Churchill Somerset - Monument to Sara Latch - 1644

Date: 1644 to 1644
Location: Churchill, Somerset, England
Surname/tag: Latch

Description

WORK IN PROGRESS - MORE CONTENT TO FOLLOW Sansum-45 07:47, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

The Church of St John the Baptist in Churchill in Somerset has what is commonly said to be 1644 monument to John and Sara Latch.

Church of St John the Baptist, Churchill - monument to Sarah Latch

Beneath the shrouded and figure, there are 7 boys, two (possibly twins) holding skulls indicating deceased. Four girls, one holding a skull. There is also a small male baby (deceased) swaddled and possibly shrouded. The text on the plaque reads “Obit anno domini 1644/Sara Latch”. Above the two figures are the initials JL and SL and the Latch coat of arms.

A high resolution image is available at britishbuildings.org.uk

While there are several theories about who the monument represents, the most popular theory told today in several variants ^[1]

“In 1642, Sir John, a staunch Republican, leased Over Langford Manor and raised soldiers for Cromwell's New Model Army. Two years later, after returning from the Second Battle of Newbury, he died of shock upon discovering his wife and twelfth child had died in childbirth.”

While this romantic tale is inconsistent with the known facts on nearly all counts, there is no single theory that is totally consistent with what is known. This page, looks at the known history of the monument, the various theories and examins thier consistency with the genealogical context.

The History of the Monument

1791 - John Collinson - The History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset

In 1791, John Collinson', in 'The History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset', described the monument, stating that tgere was no inscription, but described the coat of arms “ Argent , on a feffe wavy azure between three efcutcheons gules , as many lozenges or” and stated that the “monument was erected to the memory of John Latch , esq ; whose armour , much decayed , was long kept in a chest in the church” . ^[2]

1842 - Illustrations of Churchill

In Somerset records office, there exists a note dated 5th November 1842, the abstract of which describes it as:^[3]

Handwritten note of verses on and description of monument of Sir John Latch (d. 1644) and Sara, his wife, in north side of chancel in Churchill church, 5 November 1842 (correcting statement in J. Collinson 'History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset', 1791, vol. iii, p. 581).

Suggesting that Collinson was incorrect and that the inscription was present at the time of Collinson’s writing. Consequently giving greater confidence that it was part of the original monument.

A drawing also exists from the same record ^[4]

“Sepia and grey watercolour & pencil drawing of monument to Sir John Latch in Churchill church, undated (27.5 x 19 cm).”

An examination of these documents would give confidence as to which parts of the monument pre-date the renovation in about 1880.

1871 First Mention and Transcript of the Verse

The Western-Super-Mare Gazette, Clevedon Journal and Somersetshire Advertiser of 24th June 1871 briefely describes the monument to Sir John Latch and provides a transcript of the epitaph. This appears to be the first record found published in the popular press^[5]

1880 Renovation and Re-Opening

The 12th August edition of the Western Daily Press describes the renovation and re-opening (the previous dayj of Churchill Church. The article provides considerable detail of the restoration and describes the memorial:^[6]

The monument on the north side of the chancel is of the 17th century, and there’s an effigy, according to tradition, Sir John Latch, dressed in a coat of buff boots and spurs, looking on his wife in a shroud.

This is the first mention of the inscription which the article quotes in full and attributes to John Donne.

The restoration work is described as:

The restoration at the church appears to have been conscientiously carry forward, the object of the architect being to bring out the original features of the architecture. The work was undertaken by Mr Hawkins of Glastonbury, the contractor, underMr. Ewan Christian, of London, architect to the ecclesiastical commissioners.

A significant part of the work was funded by C.J. Simmons of Langford a “7th generation descendant of John Latch”

1885 - Somersetshire Archceoloffical and Natural History Societ Visit

The Thirty-seventh Annual Meeting of the Somersetshire Archceoloffical and Natural History Society in 1885 visited the Church and were shown the Monument by C.J. Simmons. It was described in the proceedings of the society as dating from 1644 “erected to the memory of John Latch and his wife” and the paper repeated the tale that John Latch, returning home from the civil war found his wife dead and while looking at her corpse himself expired.^[7]

A description of the visit can also be found in various newspaper articles.

This tale, with minor variation was repeated occasional,y in the local press over the next sixty years.

