I love a walk around any churchyard and finding the different headstones depicting the names of people who have been buried there over the previous centuries. Perched high at the top of a ridge, St Peter’s can be seen for miles around. It’s tall tower is made of grey ashlar was built in the fourteenth century.
A Protestant Martyr – or Two
The connection with Bolton is not immediately apparent. One of the vicars at Church Langton was Laurence Saunders who succeeded Polydore Vergil Castellanus in 1535. This date must be incorrect as he would have been too young at this date. He was admitted to Cambridge University from Eton in 1538. His entry for Cambridge has him being rector of All Hallows in London in 1553-4 and rector of Church Langton in 1554 whereas other records put him in Church Langton first before going to All Hallows. At some point, whether it was at Cambridge or elsewhere he met and befriended George Marsh.
George Marsh was born in Deane about 1515. After his wife died he made the decision to go to Cambridge and matriculated in 1551 before being ordained in 1552. He became a curate of Church Langton in 1552; most likely through Laurence Saunders. Both Saunders and Marsh were burnt at the stake for their beliefs in the Marian persecutions. Saunders was burnt at Coventry and Marsh was burnt at Chester on 24 April 1555. I will do a dedicated post on George Marsh at a later date, exploring his story and possible connection to the Norris family of Bolton.
Headstones in the Churchyard
There is a number of Swithland slate headstone scattered throughout along with some sandstone headstones. Below is one of the earliest headstones dating from 1712.
The shadow is from tape cordoning off the area around the tower.
This is another Swithland slate headstone of a husband and wife. Notice the decoration down the middle. There is another Watson headstone to the right so this must have been a family burial area. You can see the difference in the lettering and decoration of the two headstones. The one to the left dates from 1776 and 1787 and the one to the right dates from 1805.
On the headstone below there is a cross a book a crown a heart. I can’t make out what is to the left of the book but it could be a laurel wreath representing victory over death.
I love the area at the back which has been left to grow wild and flower. It was buzzing with bees the day we visited and was deliciously cool compared to the front and side of the churchyard.
The chest tomb is for the Andrews family of West Langton.
Another Swithland slate headstone with two cherubs. Notice the serpents. This headstone was by Walker of Market Harborough.
A close up of the two cherubs:
This is my favourite headstone in the churchyard and is a wonderful depiction of Adam and Eve with the serpent in the tree and dates from 1771
A close up of the Adam & Eve scene.
A well worn pathway through the churchyard.