Same and Yet so Different

I think when anyone hears the word ‘graveyard’, the first thing that comes to mind is a spooky, dark place with a lot of grey headstones. Going over one, we see a lot of names, children who died to young, and a melancholic mood resonates. One might be curious what life they lived, why certain gravestone look the way they do, and if all of the decorative symbols have an actual meaning. And with a little bit of research and a closer look you will be surprised by what you find.

One of the two churches we visited this week with our FYE class is the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul on 126 Coming Street. It is an Angelican church, combining reformed catholic and evangelical beliefs. The beautiful white church was built in 1816 by planters and slaves, and is home to 626 graves. There are also a few famous people buried here, like Thomas Lowndes (1766-1843), a former US Congressman, or John Lyde Wilson (1784-1849) who served as a Governor of South Carolina for two years.

The second church we visited is the St. Patrick CatholicChurch on 134 St. Philip St. Its construction began on St. Patrick´s Day in 1838 and today it is a resting place for 249 deceased people.

Even though the churches might differ a lot in the way they look, the gravestones and symbols found there are often similar. And learning more about the symbols that are used is also quite interesting, as you will get to see in this post as well! So let´s begin!

Tombstone 

Typanium Headstone

The most common site found at these graveyards would be Headstones or Tombstones. They are kept simple in their shape just like the one in the picture found at St. Patrick Catholic Church. This Tombstone marks the grave of 3 children who died to young:
William (died 22nd May 1951, aged 2 years)
Mary (aged 4 months)
Ann (aged 18 months)

Found at the same place but designed a little more elaborate are the Typanium Headstones. Their tops are curved and rounded and thereby look slightly more decorative. 

Obelisk

Monolith

However, rather unusual looking are the Obelisks. They stand out in the multitude of gravestones with their high, crystal-like, four sided shape. The one in the picture was found at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul. It belongs to the grave of Thomas Grange Simons who lived from
December 10, 1818 till May 18, 1904.

Like a little sister to the Obelisks, you can also find Monoliths. They stand out too, with their triangular top and narrow body, just like this one found at the same graveyard.

Mausoleum

Particularly impressive to me are the Mausoleums. They are like a separate whole building in the graveyard. Accompanying this, the thought that a family is also coming together for their final rest is quite beautiful. In this picture you can see the Mausoleum from the Johnston family, who were burried at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul.

Grass Marker

Kept really simple, especially compared to the big Mauoleums, are Grass Markers. With the increasing need for room to bury dead people these became more popular in today´s graveyards and cemeteries. They are certainly not as expensive as many other gravestones but that does not mean that the person´s memory should be less respected.
The two Grass Markers in the picture belong to the grave of Ethel Rhodes Wohlfeil (December 29. 1919-May20. 2016) and Sally Wohlefeil Warfuel (December 7. 1953- September 23. 2000)

Ledger

A larger version of the Grass Marker would be a Ledger. These are large slabs of stones covering the entire grave like this one found at the St. Patrick Catholic Church.
And as you might have already noticed in the pictures before, this marker has the symbol of a cross engraved as well. You can find this symbol often throughout graveyards because of the Christian faith. It is a crucifix which can resemble faith, love, and goodness.

Bedstead with Die on Socket

Die on Socket

Mostly on the ground as well are Cradles and Bedsteads. They are often used for children´s graves. Like these ones found at the St. Patrick Catholic Church, they can also be accompanied by other markers like the Die on Socket.
The Die on Socket consists of two pieces- a flat base and a top stone which are connected with thick rods. I found this one at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul and it is beautifully decorated with a lamb. Again, this symbol is mostly found on children´s graves, signifying innocence and purity. Also, being a symbol for Christianity, it resembles Christ´s sacrificial role of humanity and gentleness. Overall, the lamb is a beautiful addition especially because of its fragile looking representation. Here, it is added to the grave of a baby named James, who died at the age of 8 months and 8 days.

Column

Last but not least of the examples in today´s post, is the Column, which is a symbol in itself. It represents a life cut short with its slanted cut at the top. This one I found at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul.

These are ten marker types and even more can be found. Maybe next time you go past a graveyard you will be able to identify them as well. Just take a momemt to have a look and you will see the beauty in gravestones and symbols!