A church monument is an architectural or sculptural memorial to a dead person or persons, often in the form of an effigy or a wall tablet, located within a Christian church. It usually resides immediately above or close to the actual burial vault or grave, although very occasionally the tomb is constructed within it or it is a mere cenotaph. The Parthenon on top of the Acropolis, Athens, Greece Architecture (from Latin, architectura and ultimately from Greek, αρχιτεκτων, a master builder, from αρχι- chief, leader and τεκτων, builder, carpenter) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... An Italian Futurist sculpture by Umberto Boccioni at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City (MoMA). ... Sculpture on the Discoveries Age and Portuguese Navigators in Lisbon, Portugal Holocaust Memorial for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg by David Ascalon (1994) A memorial is an object served as a memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event. ... Death is the cessation of life. ... The effigy of John Gower in Southwark Cathedral, London. ... A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal attached to a wall or other vertical surface and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ whom they believe is the saviour of the world. ... A church building (or simply church) is a building used in Christian worship. ... A tomb is a small building (or vault) for the remains of the dead, with walls, a roof, and (if it is to be used for more than one corpse) a door. ... Grave has multiple meanings: A grave (IPA: ) is a place for the dead, see tomb, burial, grave (burial) A grave accent (IPA: ) is a type of diacritical mark (as in French crème de la crème). ... A tomb is a small building (or vault) for the remains of the dead, with walls, a roof, and (if it is to be used for more than one corpse) a door. ... The Cenotaph, London A ceremony at the Cenotaph, London, on Sunday 12th June 2005, remembering Irish war dead Memorial Cenotaph, Hiroshima, Japan A cenotaph is a tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person or group of persons whose remains are elsewhere. ...

Once the subject of mere antiquarian curiosity, they are today recognised as fine works of art, as well a highly detailed and invaluable record of antique costume and armour and, from the middle of the 15th century, of genuine face-portraiture. Yarkand ladies summer fashions. ... A hoplite wearing (only) a helmet, breastplate greaves and a shield. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... It has been suggested that Portrait painting be merged into this article or section. ...

Development

Medieval period

The earliest church monuments, dating from the early 12th century, were simple stone coffin-shaped grave coverings incised with a cross or similar design. The first attempts at commemorative portraiture emerged soon afterwards, executed in low relief, horizontal but as in life. Gradually these became full high-relief effigies, usually recumbent, as in death, and, by the 14th century, with hands together in prayer. In general, such monumental effigies were carved in stone, marble or wood, or cast in bronze or brass. Often the stone effigies were painted to resemble life, but on the vast majority of medieval monuments, this has long since disappeared. The crossed-legged attitude of numerous mail-armoured knights was long supposed to imply that the deceased had served in the Crusades, but this supposition is unfounded. By the early 13th century, the effigies became raised on tomb-style chests (or tomb chests) decorated with foliage, heraldry or architectural detailing. By the end of the century, these often had architectural canopies and figured 'weepers' (often friends or relatives identified by their coats of arms) were popular decorative features. In the 15th century these often became angels or saints and the chest might include a cadaver. The best monuments were made of alabaster. Around the 13th century, smaller two-dimensional effigies incised in plates of brass and affixed to monumental slabs of stone became popular too. These memorial brasses were somewhat cheaper and particularly popular with the emerging middle class. (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... A coffin (in North American English, also known as a casket) is a funerary box used in the display and containment of deceased remains -- either for burial or after cremation. ... The effigy of John Gower in Southwark Cathedral, London. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ... This article is about the medieval crusades. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Heraldry is the science and art of designing, displaying, describing and recording coats of arms and badges, as well as the formal ceremonies and laws that regulate the use and inheritance of arms. ... The Parthenon on top of the Acropolis, Athens, Greece Architecture (from Latin, architectura and ultimately from Greek, αρχιτεκτων, a master builder, from αρχι- chief, leader and τεκτων, builder, carpenter) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... Look up Canopy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... The Annunciation - the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear Jesus (El Greco, 1575) An angel is an ethereal being found in many religions, whose duties are to assist and serve God. ... A saint is a term to refer to someone who is a holy person. ... Beneath Masaccios fresco of the Trinity painted in 1425-28 in Santa Maria Novella, Florence, is a painted representation of a cadaver tomb A cadaver tomb (or memento mori tomb, Latin for reminder of death) is a sarcophagus that resembles a carved stone bunk-bed with the deceased shown... Alabaster (sometimes called satin spar) is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals: gypsum (a hydrous sulfate of calcium) and the calcite (a carbonate of calcium). ... Monumental Brass is a species of engraved sepulchral memorial which in the early part of the 13th century began to take the place of tombs and effigies carved in stone. ...

