Page:The Monumental Inscriptions in the Parish Church of S. Michael, Coventry.pdf/9



URING the past thirty years, or more, the spirit of restoration has gradually increased, and many of our ancient and noblest (not necessarily the largest) Churches have been almost re-built; but, unfortunately, it cannot be said that all the so-called restorations have been such in the strict sense of the word, for under the direction of inconsiderate architects, churchwardens, or committees, and ignorant builders, many fine and interesting architectural features have been ruthlessly destroyed or altered; and, as with the structure, so with the memorials of faithful and generous churchmen and women who have been buried within the sanctuary of their Parish Church; many of such sculptured monuments, lettered brasses, and inscribed stones, as the fanatic Puritans at the so-called Reformation chose to leave us, have been removed to make way for some new thing or fancy pavement. In the process of restoration of S. Michael's Church, in 1850, the stones which covered the floor of the Chancel and Lady Chapel were mostly buried by being covered with soil some inches thick, and others removed or used for baser purposes, and so we lose the record of many a worthy citizen whose generous gifts are still enjoyed by the needy of the city or parish.

Memorial stones, sanctified by their use and the place they are in, are like domestic records, hallowed by being written on the blank leaves of the Family Bible, which no one willingly destroys, but are read by each succeeding generation with reverence and interest. Grave stones, like the entries in the Family Bible,