Arreton Church 1859

The church is a structure of vast antiquity, with its west end’s ponderous embattled tower lending it a sense of heaviness. There is a timepiece above the door that leads to the church’s main body from the south side. Legh Richmond makes a poignant reference to this dial in his account of Elizabeth’s funeral: “As I continued my journey, the first sound of a tolling bell reached my ears. It emanated from a village church in the valley, directly beneath the ridge of a steep hill that I had traversed. It was the death knell for the deceased. The landscape matched the tranquil state of mind most conducive to religious meditation… We arrived at the church at last. As I approached the veranda, I observed a dial on the wall as I looked upward. The evening hour was marked by the shadow cast by the sun’s waning beams. As I passed beneath this straightforward but solemn sign, I was reminded of the passage of time, the unpredictability of life, and the impending arrival of eternity.

The interior features a magnificent monument dedicated to the late Sir L. W. Holmes, Bart. The tombstone of Elizabeth Wallbridge, author of “The Dairyman’s Daughter,” is located on the northern side of the cemetery and bears an inscription that, despite being somewhat lengthy, is suffused with profound Christian sentiment and designed to leave a positive impression on the reader.

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