Selston
St Helen

Monuments and Memorials

Willoughby Monument

In the sanctuary on the north side of the altar is a monument to William Willoughby and his wife Anne. The monument is shaped like a large chest, mostly of alabaster and with other stones set into it. Reclining on it are two alabaster figures depicting a woman in 17th-century dress and a man in armour. Above the figures is a canopy supported on two black columns, and this is topped by a large coat of arms in the centre and a smaller coat of arms on either side. In the central coat-of-arms, the quarters with red and gold stripes are the Willoughby coat-of-arms.

The monument has suffered some damage, and in places the original alabaster has been replaced with stone. The edging of the slab on which the figures recline is incomplete and some sections have been replaced, but the following letters are visible:

OF SOVTH . . . ILLIAM WILLO . . . W . . . B . . . U Q . . . OF . . . VSKHA . . .

The stones seem to be in the wrong order, and the last word is probably 'Muskham', as Thoroton in his 'Antiquities' refers to Sir William Willoughby as the son of 'Sir Rotheram Willoughby of Muscombe in the County of Nott. Knight'. The figures’ faces have been damaged and the hands and feet are missing. It has been suggested that the monument was originally placed in the chapel to the south of the chancel, which would have necessitated it being moved when this chapel was closed.

On the wall above the figures is a rectangular black plaque measuring 30 ins x 19 ins (76cm x 48cm), which has an inscription in gold lettering:

Here lieth William Willoughby, Esquire, sonne and heire of
Sr Rotheram Willoughby Kt sonne of Sr Willoughby Kt
of Dame Anne his wife one of ye daughters
of Sr Richard Wortley, Kt and of Elizabeth his
wife now Countess of Devon he married
Elizabeth one of the daughters of Timothie
Pusey Esq who made this Monument in Memorie
of her husband and by her he had foure Children
he was aged Twenty one years and three
quarters and died the xij day of Novemb. 1630

On the north wall of the chancel, close to the canopy of the monument, is another black memorial plaque, in a surround of marble or alabaster, with an inscription in gold. It reads:

ON THAT UNEXPECTED DEATH OF
THAT WELL DESERVING GENTLEMAN
WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY OF SOUTH MUSKHAM ESQ
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE NOVEMBR 12TH, 1630.
AN EPITAPH
INTERR’D BENEATH THIS MONUMENT DOTH LIE,
 AS GREAT PERFECTION, AS WITH MAN COULD DIE,
WHICH MORE ENNOBLED HIM THAN BIRTH OR BLOOD,
SINCE ‘TIS LESS WORTHY TO BE GREAT THAN GOOD.
HIS NOBLE WAYS BLAZON’D HIS PROGENY,
AND PROV’D HIM A RIGHT TRUE BORN WILLOUGHBY.
 IF E’ER THOU KNEW’ST HIM LIVING, DROP A TEAR,
 NOT ‘CAUSE HE’S DEAD, BUT ‘CAUSE WE WANT HIM HERE.
WHOSE GOODNESS GAIN’D HIM LOVE, TRUE WORTH, RENOWN,
GOOD LIFE, GOOD END, AND THAT GOOD END A CROWN
OF GLORY, IN THE HEAV’NS WHICH HE INHERITS
IN RIGHT OF FAITH AND ALL HIS SAVIOUR’S MERITS.
YET LEFT HE ERE HE WENT BEHIND A PAIR
OF FEMALE BABES, BESIDES HIS INFANT HEIR,
A HOPEFUL IMP, A RIGHT YOUNG WILLOUGBY,
 IN WHOM LOVE PORTRAYED MY WORLD’S BRIGHT EYE,
HIS FATHER’S GENTLE PARTS. OF OUR OTHERS, ONE
OF THOSE FAIR VIRGIN BABES, SINCE FROM US GONE
TO BEAR HER FATHER COMPANY, THE OTHER
SURVIVING THE JOYS TO WAIT UPON HER SWEET MOTHER
WHOSE VIRTUES MERIT LONG TO ENJOY IN THIS
WORLD ALL THAT’S GOOD, IN OTHER WORLD ALL BLISS.

High up on the south wall of the chancel, opposite the monument, a mount can be seen which is where the Willoughby funerary helmet hung up to 1988.

