It is with considerable sadness that we report the death after a long, resolute but uncomplaining struggle with cancer of our distinguished member, Father Jerome Bertram. He was ordained as a Catholic Priest at Arundel Cathedral, West Sussex, and at his death was an assistant priest at the Oxford Oratory. He was a good, sound and faithful priest, and a witty and engaging preacher, as well as a kindly confessor.

For members he will be known better as one of the great pioneers of our subject, who travelled throughout Europe in order to study all types of medieval monuments. He was a prolific author, producing many books and articles, his first monograph being Brasses and Brass Rubbing in England (1971) published when he was just 21 years old. He was an enthusiastic brass rubber and extremely active in the Monumental Brass Society; he was Editor of their Transactions for six years and was elected a Vice-President of the Society in 1997. He was also active in the CMS, most recently preparing a paper for our most recent symposium on the brasses of Hereford Cathedral, but sadly was too ill to appear in person.

Proficiscere, anima christiana, de hoc mundo,
in nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, qui te creavit:
in nomine Jesu Christi Filii Dei vivi, qui pro te passus est:
in nomine Spiritus Sancti, qui in te effusus es.

A full obituary will appear in  the next Church Monuments, but a more long-lasting memorial to Jerome’s legacy as an antiquary and scholar will be the forthcoming book, edited by our Council member, Christian Steer, The Monuments Man: Essays in Honour of Jerome Bertram, to which many CMS members  and other friends have contributed. For a special pre-publication offer see the entry on this blog.