Graveslab in Burnchurch

Within the graveyard (KK023-072002-) associated with the medieval church of Burnchurch (KK023-072001-), 8m E of the gable of the C of I church. This graveslab (L 1.98m; Wth 0.94m), embedded in the ground, is decorated in false relief with an eight-armed interlace cross with fleur-de-lis terminals, the cross-shaft rests on a stepped cross-base. It is described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 377) as ‘a floor slab in the old church, which accounts for the disappearance of portions of the inscription. At the right side of the raised central cross, is a shield with the Fitzgerald coat of arms, but only the cross saltire may now be seen; at the left of the cross is another shield, with the fretty of the St. Legers. Underneath there are two other shields, but the arms sculptured thereon, if any, are obliterated. The inscription is raised Old English [Black Letter]; it runs round the edge and is continued in several inner lines. Almost an entire line, worn away, at the edge, along the right side of the cross, and continued in two short lines, still legible, at the base, evidently commemorated John Baron, lord of Burnchurch (father of Richard, subsequently lord of Burnchurch), who was a Justice of the Peace for the County Kilkenny, and was murdered at Mallardstown, in the 6th year of Edward VI., i.e. some time between Jany. 28th, 1552, and Jany. 28th, 1553’. The inscription is given as, ‘Hic jacet……on, Dns de Burnchurch et Anastatia Sintlegger uxor ei9 qi obiit primo die Februarii An. Do. Mcccccxlv0-4……Deus. Amen. Testis sis mihi, Ch[ris]te q’ non jacet hic lapis iste corpus ut ornetur, sed ut sp[irit]us memoretur. Quisquis eris qi trasieris, sta, p[er]lege, plora; sum quod eris, fueramque, quod es. Pro me precor ora……di 1 552, fili9 & her9 Rouladi, r9 aie pp’r de9 ’, which translates as, ‘Here lie [Rouland Bar]on, lord of Burnchurch, and Anastatia St. Leger, his wife, who died Feb. 1st 1544-5. [On whose souls may] God [have mercy]. Amen. Be my witness, O Christ, that this stone does not lie here, to ornament the body, but to have the soul remembered. Whoe’er thou art that passest by, stand, read, lament. I am what you will be; I was what you are. Pray for me I beseech you. [Here lies John Baron], son and heir of Rouland, [who died] A.D. 1552. On whose soul may God have mercy’ (ibid. 376-7).  Within the graveyard there are other medieval graveslabs (KK023-072004- to KK023-072010-), two side panels from chest tombs (KK023-072008-; KK023-072011-) and the mensa of a chest tomb (KK023-072005-). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly