Not all of us are lucky enough to have a magnificent Stained Glass window dedicated to our memory.
But down in Cornwall, in the village of Mawgan-in-Pydar, there is a stunning window in the Church of St Mawgan and St Nicholas that is dedicated to two of my wife's recent ancestors.
The window was commissioned and installed in 1906 in memory of Sampson LeWarne, and his wife Nancy LeWarne. I'm not sure what happened to them, but they died within a few days of each other in December of 1858. Was there a pandemic in 1858?
Their oldest granddaughter erected the window in their memory.
As you can see, the quality of the window painting is superb. What a shame they never got to see it themselves.
I'll be lucky if I'm awarded a tiny brass plaque, let alone a huge window.
What a special and beautiful way to commemorate the loved ones.
ReplyDeleteWonderful isn't it. Lady M is very keen to visit.
DeleteShe must have loved her grandparents. If a stained glass window was commissioned it's likely that the church would have some history about them. If not, and you were that curious, you could always order their death certificates which would tell you the cause of death. (Typhoid Fever and Cholera were the big ones of the day, I believe).
ReplyDeleteYes, for them to have died so close to each other does suggest they caught some nasty illness together. It would be interesting to know!
DeleteJust googled Sampson lewarne (with my genealogists hat on) and there's loads of info on the family and the window !
ReplyDeleteI just had a look on Google, and noticed that this page is actually on there too!!!
DeleteThat looks very much like a Jones and Willis window. We have a beautiful one here in our house that dates from the same period.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautifully detailed window, I love the face of the grieving St Anne (?).
DeleteI notice that Sampson was "of Retorrick Mill". This location now has its own website: https://www.retorrickmill.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteI wonder what Sampson and Nancy would have made of that.
'Glamping with Sam and Nancy'; sounds OK.
DeleteOne of our 2CVing friends lives in St.Mawgan and he is an excellent wildlife artist as well....
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/dick.twinney/
He promotes the local area and it's wildlife via his website.... well worth going and taking a look....
he's illustrated various series of Royal Doulton fine art plates, exhibited widely.... still going, but not 2CVing anymore like us.... as you get older, you get past certain things that you enjoyed.
And, thinking of Billy, Dick is an accomplished cartoonist....
https://www.theartofdicktwinney.com/product-page/border-working-collie
Ava'giggle
Ha ha, I like the BC; he sounds just like Billy.
DeleteWe did own a 2CV, it was wonderful. The driver's seat had collapsed so we changed for an Orange Box. We eventually sold it to friend's sister, and it went on for years. I should have kept it.
A lovely way to have a lasting memorial . And something different from Saints and Bible stories.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful, isn't it. I wonder what that would cost today?
DeleteHow will we leave our mark on the world?
ReplyDeleteI will leave some paintings and a few bits of building. I should have done more.
DeleteWhat a beautiful memorial to a much loved family, though the lady on the left doesn't look too happy. For a moment I thought the man in the window on the right was you Cro!
ReplyDeleteNo desire for any memorial - when I'm gone, I'm gone!
I agree with you about a memorial, I would just like that people remember me kindly.
DeleteHave the brass plaque made and attached before you are gone, so you can see it!
ReplyDeleteYou know what good you have done , that is what matters most in the long run. Really. You are a good person, people love you, no honours needed.
I do hope that is so. Perhaps I should have a plaque that says 'He did his Best'.
DeleteThe window is a lovely memorial.
ReplyDeleteA trip to Cornwall to view the memorial sounds good to me.
If you want a memorial, design it and stipulate it in your last will and testament. I suspect Kimbo will oblige.
I wouldn't want some grand memorial, just something that says that I was here.
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