St. Werburgh Church

Church of St Werburgh

Wembury is also home to The church of St.Werburgh and another reason I chose Wembury as my location to shoot. The church has originally stood at the site since 1088 and has some many old and sea eroded grave stones.

Epitaph on grave stone reads:

Remember me as you pass by,

As you are now so once was I,

As I am now so you must be,

Prepare for death to follow me.

I thought this epitaph represented 'Memento Mori' ( Latin "Remember that you can die") very well and will include it at the end of my film.

I found a couple of small mauseleoums one belonging to Vincent Pollexfen Calmady. The Calmady family being 'Lord's of the Manor' and lived in Langdon Court in Wembury.

The metal plaque reads 'The last of the Calmadys' which seems a fitting place for the 'Vanitas' timelapse.

On researching the family name Sir Shilston Calmady who died in 1663 during the civil war left a widow who when she died had this epitaph on her tomb in Bridgeston.

Eight living branches still springing found,

Though here the route lies dead within the ground,

Two husbands and their tomb divided lie,

Who both did in the bed of honour die;

But now the king of terrors, oh unjust,

At length has laid the honour in the dust,

To that which here is in dishonour sown,

Be raised in honour the glorious throne.”

The King of Terrors is a bible reference and another name for Death.

Links:

Burke, J. and Ormerod, G. (1977). A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain and Ireland enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank, but uninvested with heritable honours. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co.

http://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/adeney/the_king_of_terrors.htm

http://www.wemburychurch.co.uk/aboutwemburychurch.htm