A Comparison of Nineteenth- and Twentieth- Century Anglican and Nonconformist Memorials in North Pembrokeshire

Abstract

Memorials recorded at north Pembrokeshire nonconformist burial grounds are compared with those from Anglican churchyards in the same region. Variations are identified over time and space based in part on denomination, but also on location. Welsh was more frequently used on memorials in nonconformist burial grounds, though even this was a minority choice until at least the middle of the nineteenth century. During much of the nineteenth century nonconformists did not use memorials or burial grounds as arenas for materially defining doctrinal differences, even when they acquired their own burial grounds. Tall pedestal monument forms became popular in nonconformist burial grounds, with crosses preferred in Anglican churchyards. The use of decorative motifs was consistently higher by nonconformists, though cross and IHS motifs were largely an Anglican phenomenon. There was also variation between urban and rural graveyards, with Welsh less in evidence in the small town of Newport. Issues of difference and similarity are thus examined over time and space, and comparisons drawn with less intensively studied examples from England and Ireland.