Wednesday's Child ~ Dove and Olive Branch

In 

Loving Memory of

Ruby Alice

Titchmarsh

who died

August 16 1905

Aged 12 Years

'Not Death, but

Everlasting Life'

The Dove is a symbol of Purity and Peace and is often portrayed holding an Olive Branch which represents God's Peace with mankind.

Genesis 8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

Dove and Anchor

In Loving Memory of

Leonard

beloved son of

William & Alice Banner

who Died 9th Dec. 1925 Aged 18 Years

Just as Life seemed Bright

God called him home to rest

also the above

Alice Banner

Died 22nd March 1942 Aged 73 Years

Until We Meet Again

also Billy

Son of Charles & Annie Banner

Died Feb 16th 1932 Aged 2 Years

also the above William Banner

Died July 28th 1946 Aged 76 Years

Re~United

This beautifully detailed carving from Runcorn Cemetery in Cheshire, depicts a Dove, which is regarded as a symbol of Peace and Purity and the Anchor represents Hope.

Whilst the Lilies at the side of the headstone symbolise Purity and Chastity and the Roses are for Everlasting Love. 

Friday's Funerary Symbols ~ Swifts

These are the first Swifts I have ever seen to be pictured on a tombstone and I think they are so beautiful, that you could almost forget the sense of loss they depict.

The symbol of the Swift denotes the fleeting passage of time that their brief summer visits herald. When portrayed as a flock of swifts, these migratory birds remind us of the departure that comes before a journey toward a better place. 

Sacred to the Memory of

James Childs

Died April 5 1880 Age 60 Years

also James, Grandson

Died Dec 25 1886 Age 7 Mths

also Sarah, his wife

Died March16 1897 Age 76 Years

also Elizabeth, Granddaughter

 ? Age 9 Years 

There is also another Grandson who died May 22 and another Elizabeth, who died in January that is mentioned as well. Unfortunately I was unable to get any closer due to overgrown brambles in that area and so this was the best I could capture from a distance.

For They Are Jolly Good Fellows...

In the Churchyard of St. Andrew and St.Mary's in Grantchester, stands a monument to the Fellows of the Universities of Cambridge. The pelican at the top is a Christian symbol that denotes self~sacrifice.

It was earlier believed that the pelican fed it's young from a self inflicted gash, however the bird was merely feeding them from her pouch. The legend that was born from this observation, said that after the chicks had been killed by a snake, the mother bird resuscitated her young by feeding them her own blood. A great act of self~sacrifice for the sake of her children.

There are more names inscribed on the base of this monument than I have listed here, as all the horizontal surfaces have dedications as well. Unfortunately the lichens and weather have made them illegible.

Bruce Dickins

Fellow

Erlington & Bosworth

Professor of Anglo~Saxon

1880~1978

David James Bruce

Fellow

1928~1998

John Edward Lennard Jones

K.B.E ScD E.R.S Fellow

Professor Theoretical

Chemistry Principal

Univ. Col. Keele

1894~1954

Evelyn Garthmore

Fellow

1906~1990

John Thomson Mac ( Curdy ) ?

ScD Fellow

University Lecturer

1886~1947

Ronald R Henderson

A.O. C.M.G

Professor

1917~1994

George Stuart Carter

Fellow

1893~1969

Patrice Edouard Charvet

Fellow

1903~1993

and his wife

Eleanor Margaret

1904~1986

Malcolm Archer Sheridan Burgess

Fellow

1926~1978

John Harley Mason

Fellow

1920~2003

Stuart Dunsmore Elliot

Fellow

1907~1986

Gerard Mark Duveen

Fellow

1931~2008

Richard Bainbridge

Fellow

1922~1987

   

Monday Mourning ~ The Symbolism of Owls

The Symbolism of Owls

As a symbol in funerary art, the Owl represents Wisdom, Watchfulness and Reflective Solitude and is often depicted in scenes of the Crucifixion of Christ, as a reference to Jesus's ability to guide those who are in darkness.

In the mythology of ancient Greece, Athene, the Goddess of Wisdom, it was believed that a magical "inner light" gave Owls night vision. As the symbol of Athene, the Owl was a protector, accompanying Greek armies to war, and providing ornamental inspiration for their daily lives. If an Owl flew over Greek Soldiers before a battle, they took it as a sign of victory.

However the Owl has not always been so highly revered and is often feared in the folklore of Europe. As the Owl is portrayed as an omen of Death, due to it's association with night-time and darkness and has therefore been seen to have a connection with witches and witchcraft also.

The Owl pictured at the beginning of this post is seen here sitting on the broken column of the Family grave of the Hartog Van Banda's

Groot Was De Vlught Van Uw Geest,

Maar Heilig De Schat Van Uw Harte,

Waar Gij Van't Eigene Heil,

Anderen Rijk Hebt Gemaakt.

( Sorry I have no translation for this Inscription )

Joseph Mac Donald Simmons

19-8-1951  22-8-2003

Oscar P.F. Oldenburg

13 October 1960 - 5 October 1991