Graveslab in Burgagery-Lands West

A prostrate limestone graveslab within St. Mary's church (TS083-019001-) is located near the E corner of the S aisle. The slab belongs to John Striche and his wife Margaret Smith, dated 1625. It is decorated with a seven-armed segmental cross, carved in relief, with fleur-de-lis terminals. A barred-knop occurs at the base of the cross-head with a raised horizontal band crossing the cross-shaft beneath it. There is a large raised blank shield in the centre of the slab, the decorated cross-shaft is depicted running down the centre of the shield. A three-barred knop occurs at the base of the cross-shaft, surrmounting a pillar-base form of calvary mount. On either side of the three-barred knop there is a raised horizontal block which continues over to the inscribed margin. These also appear to be blank, but like the shield may be badly worn. The latin inscription in raised black letter script runs around the four margins of the slab. It has been transcribed as: HIC JACET JOHANNES STRITCHE BURGENSIS HUIUS OPPIDI QUI OBIIT 25h MAII 1622; ET MARGARETA DANIEL, ALIAS SMITHE UXOR EIUS QUAE HOC MONUMENTUM SUPERSTES IN MEMORIAM DICTI JOANIS FIERI FECIT Ao DM. 1625 QUAE OBIIT [ ] QUORUM, ANIMABUS PROPITIETUR DEUS (Vigors, 1891, vol. 1, 242) and translates as, 'Here lies John Stritche, a burgess of this town, who died 25th May 1622 and Margaret Daniel alias Smith, his wife, who surviving him had this monument erected in the year of Our Lord 1625, in memory of the said John. She died ---- may God have mercy on their souls' (Art, Craft and Design Class 1996, 20). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

A 17th-century Christian graveslab; locally significant as a historical funerary monument within a church setting.