Very unusual headstone. Any ideas?

[PabloC]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone might be able to shed some light on the possible meaning (if any) of the ornate adornments that are located on this rather unusual headstone?

The headstone marks the place where my Great, great, great grandmother is buried in Rogate Churchyard, Sussex.

The inscription reads:

“To the memory of
Mary Glue
Died Jan 23rd 1892
Aged 69 Years

Then, underneath there is the following inscription:

‘Released from Sorrow, Sin and Pain’ (with further unreadable text below this due to the grass which seems to end with the words ‘from every care’)

The cross appears to be made of iron and in the centre there is an intricate, almost military-style crest with further adornments around the cross as can be seen.

Has anyone seen anything like this before and might anyone know if there’s any meaning to it?

Regards

Paul

[charlotteCH]

Hi,
Do you know who in the family survived her and may have been responsible for erecting this- it is a bit unusual ?

charlotte

[behindthefrogs]

It is a cast iron headstone.  The design in the centre is a fairly normal representation of a Christian symbol which is still used today.  The letters IHS superimposed on each other standing for "In His Service" according to some people but also according to others the Latin version of the name Jesus.

David

[matt94]

Ah now I have seen these headstones before... In Bradfield Churchyard in Berkshire, many labourers and their families had either cast iron or wooden headstones, usually crosses.

Matt

[alunno-a]

I always thought IHS on a grave was a sort of pun ie it stands (as IHS) for the greek cipher for Jesus--and Iesus Hominum Salvator-latin "Jesus, Saviour of Man."
But also, read as HIS  is Hic Iacet Sepultus ie "here lies buried"...(or here lies the buried/burial)
-Sally

[behindthefrogs]

I would query your last example Sally as it is used in many other places in the Christian Church.  For example it is frequently found on the lecturn cloth of non-conformist churches.  I accept that your classical interpretation is more likely to be correct than mine.

David

[alunno-a]

Fair enough!!!

[davidft]

................... Then, underneath there is the following inscription:

‘Released from Sorrow, Sin and Pain’ (with further unreadable text below this due to the grass which seems to end with the words ‘from every care’)

Has anyone seen anything like this before and might anyone know if there’s any meaning to it?

The inscription seems to be a standard one that was on memorial cards at the time - see the 32nd example in the link below

http://www.disley.net/t&wb_memorial_cards.html