Chalmers monument, Marnoch cemetery

Image: © Bill Harrison Taken: 1 Jul 2017

Dating from 1707 and built into the west wall of all that remains of St Marnoch's parish kirk. The monument reads: Sub hoc monumento reconduntur exuviae Mr Hugonis Chalmers, qui ecclesiae hujus Marnochensis A.D. 36 circiter anuos pastoris officio fidelissime functus est. Doctus absque vanitate, pius citra ostentationem, gravis sed non morosus, veritatem pacemque constantissime coluit, et tandem, exacto 59 annorum curriculo, ex hac aerumnosa lachrymarum valle iu patriam coelestem commigravit quinto die Junii 1707. [Under this monument are laid the remains of Mr Hugh Chalmers, who, for about 36 years, discharged with the greatest fidelity, the office of pastor of this church of Marnoch. Learned without vanity, pious without ostentation, grave but not morose, he constantly studied truth and peace, and at length, after a career of 59 years, departed from this sorrowful valley of tears to the heavenly land, 5th June 1707.] At the top of the monument are the arms of Chalmers (Argent a demi lion rampant, issuing out of a fesse gules with a fleur-de-lis in base of the last) impaling Innes (Argent three stars azure) with motto "spero" ("hope") commemorating the marriage of Hugh Chalmers to Elizabeth Innes ca. 1678. At the very top is a grinning skull...

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