Early modern period

Part of the memorial placed by Ann Bellamy Lynn to her husband George at St Mary's church Southwick, Northamptonshire

In the 16th century, church monuments became increasingly influenced by Renaissance forms and detailing (pilasters, wreaths, strapwork, skulls, coffered arches, obelisks, etc), particularly in France, the Netherlands and, eventually, England. There were major innovations in effigial posture, the deceased often being shown reclining or kneeling in prayer and surrounded by the whole family, as in life. Cadavers were replaced by skeletons. The 'hanging' mural or wall monument also became popular, sometimes with half-length 'demi-figures'; and also the floor-bound heraldic ledger stone. The 17th century saw an increase in classicism and the use of marble. Effigies might be sitting or standing, grief-stricken, shrouded or, unusually, rising from the grave. Busts and relief portraits were popular. High Baroque monuments were some of the grandest ever constructed. Decoration turned to cherubs, urns, drapery, garlands of fruit and flowers. In the 18th century, church monuments became more restrained, placed before two-dimensional pyramids, but more Roman-like, with the deceased often depicted in Roman dress or as a cameo-like 'medallion portrait'. The Rococo style gave more movement to these figures. Southwick is a small village in Northamptonshire, England. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... In the traditional view, the Renaissance is understood as a historical age that was preceded by the Middle Ages and followed by the Reformation. ... The Luxor obelisk in the Place de la Concorde in Paris An obelisk is a tall, thin, four-sided, tapering monument which ends in a pyramidal top. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Classicism door in Olomouc, The Czech Republic Teatr Wielki in Warsaw Church La Madeleine in Paris Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for classical antiquity, as setting standards for taste which the classicist seeks to emulate. ... Venus de Milo, front. ... Bust of Richard Bently by Roubiliac A bust is a sculpture depicting a persons chest, shoulders, and head, usually supported by a stand. ... Adoration, by Peter Paul Rubens. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... 2002 Lincoln cent, obverse, proof with cameo Cameo is a method of carving, or an item of jewelry made in this manner. ...

Victorian period

The early 19th century brought us Greek Revival monuments, some quite plain wall plaques, some with sentimental and romantically realistic figures (perhaps rising to heaven) or other devices like weeping willows. Gothic Revival followed, with the obvious return to alabaster, tomb chests and recumbent effigies. However, the Victorian age saw many differing styles, until large-scale monuments fell out of fashion at the end of the century. 20th century large-scale monuments are not unknown, but quite rare. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Personal residence of Catherine the Great Greek Revival was a style of classical architecture which became fashionable in Europe in the 18th century, and in the United Kingdom and United States in the early 19th century. ... Species About 350, including: Salix acutifolia- Violet Willow Salix alaxensis- Alaska Willow Salix alba- White Willow Salix alpina- Alpine Willow Salix amygdaloides- Peachleaf Willow Salix arbuscula- Mountain Willow Salix arbusculoides- Littletree Willow Salix arctica- Arctic Willow Salix atrocinerea Salix aurita- Eared Willow Salix babylonica- Peking Willow Salix barrattiana- Barratts... Victoria Tower at the Palace of Westminster, London: Gothic details provided by A.W.N. Pugin The Gothic revival was a European architectural movement with origins in mid-18th century England. ... Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Accession to the Throne, June 20, 1837) gave her name to the historic era. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the...

