West Leake
St Helena

Monuments and Memorials

Click the numbers in the key plan for details of the items.

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2

3

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9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

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18

19

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21
Key to Monuments

Nave west wall

1.Floor stone in memory of Thomas Mansfield (1663-1706)

2-3.Floor stones in memory of the Rev Edward Bigland and his wife.

Edward Bigland’s stone is inscribed in Latin which runs:

HIC JACET EDWARDUS BIGLAND [SACRAE] THE[OLOGIAE] BACCA[LAUREUS] ET HUIUS [ECCLESIAE] RECTOR QUI OBIIT SECUNDO DIE AUGUSTI ANO AETATIS SUAE SEPTUAGESIMO QUINTO ANNO DNI 1650

When translated the text reads:

'Here lies Edward Bigland, Batchelor of Sacred Theology, and Rector of this church who died on the 2nd day of August, age 75 in the year 1650.'

Bigland’s wife, Mary, died 9 March 1652, aged 68. Her inscription is in English:

HERE LYETH MARY BENDYSH WIFE OF EDWARD BIGLAND WHO DIED THE 9 OF MARCH IN YE 68 YEARE OF HER [AGE] IN THE YEARE OF OUR LORD 1652

Across the two memorial slabs, which lie side by side, runs the inscription 'Quos Christus junxit haud mors separavit' i.e., 'They whom Christ joined death did not separate.'

4.Floor stone in memory of Parnel, second daughter of the Rev John Davys, Rector of Leke from 1667-1717, who died 20 February 1694, aged 11. Also Lucy, her sister wife of Mathew Brown, Curate of Leke who died February 1716/17 in her 32nd year. Also Lucy daughter of the above and relict of Lyttleton Wolferson Esq who died 16 May 1798 aged 82 years.
5.Slate slab fixed upright in memory of the Rev Edward Ellis who died 16 May 1795.
6.Slate slab fixed upright in memory of the Rev Robert Hemington, Rector of Joint Parishes from 1770 to 1772.

Nave north wall

7.Floor stone in memory of Millicent, wife of Thomas Mansfield (died 1638)
8.Floor stone in memory of Millicent Mansfield, daughter of Richard Mansfield (granddaughter of Thomas and Millicent) who died 11 December 1680 aged 17 years 8 months.
9.
Monument to
Richard Mansfield
The Latin inscription

Wall monument to Richard Mansfield (1549-1624).

The inscription is in Latin:

Anno Erae Christian 1624, Annoq AEtat: 75 3o jd Augusti
Annimam Deo Creatori reddidit.

RICHARDUS MANSFEILD Gen: hujus Manerij Dominus.
Vxorem habuit Iocosam filiam THOMAE PAGET de BARWEL
Comitat: Leicest: Gen: Ex quâ liberos RICHARDUM,
FRANCISC: THOMÃ, DOROth; MARIÃ & KATHERINAM suscepit.
Quorum THOMAS natu minim. e societate Templi Interioris J C
EX MILLECENT: uxore suâ GULIELMI SACHEVEREL de BARTON
Arm: filiâ, filiu un et haeredem RICHARDU (qui ELIZABETHÃ
THOMAE RICHARDSON Equit: Aurat: haeredisq apparent:
BARONIAE CRAMOND: Regno Scotiae filiam, in uxorem
Duxit) reliquit; treq filias, MARIÃ, FRANCISCÃ et MILLECENT,
obijt 4o Maij Ao Dni 1638 Ao AEtat suae 50

When translated the inscription reads:

In the year of the Christian era 1624 and in the 75th year of his age, Richard Mansfield returned his spirit to God the Great Creator. Master of this house, he had a wife Jocasa, the daughter of Thomas Paget of Barwel in the County of Leicestershire, whose children, Richard, Francis, Thomas, Dorothy, Maria and Katherine undertook this. Of these Thomas, the youngest, was buried with the Templars.

Also of Millicent wife (of Thomas) daughter of William Sacheverell of Barton, Knight. Their son and heir Richard who married Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Richardson, Knight. Their heirs put this up.