1947 - Cleaning and Restoration

As part of a celebration of Sir Winston Churchill, some restoration was carried out to the church and the latch monument cleaned.^[8]

1962 - 'Church Cleaning and Thomas Latch Appears on tbe Scene

In the Bristol Evening Post of tge 26th June 1962, the cleaning of the Church at Churchill is described, but for the first time, the monument is ascribed to the memory of Thomas Latch and his wife Sarah.^[9]

The Latch Coat of Arms

Above the figures the monumented is surmounted by the Latch coat of arms, described in the General Armory as:

Latch ( Woodhouse , co . Leicester , and Elston , co . Notting- ham ) . Ar . on a fesse wavy az . betw . three escutcheons gu . as many lozenges or . Crest - A lion's head or , gorged with a fesse wavy az . ^[10]

The Latch Coat of Arms

There is no known connection between the Latch family of Churchill in Somerset and those of Woodhouse and Elston. Nor is it clear if the Somerset Latches predate or postdate their (presumed) northern cousins.

More relevant perhaps, is a grant of arms to John Latch of Churchill Somerset. This is recorded in an extract from Stowe MSS 677 & 692 as follows: ^[11]

LATCH, John, of Churchill, co. Somerset. Gr. by W. Segar, Garter. Arg. on a fess wavy Az., betw. three inescutcheons Gu., as many lozenges Or. Crest — A lion's head erased Or, collared wavy Az., langued Gu. Stowe MSS. 677 and 692.

The problem with the above grant of arms is that there is no date and multiple potential individuals called John Latch (or are unknown and may have been called John’.

Segar was promoted to Somerset Herald in 1589 He was appointed as Garter by a signet bill in January 1604.although Dethick (who now described Segar as "a poor, base, beggarly painter, and an ignorant peasant"[4]) refused to resign until December 1606. Segar obtained a great seal patent, confirming him as Garter, on 17 January 1607.[12]

Armiger or Used the Arms

In Hayes on a Ledger Stone a memorial to Sarah (Latch) Jenyns (abt.1626-1703) bears the same coat of arms^[12]

"Sarah Jenyns, wife of Roger Jenyns, d.30.Mar.l703 aged 78. Arms: On a fess wavy between three escutcheons three lozenges. "

Note these arms were present in the house of Soame Jenyns (1704-1787) the grandson of Sarah (Latch) Jenyns. They formed part ofa shield of arms, which was formerly in the house, perpetuated the -memory of his ancestors. . There were six coats, the 4th described as: ^[13]

A. on a fess wavy az,, 8 lozenges O. int. 3 escutcheons gu. for Latch, wife of Roger Jenyns of Hayes.

Contempory Analysis

Kirsten C. Uszkala, in his book “B eing Bewitched”, describes tbe tale that the monument

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia, “Over Langford Manor”,https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_Langford_Manor,(accessed 2 July 2024)
2. ↑ John Colinson, ” The History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset”, Vol. 3, Printed by R. Crutwell, Bathgoogle books, page 581,(accessed 1 Nov 2023)
3. ↑ ” Illustrations of Churchill: Page 1. 1829-1842”, Somerset Heritage Centre, ref A/DAS/1/98/1,https://somerset.epexio.com/records/A/DAS/1/98/1,(accessed 2 Jul 2024)
4. ↑ ” Illustrations of Churchill: Page 3. 1840s”, Somerset Heritage Centre, ref A/DAS/1/98/3,https://somerset.epexio.com/records/A/DAS/1/98/3,(accessed 2 Jul 2024)
5. ↑ The Western-Super-Mare Gazette, Clevedon Journal and Somersetshire Advertise, 24 June 1871,https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/,column 2,(accessed 2 July 2024)
6. ↑ ”Reopening of Churchill Church”, Western Daily Press, 12 August 1880,https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk, page 5, column 4, (accessed 2 July 2024)
7. ↑ ”Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archeological and Natural History Society 1885”, archive.org, page 26 (accessed 1 Nov 2023)
8. ↑ ”Restoring Old Beuty”, Western Daily Press and Bristol Mirror, 14 August 1947,https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/, page 3, column 5, (accessed 2 July 2024)
9. ↑ Bristol Evening Post, 26th June 1962,https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/, West Country Diary, column 2,(accessed 2 July 2024)
10. ↑ Book: Burke, Bernard, 1814-1892, The general armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and wales; comprising a registry of armorial bearings from the earliest to the present time
    London, Harrison & sons; 1884; page: (711 of 1340)
    Internet Archive (accessed 2 July 2024)
11. ↑ Book: The Genealogist
    [Kokomo, Ind.] R. Bakehorn; 1971; page: (222 of 328)
    Internet Archive (accessed 2 July 2024)
12. ↑ "HERALDRY IN MIDDLESEX CHURCHES",Middlesex Heraldry Society,http://www.middlesex-heraldry.org.uk/publications/monographs/mdxchurches.pdf,(accessed 16/5/24)
13. ↑ Book: Cambridge Antiquarian Society (Cambridge, England), Octavo publications
    Cambridge : Deighton, Bell & Co. : Macmillan & Co; 1873; page: (156 of 424)
    Internet Archive (accessed 8 November 2023)