Examples of English church monuments

The church monuments of England, in particular, have been preserved in far greater numbers and, generally, in better condition than those of other countries, and are second to none in artistic merit. Fine examples may be found in cathedrals and parish churches in every county, for example:

• Aldworth, Bisham & St. George's Chapel, Windsor in Berkshire
• Chenies & Wing in Buckinghamshire
• Launceston & St. Germans in Cornwall
• Bakewell, Edensor, Kedleston & Norbury in Derbyshire
• Gittisham & Holcombe Rogus in Devon
• Puddletown & Sherborne Abbey in Dorset
• Chester-le-Street & Staindrop in County Durham
• Winchelsea & Withyam in East Sussex
• Chipping Campden & Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire
• St. Helen, Bishopsgate & Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula at the Tower of London, City of London
• Harefield, Temple Church & Westminster Abbey in Middlesex
• Titchfield & Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire
• Much Marcle & Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire
• Bishop's Hatfield & Knebworth in Hertfordshire
• Canterbury Cathedral in Kent
• Bottesford & Breedon-on-the-Hill in Leicestershire
• Lowick & Stowe-Nine-Churches in Northamptonshire
• Burford, Dorchester Abbey, Ewelme & Rotherfield Greys in Oxfordshire
• Kinlet & Tong in Shropshire
• Framlingham & Wingfield in Suffolk
• Bletchingley & Ockham in Surrey
• St. Mary's Collegiate Church, Warwick in Warwickshire
• Arundel in West Sussex
• Edington Priory, Lydiard Tregoze & Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire
• Croome D'Abitot & Elmley Castle in Worcestershire
• Beverley Minster & Holy Trinity, Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire
• Coxwold & West Tanfield in the North Riding of Yorkshire
• Harewood in the West Riding of Yorkshire