To Baron Crammed, who took as his wife a daughter of Scotland and left three daughters, Maria, Francisca and Millicent. He died 4th May 1638, age 50

Below Richard Mansfield’s monument are the following framed details of the late Princess Diana’s relations in West Leake compiled by W.Buchanan:

10 x Great Grandparents
Richard Mansfield and Jocosa Paget
9 x Great Grandparents
Thomas Mansfield and Millicent Sacheverell
8 x Great Grandparents
Richard Mansfield and Elizabeth Richardson
7 x Great Grandparents
Thomas Mansfield and Rebecca Chadwick
6 x Great Grandparents
Chiverton Hartopp and Catherine Mansfield

The following additional details were also listed:-

5 x Great Grandparents
Richard Howe (Admiral) and Mary Chiverton Hartopp
4 x Great Grandparents
Hon Penn Assheton Curzon and Sophia Charlotte Howe
3 x Great Grandparents
Richard William Penn Curzon Howe and Hon Anne Gore
2 x Great Grandparents
James Hamilton and Lady Mary Anne Curzon Howe
Great Grandparents
James Albert Edward Hamilton and Lady Rosalind Bingham
Parents
Edward John Spencer and Hon Frances Ruth Burke Roche
Self
Lady Diana Frances Spencer

10.Position of the Roll of Honour

11.Wall monument to the Rev George Holcombe, Rector of West and East Leake, 1804 to 1836.

The inscription states:

IN MEMORY OF
THE REV. GEORGE HOLCOMBE, D.D.
RECTOR OF THIS PARISH,
PREBENDARY OF WESTMINSTER,
AND ONE OF HIS MAJESTY’S JUSTICES OF PEACE
FOR THIS COUNTY.
OBIIT FEB. 1836.
ANNO AETATIS 81.

 

Chancel north wall

12.Wall monument to Robert Hemington, Rector of West and East Leake in 1772, died 30th December 1774, aged 64.

The Latin inscription states:

ROBERTUS HEMINGTON
Vir memoria dignus
Si quid dignum habent
Scientia et Virtus.
Erat enim
Literarum imprimis Studiosus
Et omni fere genere Doctrinoe cultus.
Ingenium
Dulce, facile, eratque, excelsum,
Judicio tamen acri et certo,
Urbanitate, moribusq: suavissimis
Feliciter temperatum.
Bonitate, Modestia, et Sapientia prope Singulari
Praeditus,
Totam sane Vitam
Sanctissime et Honestissime
instituit.
Mira temperantia, patientia, constantia,
Longam et pertinacem valetudinem
Pertulit.
Confectus tandem cruciatu Dolorum
Obiit anno MDCCLXXIVo
Mensis Decembris die XXXo
AEtatis anno LXIVo

When translated the text reads:

Robert Hemington. A man worthy of memory, if knowledge and virtue have anything of dignity. For he was a man of letters and learning and a source of wisdom of all kinds. He was gentle and skilful and excellent, yet with keen and certain judgement. He died with very sweet, cultures and happily temperate modesty and almost outstanding wisdom. He led almost his whole life very holy and honourably. With wonderful temperance, patience and constancy, he bore a long and stubborn illness. At last, worn out with the agonies of pain, he died in the year 1774 on the 30th day of December, age 65.

13.Black marble wall monument to Rev Edward Ellis, Rector of the joint parishes for 24 years, died 16th March 1795. The inscription reads:

BENEATH are interred the Remains of
The Reverend EDWARD ELLIS
Chaplain to the late RT HONRB FRANS EARL of HUNTINGDON
and 24 Years Rector of this Parish.
A Man of sound Judgment, extensive knowledge
and
Inflexible Integrity;
Naturally Humane, and unaffectedly Munificent
His Ear was ever open to the voice of Distress,
His Hand ever stretched out to its relief.
His Character was truly Apostolick,
In respect to the purity of his Life,
The piety of his Sentiments,
And the general practice of Charity and Benevolence.
He departed this Life,
In sure and certain hope of a Better,
the 16th of March 1795,
Aged 83.
MRS ELIZABETH EVANS of Barton in the County of Lincoln
Caused this Monument to be erected,
as a Tribute of Respect, justly due,
To the Memory,
of
Exalted Virtue.

14.Wall monument to Emily, wife of Rev John Bateman, who died 1st September 1855 aged 55 years leaving 11 children. The inscription reads:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
EMILY,
THE BELOVED WIFE OF THE REVD JOHN BATEMAN,
AND DAUGHTER OF EDWARD SHEWELL, ESQ.
WHO DIED AT WEST LEAKE RECTORY, SEPT. 1, 1855,
AGED 55 YEARS.
SHE LEFT ELEVEN CHILDREN
TO MOURN WITH HER SORROWING HUSBAND
THEIR IRREPARABLE LOSS.
“BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIED IN THE LORD.”
ALSO IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
EMILY LOUISA,
THEIR THIRD DAUGHTER
WHO DIED JUNE 6TH 1857, AGED 16 YEARS.
ALSO TO THE HONOURED MEMORY
OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED
REVD JOHN BATEMAN
2ND SON OF RICHARD THOMAS BATEMAN, ESQ.
OF WHEATHILL DERBYSHIRE,
WHO DIED ON THE 2ND MAY 1882,
IN THE 83RD YEAR OF HIS AGE.
“WHERE I AM, THERE SHALL YE BE ALSO.”
ALSO OF THEIR 3RD SON
RICHARD SCHEVERELL BATEMAN,
CAPTAIN ROYAL NAVY,
WHO DIED FEB 15 1896, AGED 64.
HORATIO THEIR 2ND SON
DIED AT DERBY JUNE 13TH 1903 AGED 72.
EDWARD LOUIS BATEMAN, C.B.
THEIR 4TH SON,
DIED JANUARY 25TH 1909, AGED 74.

