Lowdham
St Mary

Churchyard

There is an extensive churchyard surrounding the church with its largest area to the north. It was closed for burials when the new cemetery was opened, but urns with ashes may still be put it a reserved area on the south-east close to the gate. The new cemetery has been in use since 1953 and is run by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

The southern part of the churchyard The part of the northern section of the churchyard nearer to the church The northern part of the churchyard further away from the church Looking south towards the church from the new cemetery

The registers start from 1559. The earliest memorials date from 1700. The first surviving stone (made of slate, by Wood) is of Ann Hind:

In memory of Ann,
wife of John Hind
who died November 4th 1700
aged 66 year:

With vilent pain, and long complaint, I was oppressed full sore:
‘Till God above did me remove, to rest, for evermore

Samson Gilbert is the earliest priest to be found:

Here lieth the body of
Rev Fthr Samson Gilbert
who was vicar of this
church 17 years and
was buried January the first 1729

There are several eighteenth century stones in the churchyard. Many are of slate and preserve their inscriptions well. Another example is:

Headstone of Thomas Cooe and his young son
Here
lieth the Body
of Thomas Cooe who
departed this life July
the. 21. 1768 Aged
39 years
Allso the Body of
George the son of Thos.
Cooe & Mary his wife who
died February ye 21th 1757
in the first year of his Age

Perhaps one of the most tragic is that of junior members of the Abbott family:

Headstone to three children of the Abbott family
In memory of
Mary the daughter of
Samuel and Ann Abbott
who departed this life ye 31st day
of March AD 1773 in the 9th
year of her age
Also Samuel their son
who died the 1st day of April
AD 1773: And in the 4: year
of his age.
Likewise Eliz daughter of
the Above who died the 2nd
day of April AD 1773 in the 2
year of her age

Three harmless infants lie under this stone
Who from their parents they soon was gone
To grieve for us it will be now in vain
For your great loss is our eternal gain
Our Peace was made with God, decree’d before
We went from hence and so to be no more
And when we were inoculated was
You little thought what now has come to pass