Orston
St Mary

Monuments and Memorials

Chancel

Two marble tablets in memory of Susanna and William Middlemore are situated either side of the easternmost window on the south wall of the chancel:

In the adjacent Vault are interred the remains of
SUSANNA,
the widow of WILLIAM RICHARD MIDDLEMORE, ESQR.
who resided here from the time of his decease
and died on the 28th day of August, 1849,
in her 74th Year.
After a life of earnest piety and of unceasing beneficence and charity,
she departed in humble reliance on the merits of
her Saviour.
This monument [the same by her desire as her late husband] is a memorial of
her regardful attachment to him,
and it serves to attest the deep sorrow of her friends,
and the respect for her memory of
all who knew her.

In a Vault near this place is deposited the Body of
WILLIAM RICHARD MIDDLEMORE, Esqr.
2nd. Son of W. R. MIDDLEMORE, Esqr.
late of Grantham in the County of Lincoln.
After a short illness of 30 hours, previous to which
he appeared in perfect health, he died on the 6th day
of October 1815, Aged 48.
Behold an Instance of the Instability of Human
Enjoyments, learn hence an important lesson, seek
your Saviour while it is called to day, to morrow may
not be yours.
This Monument was erected by his Widow SUSANNA, Daughter
of JOHN MATTHEWS, Esqr of Tynemouth Northumberland,
by whom he left no issue

North aisle

A fine stone effigy, that is somewhat mutilated, lies on the floor at the east end of the north aisle. It was removed from the sill of the north-west window and before that it was in the chancel. Gill suggests that the effigy was brought to the church of her ancestral home from the monastic church of St. Mary at Newstead at the time of Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries, which happened with other monuments and relics across the country in an attempt to save or hide them. The effigy carries no inscription but the style of the dress, the small angels which smooth the pillow, and the details of the canopy depicts workmanship of the early 14th century. Traces of lineage however are borne on two small shields: one, above the right shoulder, bears three water bougets for de Roos, lords of Belvoir, and the manor of Orston in the late 13th and 14th century. The other has been guessed to belong to the D’Albini family as King Richard I granted the manor of Orston to William D’Albini to whom king John granted and confirmed it also. When the 4th William D’Albini died in the succession, the manor was left to his daughter Isabella who was the sole heiress. She married Robert de Roos and conveyed the estates to him.

The figure is represented with a heart or a reliquary between upraised hands. This is intended to indicate that the heart of the individual was given to God, or as a token that the vow to holy church had been duly fulfilled. She was buried in the monastic church attached to the Hospital of St Mary at Newstead AD 1301.

A slate tablet in memory of the Rev. Jonathan Fell is at the east end of the north wall and reads:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE
REV. JONATHAN FELL,
WHO DIED JAN. 26, 1806, AGED 56,
AND FOR MORE THAN 31 YEARS CURATE OF THIS PARISH.
HE WAS A MAN OF UNAFFECTED PIETY, AND PRIMITIVE
SIMPLICITY OF MANNERS; ATTACHED TO THE CHURCH,
AND LOYAL TO THE KING; A MOST FAITHFUL HUSBAND,
AND THE KINDEST OF FATHERS.
HIS SORROWING WIDOW, AND HIS EIGHT CHILDREN,
CAUSED THIS TABLET TO BE ERECTED,
A MONUMENT OF HIS WORTH, AND
THEIR AFFECTION.

South aisle

At the east end of the south aisle are several floor slabs. One commemorates Constantia Kerchevall:

Constantia Kerchivall on[e]
of ye Daughter[s] of John
Kerchivall, and Ellener
his wife, ob die 5o
Octobris 1681

Another floor slab is in memory of John Maltby and his wife, Jane:

Here Lieth the
Body of John
Maltby [...] who
Departed this
Life ye 1st day of

Novr 1718
in the 78th Year

Of his Age

Here Lieth the
Body of Mrs Jane
Wife of Mr Wm
Maltby who
Departed this
Life ye 3rd day of
Novr 1724
in the 71st Year
of her Age

South porch

In the porch there is a scrolled head tablet with angel to Eleanor Kerchevall (1695) and a slate tablet to John Kerchevall (1721).

HERE
Lyeth the Body of ELIANOR
wife of JOHN KERCHEVALL
Daughter of WILLIAM
HARTOPP of Little Daul
by in the county of Lei
cester Esqur: who departed
this life the 25th of May.
1695.