Aldworth is a small village and civil parish, close to the northern edge of the English county of Berkshire, in the rural area between Reading, Newbury and Streatley. ... Bisham is a village and civil parish in the Windsor and Maidenhead district of Berkshire, England. ... St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle, left, 1848. ... Berkshire (IPA: or  ; sometimes abbreviated to Berks) is a county in England and forms part of the South East England region. ... Map sources for Chenies at grid reference TQ016984 Chenies is a village in the very eastern part of south Buckinghamshire, England, near the border with Hertfordshire. ... All Saints Church, Wing. ... Map of Bucks (1904) This article is about the English county. ... Location within the British Isles Launceston (Cornish: Lannstefan; the English name is pronounced , or , usually without the t by the Cornish, but with by everyone else) is a town in the north of Cornwall, with a population of approximately 7,000. ... Cornwall (Cornish: Kernow) is a county at the extreme South-West of England on the peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar. ... Location within the British Isles Bakewell is a small market town in Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from Badecas Well. It is the only town in the Peak District. ... Edensor is a village in Derbyshire, England. ... Kedleston is a village and civil parish in the Amber Valley district of Derbyshire. ... Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, and boasts some of Englands most attractive scenery. ... Holcombe Rogus is a village and civil parish in the English county of Devon. ... Devon is a large county in South West England, bordering on Cornwall to the west, Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... Puddletown is a village in Dorset, England, 5 miles east of Dorchester in the River Piddle valley. ... Sherborne Abbey The Abbey Church of St. ... For other uses, see Dorset (disambiguation). ... Chester-le-Street is a market town in County Durham, England with a history going back to Roman times. ... Staindrop is a village in County Durham, in England. ... County Durham is a county in north-east England. ... Location within the British Isles Winchelsea is a small walled town in East Sussex, England, at the southern corner of the Romney Marsh. ... East Sussex is a county in South East England. ... Location within the British Isles. ... The Abbey of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, is the second largest parish church in England. ... Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ... St Helens Bishopsgate The interior of St. ... A chapel is a private church, usually small and often attached to a larger institution such as a college, a hospital, a palace, or a prison. ... St. ... For the film with this title, see Tower of London (1939 film). ... Coat of arms The City of London is a small area in Greater London. ... Harefield is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon. ... The Temple Church. ... The Abbeys western façade The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to as Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral, in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... Middlesex is one of the 39 historic counties of England. ... // Introduction Titchfield is a small village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. ... Winchester Cathedral as seen from the Cathedral Close View along the nave of Winchester Cathedral to the west door A plan published in 1911 Winchester Cathedral in Winchester, Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England. ... Hampshire (abbr. ... Much Marcle is a small village in rural Herefordshire located at grid reference SO658327 between Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury. ... Location within the British Isles. ... Herefordshire is a traditional and ceremonial county and unitary district in the West Midlands region of England in the United Kingdom. ... Arms of the former Hatfield Rural District Council Hatfield, originally Bishops Hatfield, is a town in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire, in the south of England. ... Knebworth is a village in the north of Hertfordshire, England. ... Hertfordshire (pronounced Har(t)fordshire and abbreviated as Herts) is an inland county in the United Kingdom, officially part of the East of England Government region. ... Canterbury Cathedral from the southwest. ... Kent is a county in England, south-east of London. ... Location within the British Isles Bottesford is a village in the Melton district of Leicestershire, England. ... The round house lock-up in Breedon on the Hill Breedon on the Hill is a village in North West Leicestershire, England. ... Leicestershire (abbreviated Leics) is a landlocked county in central England. ... Stowe is a village in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. ... Northamptonshire (abbreviated Northants or Nhants) is a landlocked county in central England with a population of 629,676 (2001 census). ... Map sources for Burford at grid reference SP2512 Looking north through Burford Priory of Our Lady Picturesque Burford Burford ( or in the IPA) is a Cotswold town in Oxfordshire, England. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from the Latinised form Oxonia) is a county in south-east England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. ... Tong is a village in Shropshire, United Kingdom. ... Shropshire (abbreviated Salop or Shrops) is a traditional, ceremonial and administrative county in the West Midlands region of England. ... St Michaels Church of England church in Framlingham, Suffolk, dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. ... Suffolk (pronounced SUF-fk) is a large traditional and administrative county in the East Anglia region of eastern England. ... Bletchingley is a village in Surrey, United Kingdom. ... Ockham is a small English village near East Horsley, in Surrey, south-west of London. ... Surrey is a county in southern England, part of the South East England region and one of the Home Counties. ... The Collegiate Church of St Mary is the parish church of the town of Warwick, England. ... Warwickshire (pronounced either /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃə/ or /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃɪə/) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... This article is about the town in England. ... West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex (with Brighton and Hove), Hampshire and Surrey. ... Salisbury Cathedral in the early morning light. ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... Worcestershire (pronounced ; abbreviated Worcs) is a county located in the West Midlands region of central England. ... The West front of Beverley Minster. ... Hull or Kingston upon Hull is a British city situated on the north bank of the Humber estuary. ... The East Riding of Yorkshire is a local government district in the United Kingdom. ... Coxwold is a village in North Yorkshire, 18 miles north of York where the Rev. ... The North Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three traditional subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire. ... Harewood (pronounced Hair-wood) is a village in the county of West Yorkshire, England, south of Harrogate. ... The West Riding as an administrative county prior to its abolition in 1974. ...

References

• Crossley, FH (1921). English Church Monuments AD 1150-1550. Batsford
• Esdaile, KA (1946). English Church Monuments 1510-1840. Batsford
• Kemp, B (1980). English Church Monuments. Batsford

External links

• The Church Monuments Society
• Royal Berkshire History: Church Monuments