Graveslab in Fethard

Lying in the floor of the centre aisle of the medieval parish church of St John the Baptist (TS070-040001-), currently Holy Trinity C of I church. A rectangular limestone slab (L 2.13m; Wth 0.77m) decorated in relief with a three-armed cross with fleur-de-lis terminals, the centre of the cross-head is encircled with a crown of thorns and there is a sun in the upper dexter corner and a moon in the upper sinister corner. The cross-shaft rests on a curving calvary mount. Both sides of the shaft display symbols of the Passion. On the dexter side, surmounted by the initial P, there is a cock on the scourging pillar flanked by whips, beneath which are two scourges, a sceptre of reeds and Peter's sword. On the sinister side, surmounted by the initial M, there is a ladder, pincers, pieces of silver and a bag, a one piece garment and a jug and ewer. There is a latin inscription, not clearly legible, in Black Letter script, around the border of the slab, with two rows of script along the base and dexter side. Long (1892-4, vol. 2, 210) transcribes it as: HIC JACET PETRUS MORGANUS F[?] JOHANNIS MORGANII ET CATHERINE MULRONY FILI [?] SISTE VIATOR ITER VESTRE SORTIS QS MEMENTO UT MEA MORS HODIE ERASQUE FUTURA TUA SIQUA TIBI TENERO SUBSIT CLEMENTIA CORDE PROME FUNDE PIAS LECTOR AMICE PRECES 1631. The inscription has been translated by Long (ibid.), with a similar version by Knowles (1903, 157), though the later gives the date for the graveslab as 1671 rather than 1631. The translation by Knowles (ibid.) is, 'Here lies Peter Morgan, B. F. (Burgess of Fethard), son of John Morgan and Catherine Mulrony. Pause here, O Pilgrim, and think of thy lot with sorrow, As I am dead to-day, so thou shalt be to-morrow; If in thy tender heart be aught of clemency, Pour forth, O friendly reader, pious prayers for me. A. D. 1671'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 19 January 2012

A Christian graveslab; medieval period. It is significant as an example of early Christian funerary art within a reused medieval church context.