The
monument of 1710 to Mary Kendall and Lady Catharine Jones was
established in the chapel of St John the Baptist in Westminster so that
‘even their ashes, after death, might not be divided’.Partner Catherine Jones, buried together
Queer Places:
Westminster Abbey, 20 Deans Yd, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA, Regno Unito
The
monument of 1710 to Mary Kendall and Lady Catharine Jones was
established in the chapel of St John the Baptist in Westminster so that
‘even their ashes, after death, might not be divided’.
In the chapel of St John the Baptist in Westminster Abbey there is the tomb of Mary Kendall (November 8, 1677 – March 4, 1710) dating from 1710 with an inscription recording: "That close Union and Friendship, In which she lived, with the Lady Catharine Jones; And in testimony of which she desir’d That even their Ashes, after Death, Might not be divided.”
The XVIII century funeral monument demonstrates the social value of romantic friendships. The monument of Mary Kendall was erected by her cousin Captain Charles Kendall and referred to the close Union and Friendship with Lady Catherine Jones and her desire That even their Ashes, after Death, Might not be divided.
James Kendall, politician and governor of Barbados, is buried in the south choir aisle of Westminster Abbey. James’s niece Mary Kendall was buried in the chapel of St John the Baptist in the Abbey and has a monument there with a kneeling alabaster figure of herself.
The inscription, written by the Dean of Westminster Francis Atterbury, reads: "Mrs Mary Kendall daughter of Thomas Kendall Esqr. and of Mrs Mary Hallet, his wife, of Killigarth in Cornwall, was born at Westminster Nov.8 1677 and dy’d at Epsome March 4 1709/10, having reach’d the full term of her blessed Saviour’s life; and study’d to imitate his spotless example. She had great virtues, and as great a desire of concealing them: was of a severe life, but of an easy conversation; courteous to all, yet strictly sincere; humble, without meanness; beneficient, without ostentation; devout, without superstition. These admirable qualitys, in which she was equall’d by few of her sex, surpass’d by none, render’d her every way worthy of that close uion and friendship in which she liv’d with the Lady Catherine Jones; and in testimony of which she desir’d that even their ashes, after death, might not be divided: and, therefore, order’d her selfe here to be interr’d where, she knew, that excellent Lady design’d one day to rest, near the grave of her belov’d and religious mother, Elizabeth, Countess of Ranelagh. This monument was erected by Capt. Charles Kendall." Her name was inscribed on the vault stone in front of the monument in the late XIX century.
Westminster Abbey, London
Mary’s father Thomas Kendall, son of a merchant, died in 1684 and Mary lived with the Earl of Ranelagh’s family while James was in the West Indies. Lady Catherine Jones (d.1740) was the Earl’s daughter. Charles was Mary’s cousin and was in the Royal Navy. Her estates were left to her cousin Canon Nicholas Kendall. The coats of arms show those for Kendall and also "or, a chief gules overall on a bend engrailed sable three bezants" for Hallet. [1]
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