brass plaque, in memory of the Rev Joseph Walker, is fixed to the south choir stall:

THIS CHURCH WAS LIGHTED
IN MEMORY OF
JOSEPH WALKER
FOR 51 YEARS RECTOR OF THIS PARISH

Walker was rector of Kelham from 1856 to 1907.

North Aisle

Captain The Honourable Arthur Manners, brother and heir presumptive to Lord Manners, died at his mother's residence in Cadogan Square, London on 21 August 1888. The plaque was restored in 2017.

After
restoration

Before
restoration

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
CAPTAIN, THE HONOURABLE
ARTHUR MANNERS
XV THE KING’S HUSSARS
WHO DIED
ON THE 24TH AUGUST 1888
AGED 33 YEARS

ERECTED BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS
WHO LOST IN HIM A TRUE HEARTED
WELL LOVED FRIEND & COMPANION.

Under the west window in the north wall of the aisle is a plaque to Eustace Hepburn Barlow who died at Hasketon, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, on 29 May 1914 aged 58. The plaque was restored in 2017 (the photograph shows it before restoration).

To the glory of God and in Loving
Memory of Eustace Hepburn Barlow
for 32 Years Agent of the Kelham Estate.
A TRIBUTE OF AFFECTIONATE REGARD
FROM THE TENANTS OF THE ABOVE ESTATE BY WHOM
THIS TABLET HAS BEEN ERECTED.

November 1914

Towards the east is the monument to Lady Henrietta Barbara, daughter of the 7th Earl of Scarborough, who died in 1864. It is signed 'T. Gaffin, Regent St, London.'

IN THE VAULT BELOW
LIE THE REMAINS OF
LADY HENRIETTA BARBARA,
YOUNGEST DAUGHTER
AND EVENTUAL CO-HEIR OF
JOHN 7TH EARL OF SCARBOROUGH,
RELICT OF
THE REVD FREDERICK MANNERS SUTTON,
AND WIFE OF
JOHN LODGE ELLERTON, ESQRE.

BORN 15TH JULY 1796.
DIED 27TH JULY 1864.

“BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART:
FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD."

Nave

At the west end of the south arcade is a monument to Henry Widdowson who drowned at Kelham Bridge on 19 November 1874. According to the Nottinghamshire Guardian he was working for Spick & Rowbotham of Newark who were hired to 'put in some slack near Kelham Bridge' when he slipped while walking across a barge, fell into the river, and drowned.

+
JESU MERCY

IN MEMORY OF
HENRY JAMES SINGLETON WIDDOWSON
OF HOVERINGHAM,
DROWNED AT KELHAM BRIDGE
NOVR 19TH 1874,
AGED 20 YEARS.

HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.

“IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH.”

+

South Aisle

Floor slab to John Clay (died 1779):

In Memory
of Mr IOHN CLAY
who Died 24th of Sepr 1779
Aged 78 Years.

Floor slab to John Hardy (died 1782) and his wife, Isabella (died 177?):

To the Memory of
JOHN HARDY,
and ISABELLA his Wife
died July […] [17]82
Aged 83 Years

She died Oct 30th 177[…]

Aged […] Years

Floor slab to Elizabeth Clay (died 1797):

In Memory of
ELIZABETH the Wife of
JOHN CLAY
who died Decr 19th 1797
Aged 92 Years.