Plaque in memory of Ethel Annie Simmons

In the side chapel below the window in memory of her husband, is a brass plaque in memory of Mrs Simmons. It reads:

THANKS BE TO GOD FOR
ETHEL ANNIE SIMMONS
13 May 1911 – 27 September 1987
the wife of
the Reverend Hubert Victor Simmons
for sixteen years she gave
freely of her love and talents
to enhance the life of this parish
THE LOVE OF GOD WAS HER LIFE

Laverick memorial plaque

On the south wall of the church, between the John the Baptist window and the plain window, is a white marble plaque measuring 32ins (83cm) x 42 ins (108cm), mounted on black slate. The inscription says:

IN MEMORY OF
GEORGE WALES LAVERICK
(OF PYE HILL HOUSE IN THIS PARISH)
FOR 16 YEARS MANAGER OF RIDDINGS COLLIERIES.
WHO DIED FEBRUARY 16TH 1889,
AGED 52 YEARS
"IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH."
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY THE OFFICIALS AND WORKMEN
EMPLOYED AT THE COLLIERIES OF MESSRS JAMES OAKES & CO
AS A TOKEN OF THEIR RESPECT

Restoration memorial plaque

On the south side of the chancel arch, at the entrance to the side chapel, is a brass plaque commemorating the restoration of the church during 1949 to 1959.

THIS CHURCH WAS RESTORED
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
BY THE PEOPLE OF SELSTON
1949 – 1959

J. E. HIND  

HUGH B. BIDDELL

J. SMITH

  

Vicar 1949-1956

C. W. MEADOWS

  

GERALD N. PEARCE

Churchwardens

  

 Vicar

Hymn boards

Two oak boards which carry the numbers of the hymns and psalms have been given in memory of members of the church. Each has a different pattern of carving at the top and down the sides, and a small brass plaque at the bottom. The one to the south of the chancel arch is decorated with roses and acorns, and the plaque reads:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ALAN LINDLEY
ORGANIST OF THIS CHURCH
FROM 1962 – 1971
AND CONDUCTOR OF THE
SELSTON CHORAL UNION.

The one to the north of the chancel arch is decorated with crosses and acorns and the plaque reads:

IN MEMORY OF
JOHN RICHARD STOKES
FOR 65 YEARS A
CHORISTER AT THIS CHURCH
1907 – 1972

Below this hymn board is another brass plaque inscribed as follows:

IN MEMORY OF
MARY ANN LEIVERS
FOR MANY YEARS A WORKER AND
WORSHIPPER IN THIS CHURCH
WHO DIED FEBRUARY 28th 1963
AND WHO LEFT A LEGACY TOWARDS
THE COST OF THE NEW
HEATING APPARATUS

Plaque in memory of the Rev R J W Wright

On the north wall of the chancel, above the arches, is a white marble shield mounted on a black marble or slate mount approximately 30 ins' (78cm) square, which reads:

IN MEMORIAM
THE REVD ROBERT JOHN WILLIAM WRIGHT
30 YEARS VICAR OF THIS PARISH
WHO ENTERED INTO REST AUGUST 2ND 1887
AGED 84 YEARS.
ALSO OF ANNA MARIA HIS WIFE
WHO FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS APRIL 4TH 1878
AGED 67 YEARS.
'I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.'
'BECAUSE I LIVE, YE SHALL LIVE ALSO.'

Plaque in memory of Eliza Maria Wright

On the south wall of the chancel, above the arches, directly opposite the Rev R J W Wright’s memorial, is a matching plaque of white marble mounted on black marble or slate approximately 30 ins (78cm) square. The inscription reads:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ELIZA MARIA WRIGHT
SECOND DAUGHTER OF
THE REV. R. W. WRIGHT
VICAR OF THIS PARISH
WHO ENTERED INTO REST
MAY 24TH 1885
AGED 46 YEARS
'SO HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP.'
PS 127. 2.
'IN THY PRESENCE IS FULNESS OF JOY.'
PS 16. 11.

Board with list of vicars

This large wood panel is on the west side of the south door and it carries a list of vicars of Selston dating back to 1176. At the base of the board is a brass plaque.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MY DEAR HUSBAND
JOHN EDWARD HIND
CHURCHWARDEN 1945 – 1965

Notice board

To the east of the south door is a notice board with a carved inscription running along the bottom of the frame:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF DOROTHY ANNIE JULIA RADFORD

The notice board is modern, probably late 20th century.

Plaque in memory of William Blake

On the north wall of the church is a memorial plaque of marble in the shape of a scroll mounted on black slate. The approximate size of the mount is 39' (100cm) across by 26 ins (66cm) high, and in the bottom left corner is the maker’s name, which is unclear but looks like Fisher Bros, Mansfield. The inscription reads:

+
THIS TABLET
WAS ERECTED BY MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH,
AND OF THE ALBERT VICTOR SICK LODGE AND FRIENDS,
TO THE MEMORY OF
WILLIAM JAMES BLAKE
WHO DIED JUNE 1ST 1894,
AGED 75 YEARS.
HE WAS FOR 23 YEARS CHURCHWARDEN,
AND FOR 30 YEARS SECRETARY TO THE ABOVE LODGE.