Wall Tablet - Rev Nicholas Anderson
Description
Upright rectangular white marble tablet bearing Latin inscription in sloped Roman caps. and l/c, commemorating Nicholas Anderson (1624-89), who served as Vicar from 1662. Born in Kirkby Lonsdale (bap. 12 August 1624), he was a graduate of Christ's College, Cambridge. On 2 February 1679 he married Rebecca Catlyn (née Douglas), widow of the Royalist Grammar School master, John Catlyn. He was buried on 30 March 1689.
The inscription tablet is framed in a mon-axial black marble frame flanked by black marble pilasters with fluted white marble finials. The whole rests on a white marble shelf supported by a black, horizontal tablet with gadrooned supports on a diminishing stepped bracket.
Inscription and donor(s)
Juxta hanc Columnam/ Custodiendum deponitur/ Collapsum, illustris animæ domicilium/ Nicolai viz Anderson hujus olim ecclesiæ/ Per viginti septem annos, Vicarii/ Qui ob summam doctrinam et morum sanctitatem/ Ob inviolatam in ecclesiam matrem pietatem/ Ob gravitatem circa res sacras Apostolicam/ singularemque tum prudentiam tum humanitatem/ Qui ob immotam Animi constantiam tam minis/ Quam blanditiis populi cedere nescientem/ et quodcunque aliud magnum et venerabile/ In consummatissimo pastore requiri solet/ Summo apud omnes in pretio erat Exceptis/ Qui optimo cuivis obmurmurant Fanaticus/ Horum splendore virtutum mandato sibi gregi/ veram ad æternam vitam viam præmonstravit/ Et postquam vitam mediocriter longævam/ Non Mediocriter beneficam impleverat/ Multum desideratus occubuit
Translation (from Thomas Gent, Annales Regioduni Hullini (York, 1735), pp 22-23:
Near this Pillar is laid up safe the ruinous Tabernacle of Mr. NICHOLAS ANDERSON, formerly Vicar of this Church for the Space of twenty seven Years: Who, for his consummate Learning, Sanctity of Life, inviolable Attachment to our holy Mother the Church; for his Apostolical Gravity in all Ministerial Offices; for his singular Prudence and Humanity; and, unshaken Steadfastness of Resolution, above all, for his that knew not how to yield or give Way either to the Threatenings or Flatteries of the People; and what ever else was required as great and venerable in the most accomplish'd Pastor; made him highly esteem'd by all virtuous Persons; except only those who differ from our Communion. The Brightness of all his singular Virtues shewed the Flock committed to his Charge the true Way to Eternal Happiness: Who, after he had spent a Life, not of a great length, and yet in that time very useful to the World, died much lamented.
