St James' church cemetery - Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire - Worldwide Cemeteries on Waymarking.com

Parish cemetery at St James' church, Ab Kettleby.

"The church grounds here are a delight, with many interesting graves gravestones dating from the early 18th century. As is to be expected in this part of the country, many of the graves are in slate, and as a result are really well preserved.

There are several instances of what have become known as 'Belvoir Angel stones' here. These are all carved in slate and are carved along similar lines. There are one or two beautifully carved cherubs head, with outstretched wings and wearing a ruff. Very often there are symbols of the mortality of man across the top, such as crossed human bones or hour glass. Text runs alongside this at times, also reminding the onlooker that Man is mortal and will die. 'Remember thy end' and 'Be ye ready' appears regularly.

The carvings are fabulously crafted with the accompanying text less so. Sometimes words are squeezed above or below the end of lines and have obviously not been laid out prior to carving. These stones first appeared in the latter years of the 17th century and production was continued until the middle of the 18th century. Over 300 remain standing with the majority of them being in the church grounds at Nether Broughton, Upper Broughton and Hickling. Very little is known about the people who carved these but it is thought that the stonemasons would have been based in or around these villages.

One the back of one grave it is carved 'Its appointed all men must die. And not live here eternally. And after death be judged all, When God Almighty comes to call'.

One grave, not a Belvoir Angel grave, reads... 'You readers all both old and young, your time on earth will not be long. For death will come and die you must, andlike to me return to dust'. Close by a human skull, withe serpent slithering through an eye socket, with hour glass above, states the same message in symbol form. This one has the wording .Mors Janua Vitae' across the top, which translates as death is the door to life."

SOURCE - (visit link)

City, Town, or Parish / State / Country: Ab Kettleby / Leicestershire / England Approximate number of graves: 100 Cemetery Website: [Web Link] Cemetery Status: Not listed

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