Image ID: 19955

Monument to Mary Ann Chaworth-Musters, St John the Baptist Church, Colwick, Nottingham, 1904

Courtesy of Nottingham and Notts Photographic Society

St John the Baptist Church
Colwick
England

St John the Baptist was built in the 13th Century, it was located next to Colwick Hall and contains some ancient monuments of the Byrons and the Musters. It was repaired, and the chancel rebuilt, by Sir John Musters in 1684. The Musters Family obtained Colwick Hall from the Byron family in the early part of the seventeenth century, but the connection with the Byron family was vaguely reaffirmed when in 1805 Mary Chaworth, Lord Byron,'s childhood love-interest from Annesley Hall, married John (Jack) Musters of Colwick, creating the name Chaworth-Musters by which the family is still known today. The handsome monument seen here was erected to Sophia Catherine Musters, who died in 1819, and who was the Mother in Law to Mary Chaworth-Musters. Sophia painted the large window at the east end of the chancel. She was the daughter and co-heir of James Modyford Heywood, from Devonshire, and is represented by the graceful seated figure, typical of resignation, sculptured in white marble by Westmacott, at the south side of the altar with three medallions on the pedestal, representative of her accomplishments; painting, dancing, and music. Richard Westmacott was an important artist whose work may be seen on the pediment of the British Museum and who sculpted the statue of Achilles in Hyde Park in London. He was a pupil of Antonio Canova, who sculpted The Three Graces. It was later moved to Annesley All Saints Church from Old Colwick Church. The inscription reads: To the memory of Sophia Catherine Musters this monument was erected by her affectionate husband if truth, if goodness, charity and grace can in Heaven's holy record find a place thy name, Sophia, with an angel's pen is traced on leaves of bliss by saintly men. Died September 19th 1819 aged 61 years. The church was closed in 1936 and now stands in ruins. (John and Sophia Musters can also be viewed elsewhere on the internet in an impressive oil painting by George Stubbs, Painted in 1777)

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KeywordschurchmonumenttombstonestatuemarblesculpturewomansocietybyronfiguresmemorialplinthletteringstonecarvedclassicalNottinghamandNottsPhotographicSocietyNottinghamandNottinghamshirePhotographicSociety

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