Church Monuments Society

We hope to be able to hold the 2021 AGM in person, at the St Alban’s Centre, on Saturday 11 September. We are even planning an afternoon of free lectures! Only members can attend the AGM but all are welcome to the lectures. It’s free and there is no need to book – just turn up. We look forward to seeing you.

Practical Information for the 2021 Annual General Meeting

In line with Government guidelines face coverings, while not legally necessary, continue to be recommended unless you are exempt from wearing one. Please do not attend the meeting if you have symptoms of Covid 19. Hand sanitiser will be available for your use.

Refreshments will not be available so please bring a drink with you if you wish.

Last year’s minutes and reports are available at https://churchmonumentssociety.org/about/governance.

Provisional Timetable:

2pm-2.30 AGM

2.30 – 4.30 Lectures (order to be arranged)

4.30 – 5 pm Discussion and final questions

Speakers:

Dr Christina Faraday, Research Fellow, Gonville and Caius College, Affiliated Lecturer in History of Art, University of Cambridge, AHRC/BBC New Generation Thinker 2019

‘Vivit Post Funera Virtus: The Elizabethan and Jacobean
Monuments in Gonville and Caius College Chapel, Cambridge’

The Chapel of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, contains four
impressive Elizabethan and Jacobean monuments: to John Caius, re-founder
of the College; William Webbe, Fellow Commoner; Dr Stephen Perse, Fellow
and benefactor; and Dr Thomas Legge, Master and successor to Caius. This
talk will analyse the monuments alongside nearby contemporary examples,
and consider them as indicative of the College’s desire to consolidate
its corporate identity in the first half-century after the refoundation,
and of the deep diffusion of classical influences in a post-Reformation
Cambridge College.

Dr Stuart Prior and Dr Helen Frisby

Grounds for Grave Concern

Following their previous successful talk to the Society (on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i66n6MovCA), Stuart and Helen return to discuss Stuart’s work and life as a gravedigger, unearthing the vital role of these often-overlooked professionals in caring for the dead, the living and the cemetery landscape itself.

Along with a showing of this pre-recorded interview, Helen will answer questions about the Grave Communications research project live and in-person at the St Albans Centre.

Madeleine Gray, Professor Emerita of Ecclesiastical History, University of South Wales

‘A crate of bones and gristle’: cadaver tombs and the art of the macabre in medieval Wales

This also picks up on themes from our Spring series of lecures  – Christina Welch’s talk on cadaver tombs (on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hE7nHDe44E). We will now look at some more unusual Welsh cadaver tombs and other Welsh examples of the art of the macabre. We will also consider whether some of the very vivid macabre poetry in medieval Wales might be evidence for lost wall paintings and tombs.

Nominations for Council

Dr Susan Jenkins and Dr Holly Trusted have been nominated for election to Council at the AGM on 11 September 2021.  Dr Jenkins is currently working on a catalogue of Westminster Abbey’s monuments and Dr Trusted is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

In addition, Mrs Moria Gittos has been asked to remain on Council, as a co-opted member, to assist with the development of a Grant Policy.