Arles Church Headstones Inscriptions

The Grace coat-of-arms appears on the opposite gable over the door as follows: The Motto is "En Grace Affie" which means "On Grace Depend" followed by a lion for Grace and a boar's head for Sheffield - S.G. 1818 The shield is in four sections as follows: A lion for Grace, twelve crosses for Windsor, 3 scallop shells for Butler Lord Dunboyne and three wheat sheaves for Sheffield.

Immediately below the shield is the motto: "Concordant Nomine Facta" which means "our name personifies our deeds". Below this again at the very bottom of the coat of arms is the name of the sculptor "Richd. Dowling, Sculpt. Kilkenny."

On the road-side wall of the Mausoleum are two commemorative plaques which originally would have been laid flat over the graves of the deceased:

Bray - Beneath is deposited the body of Rev. James Bray, Pastor of Arles, having ruled this parish with generous charity and was Priest here for nine years. He calmly passed away on the 5th of February 1870 aged 57 years of his age. Sustained by the blessed hope which takes from death victory and from the grave it's sting.

Rev. James Bray

Grace - Here lies the body of Mrs. Mary Grace, late wife of Oliver Grace Esqr. who departed this life the 14th. of Novr. 1765 in the 55 year of her age. Also the body of Oliver
Grace of Gracefield Esqr. who departed this life the 24th. of August 1781 in the 77th. year of his age. May they rest in peace. Amen.

On the lower wall of the mausoleum are the following two inscriptions:

Grace - Here lyes the body of Oliver Grace late of Shanganagh Esqr. who departed this life the 8th day of June 1708 and in the 74th year of his age. Infra virtutes sed supra conspici nonen concordant blando nomini facta viri integer atque pins sponsae sobolique benignus candidus in cunctos spontete reomotus erat.
Grace - I. H. S. Here lyes the body of Mrs. Mary Grace, late wife of Michael Grace Esq.

"She was religious without ostentation, pious without hypocrisy, friendly without flattery, to the district a support, to the orphans a mother. In her life attended with many blessings, in her death with many tears. She was faithful to her husband, tender to her children, forgiving to her enemies. O passenger ! how soon shalt thou resemble her in her mortal part God knows ! Do thou labour to resemble her in that which is immortal."

She liv'd, she dy'd, she ran the happy race, she won the glorious prize immortal peace. She dy'd Novber. the 28th Anno Dom. 1736 in ye 55 year of her age. Jacobus Ward, Sculptor.

A commemoration tablet inside the door of Arles Church reads:

Walker  - Here lies the body of Madam Frances Walker, widdow to Colonel Thomas Dalzell and late wife unto Mr. John Grace who departed this life the 26th. of July in the five and thirtieth year of her age and in the year of our Lord 1709.

Qui vagus obsevrum fidei sectaris, ad urnam francescae accedae inspice lumen habes in tumulo lucet eunctes quo luxit in orbe lumen et aetherea lucet in arce deo.

 
Other commemoration tablets erected inside Arles Church are as follows:

Bambrick - Here lyeth the body of Arthvr Bambrick Gent, who dyed in the 40 year of his age ye 15th of Agvst Anno Domini 1712.

Byrne - Pray for the soul of Very Rev. Albert G. Byrne, Ordained 1908. Parish Priest of Arles from 1941-1963.

Coughlan - Pray for Rev. Fr. Michael Coughlan P.P. ordained Priest 27th September 1936 died 8th June 1980. He came as a witness to speak for the light. John 1:7. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

Deady - Near the entrance gates of Arles Church on the right hand side, is a Statue to the Blessed Virgin Mary, erected the Marian year 1987 in memory of Fr. Donal Deady C.C. Arles 1970-1984 who died on the 8th December 1986 in Mombasa, Kenya. The statue is encased in a shrine built with cut limestone, in keeping with the stonework of the Church itself.

Dempsey - In your charity say one Hail Mary to the Sacred Heart Of Jesus for the happy repose of the soul of Reverend James Dempsey, Ordained 14th August 1870, who ministered for many years in Carlow-Graigue and spent the last 19 years of his life as Pastor of Arles. Died 25th October 1908.

Doran. - Erected in memory of the late Rev. James Doran, who departed this life on the 9th January 1845 aged 40 years. Requiescant in Pace.

Flemming - Here lieth the body of the Rev. Michael Flemming who departed this life the 30th day of January 1823, aged 30 years. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Near the wall of the Mausoleum closest to the main road are the following:

Keating - Here lieth the body of the Revd. William Keating who departed this life November ye 12th 1755, aged 74. Requiescant in Pace. Amen.

Keating  - Here lyeth the body of the Revd. Willm. Keating who died Novr. 12th 1764, aged 44 years. Requiescant in Pace. Amen.

Lawlor - Here lie the remains of Very Rev. Jeremiah Lawlor P.P. of Killabane and Penmy of the diocese of Kildare & Leighlin. Learned, pious, meek and distinguished during life. He died poor and lamented as a father by a grateful people over whom he presided for 28 years. Born in 1754, he departed this life on the 1st January 1821, in the 66th year of his age. May he rest in peace.

Lawlor - I H S Here lieth the body of the Revd. Patrick Lawlor who departed this life Jany. the 14th 1773, aged 35 years.

Moore - Here lyeth the body of the Revd. Bryan Moore who departed this life August 1746. Aged ? years.

Murphy - Here lie interred the remains of the Revd. Patrick Murphy Parish Priest of Castle Carberry, County Kildare who departed this life the 27 of March 1794, aged 52 years. May he rest in peace.

Murray - Pray for the souls of Very Rev. John Murray P.P. of Arles, who deeply regretted by his faithful flock and numerous friends, died on Good Friday 1918 in his 60th year of his age, the 33rd of his Sacred Ministry and the 10th of his pastoral. Pie Jesu One Dona Ei Requiem, Amen.

Nowlan - Also ye Revd. Felix Nowlan of Ratow, County Carlow. depd. this life August ye 31st 1794, aged 42. Lord have mercy on their souls. Amen.

O'Neill  - Erected in grateful remembrance of the Rev. Henry O'Neill, whose mortal remains are deposited in this Church. Zealous and fervent in the discharge uf his duties, he honoured his ministry and in a short space fulfilled a long time- He died on the 12th  July 1876 in the 38th year of his age and the 14th  of his Sacred Ministry. May he rest in peace.

Taaffe - Here lyeth the body of the Revd. James Taaffe who departed this life ye 10th of Feby 1763, aged 35. Requiescant in Pace. Amen.

Taaffe - Here also lieth the body of ye Rev. Wilm. Taaffe P.P. in this Parish who departed this life ye 17 of April 1766 in the 66th year of his age. Requiescant in Pace. Amen.

Wall  - Here lieth the body of the Revd. James Wall who departed this life April the 27th 1771, aged 29 years. Requiescant in Pace. Amen.

Watson - Heare lyeth the bodey of Ann Watson wife to Arthvr Bambrick of Shehanagh who dyed the 19th of December 1692 aged 67 years.

More recent gravestone inscriptions to Priests near the entrance door to Arles Church are the following.

Sourse: Paul Redmond N.T. & Gravestone Inscriptions 1997

TOP OF PAGE