This old photogrpah shows scene in the village of Kirk Michael when Lady Raglan opened the new Lychgate on 16th October 1907.
Source of the Old Photograph:'Chronicles of Man:Illustrated History 1900-1939'(ISBN 978-1-907945-99-1))
The caption alongside the photograph is reproduced below:
"...October 16th, Lady Raglan opens the Lych Gate. It purpose is to house the fine collection of ancient crosses including one by Gaut, the notable Scandinavian sculpture.'
Lady Raglan was the wife of the Island's then Lieutenant Governor Lord Raglan who was the grandson of Raglan of Crimea Fame. He was the Lieutenant Governor of the Island from 1902 to 1919.
About the Lychgate
Lychgate at the St. Michael and All Angels Church in Kirk Michael dates from 1907.
The Lychgate was built to accomodate the fine collection of cross-slabs found in the Parish of Michael. The Architect of the Lychgate was Armitage Rigby also design the Cross House at Kirk Maughold and worked with Lord Raglan on the restoration of Castle Rushen.
Gate was built by the Manx Museum and Ancient Monument Trustees.
The cross-slabs dating from the 7th to 11th centuries had been found in various burial places in the parish, though most are from the vicinity of the Church.
The lychgate was opened by Lady Raglan, the wife of the then Lieutenant Governor of the Island on 16th October 1907.
However, the Lychgate was not ideally suited to the task of housing the crosses which were crammed in and began to show slight but unmistakable signs of weathering and defacement. As a consequence and with the co-operation of the Vicar and Wardens, by the Manx Museum Trustees to their present positon in the northeast transept of the Church.
Over the Lygate in red-lettering is the following bible quote:
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
This is a quote from John 11:25 (King James Version):
'Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:'
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St Michael’s Church and it cross-slabs – (an information leaflet available in the Church with unknown authorship)
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More information about Gaut Bjørnson - (Gaut The Sculptor) can be found at the following link:
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