Stanton on the Wolds All Saints

Monuments and Memorials

Chancel

The oldest monument in the church is a broken alabaster slab lying on the south side within the altar rails. The Reliquary (1872-3) records that it appears to have originally borne the representation of two figures in long flowing robes with several smaller figures praying below. Only a few words of the marginal inscription in Old English characters could be deciphered:

…….of his…..of August, in this yeare of o Lord….

Tradition ascribes this monument to the Clifton family who held the manor of Stanton on the Wolds.

On the north side within the altar rails is a black slate slab inscribed:

Here lieth interr’d ye body of
Sr JOHN PARSONS KNIGHT & Barrt
who departed this life
JANUARY ye 7th ANNO DOM 1704
in ye 48 year of his age

This Sir John Parsons was the son and successor of Sir William Parsons, of Langley in Buckinghamshire. He married Catherine, the elder sister and co-heiress of Sir William Clifton, of Clifton, Baronet, and through her acquired the manor of Stanton on the Wolds. They resided for some years in the manor house.

A brass plate nearby is inscribed:

Here lyeth the body of GERVASE LEE
Late Rector of this Towne,
Who died Novemb 15 AD : MDCLXVIIII.

In the middle of the chancel floor is a slate slab inscribed:

Here
lie interr’d the remains of
the Revd Joseph Smith
late Rector of this Parish
who departed this life
on the 18th of June 1818
in the 73d Year of his Age

Also three children of the Revd Thos. Smith
more than 21 Years Curate of this Parish
& Sarah his wife viz.
John Edward Smith died 15. Augst 1829
Aged 11 Weeks
Sarah Hutchenson Smith died 16 Decr
1834 Aged 14 Weeks
Emma Catherine Smith died 2. Novr
1836 Aged 13 Weeks

The Rev Thomas Smith was subsequently rector (1848-76). He and his wife, Sarah, are buried in the churchyard where there is also a headstone for a married daughter, Sarah Ann Fletcher died 24 April 1873 aged 29.

Nave

A slate floor stone in the nave bears the inscription:

Here
lieth interr’d the body of
Phebe the daugh. of
Thos. & Phebe Oldknow
Of Nottingham
She departed this life
October the 9th
In the Year of our Lord
MDCCLVI
And the 4th Year of her Age
W. Charles Sculpsit

Thomas Oldknow was from a family long resident in Nottingham. He was an alderman, sheriff and several times mayor of that borough. His first wife, Phoebe, was the third daughter of Joseph Mather of Shipley, Derbyshire, gentleman.

Behind the south door, there is a small slate slab on the wall with the inscription:

Here lies ye body of William
Son of John Flower and Ann his wife
Who died November 2nd in ye 15th year of his age, 1731