Chancel east wall

15.Wall monument to the Rev Theophilus H Hastings, Rector of joint parishes, 1795 to 1804. The monument is signed by Peck of Loughborough.

The inscription states:

To the Memory of the
REVD T.H. HASTINGS, M.A.
late Rector of this Parish.
In his Deportment he was a finished
Gentleman; in Honour, Honesty and
Truth, he was Princely, Rich in the
possession of the most liberal
Heart, and the greatest distress he
labored under, was the want of Abilities
to relieve the distresses of others.
He was born October the 18th 1728;
and died April 2d 1804

IN VERITATE VICTORIA

Chancel south wall

16.
Detail

Wall monument in memory of Thomas Mansfield (died 1741) surmounted by a marble bust. The inscription in English reads:

Near this Place Lies the Body
of THOMAS MANSEEILD Esq.
Late LORD of this MANNOUR,
who Died 26 of February 174½ Aged 54
a man of Strict Honour
& Probity, a True Friend,
a Dutifull Son, and Affectionate
Brother, & a Kind Unkle.
In Gratitude To whose Memory,
This is Erected by His Nephew
EVELYN CHADWICKE Esq.
Janry A. D. 174⅔

17.Monument to Thomas MansfieldWall monument with Mansfield coat of arms in memory of Thomas Mansfield.

The Latin inscription states:

Hic jacet
THOMAS MANSFIELD
Arm. RICHARDI Filius,
Uxorem habuit REBECCAM,
IACOBI CHADWICKE, Arm:
e, Civitate LONDINENS. Filiam ;
Ex qua novem liberos suscepit,

RICHARDUM

}

 

THOMAM,

}

 

 

}

 

ELIZABETHAM,

}

 

 

}

in aetate
ineunte
defunctos:

MARIAM,

}

Adhuc
super=
=stites

REBECCAM,

}

 

}

WILHELM:

}

 

}

IOHANNEM,

}

 

 

}

 

ANNAM,

}

 

CATHARINAM.

}

 

Obijt XXVII die Mensis Ianuar.

 

{

Dni MDCCVI.

ANNO

{

 

 

{

AEtat. XLIII.

In cujus memoria Pientissima Conjux.
Hoc Marmor
Moerens Posuit.

When translated the inscription reads:

Here lies Thomas Mansfield, son of Richard the Knight. With Rebecca, a daughter of Jacob Chadwick from the City of London, there were 9 children: Richard, Rebecca, William, Joanne died in infancy; Thomas, Elizabeth, Maria and Catherine survived him. He died on the 27th day of January 1706, aged 43. In whose memory, his dutiful mourning partner, placed this marble.

South Wall of Nave

18.Brass plate relating to a memorial window to Sir Arthur Ernest Blake and members of his family (see the Glass section for further details).

Brass plate in memory of George Blake, a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, who was killed in 1917:

To the Glory of God
and in loving memory of
GEOFFREY STUART BLAKE
Lieutenant, Corps of Royal Engineers,
Born May 24th 1896.
Killed in action in France, Sept 5th 1917,
and buried at Villers Faucon.
Eldest son of Arthur Ernest Blake, J.P.
of West Leake & Florence Emily his wife.

I have fought a good fight
I have finished my course
I have kept the faith.

Brass plate in memory of Olive Joan Peacock, A E Blake's daughter, who died 15th October 1977 aged 78.

Larger Effigies

19.South wall of the south aisle

Behind a very long bench an arched tomb-recess containing an effigy with a gown of many folds belted at the waist.

20.North wall of the chancel

Detail Detail

In canopied recess the figure of a lady wearing a wimple, one hand holds the folds of her gown.

21.North wall of organ chamber

Detail Detail Detail

An arched tomb-recess with the effigy of a man with curly hair, angels on either side of his head, a heart in his hands and a dog at his feet, wearing a gown patterned with crosses and annulets (circles). This may be Alan of Leke or one of his sons.