Grave of Katharine and Sarah Losh. Church of Saint Mary. Wreay, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe.
The stone is inscribed:- "KATHARINE ISABELLA LOSH DIED FEBRUARY, 1835, AGED 47. SARAH LOSH DIED MARCH 29TH, 1853. IN VITA DIVISAE, IN MOTE CONJUNCTAE. LORD LET THY MERCY LIGHTEN UPON US". The church, designed and built in basilica form in 1840–42 by the local landowner Sara or Sarah Losh, exhibits an original style which she called "early Saxon or modified Lombard". It makes striking use of carved plant and animal motifs. As the church website points out, "St Mary’s embodies many of the attributes of the Arts and Crafts Movement and yet predates it by some 50 years". The carvings embody symbolism that refers to death, rebirth and eternity, drawing upon Christian, pagan and personal references. It is a Grade II* listed building. The church replaced a small medieval chapel on a different site, which had become dilapidated by the 1830s. Recent repairs and restoration of the church have involved relaying sandstone roof slabs, internal redecoration, installation of a new heating and lighting system and the construction of a new vestry. The church received a private visit from HRH Prince Charles in 2009. Near the church is a Grade II listed mausoleum designed by Sara Losh and erected in 1850 in memory of her sister Katharine (1787–1817). Plans to restore the Grade II chapel of rest designed by Sara Losh were announced in 2012. Next to the mausoleum is a Grade II listed reconstruction of the Saxon Bewcastle Cross, erected by Sara Losh around 1835, possibly in memory of her parents, John and Isabella Losh but with an inscription apparently referring to the recent loss of her sister Katharine.
Size: 2663px × 3350px
Location: Church of Saint Mary. Wreay, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe.
Photo credit: © Stan Pritchard / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: grave, gravestone, katharine, losh, sara, sarah, wreay
