Edensor Church and Village.
The present church, completed in 1870, is a remarkably fine and elegant structure, with a lofty tower and broach spire at its west end; of it we give an engraving, as seen from the upper part of the village, from a photograph by Mr. E. F. Bampton, of Edensor. It consists of a nave with side aisles, a chancel, and a monumental chapel opening from the south side of the chancel. The font, which is of marble, and extremely chaste and beautiful, is at the west end, and the pulpit, which also is of marble, is placed against the chancel-arch. In the chancel are very elegant sedilia, and the floor is laid with encaustic tiles. One of the most historically interesting remains in this church is a brass plate in the chancel to the memory of John Beton, one of the household and confidential servants of Mary Queen of Scots, who died at Chatsworth while his royal mistress was a captive there, in 1570. At the head of the plate are the arms of Beton (who was of the same family as Cardinal David Beton, who took so prominent a part in the affairs of Scotland in the reign of James V. and of Mary, and of James Beton, Archbishop of St. Andrew’s), quarterly first and fourth a fesse between three mascles; second and third, on a chevron an otter’s head, erased; with the crest a talbot’s head. At the bottom is a figure of Beton, in plate armour, lying dead upon a pallet, his hands by his side and his head resting on a pillow. Of this historically interesting brass we give a careful engraving on the opposite page. For this, with some other illustrations, we are indebted to “The Reliquary, Archæological Journal.”
Another brass plate, near the chancel-arch, bears the following inscription:—
“Here lies ye Body of Mr. Iohn Philips,
sometime Houskeeper at Chatsworth,
who departed this life on ye 28th of May,
1735, in ye 73rd year of his age, and 60th
of his Service in ye most Noble Family
of His Grace the Duke of
Devonshire.
Pray let my Bones together lie
Until that sad and joyfull Day,
When from above a Voice shall say,
Rise, all ye Dead, lift up your Eyes,
Your great Creator bids you rise;
Then do I hope with all ye Just
To shake off my polluted Dust,
And in new Robes of Glory Drest
To have access amongst ye Bless’d.
Which God of his infinite Mercy Grant,
For the sake & through ye Merits of my
Redeemer, Jesus Christ ye Righteous.
Amen.”
In the chapel alluded to is a large and remarkably fine monument, entirely filling up its west side, and of somewhat remarkable character. On either side is a massive pedestal, supporting a life-size statue, and pilasters which rise behind them support a pediment for the sculptured arms, crest, and supporters of the Earl of Devonshire.
Monumental Brass to John Beton.