Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

This slab (dims 1.73m x 0.57m; max. H 7cm) is in the centre of the nave, moved there from a position against the S wall. The inscription is in roman lettering around the edge. It has the symbols of the passion at the W end with INRI beneath. This is the Quatermas – Rebne slab and the date is 1570. (FitzGerald 1911, 416; Moore 1970, 29, No. 11)

It is described by FitzGerald as: The inscription is in raised Roman capitals, with the exception of the “b’s” which are cut in small Roman letters. Another peculiarity in the letters is that the “S’s” are reversed; the “C’s” resemble reversed capital “D’s”; the “W’s” are “V’s”; and the “Q” to the surname is a reversed “P”. The inscription reads:
Her lieth the bodi of Iohn Quatermas, and his bedfellow Ellen Rebne who rouft this churche porch, and leaft ananfel for to repaier the sam to whos sols God be merciful, A.D.. 1570.
The date is doubtful, owing to the division of the figure…; but 1570 is the only reading for it, as 1507 would be much too early a date for this style of lettering – Roman capitals.
One puzzling word in the inscription is ‘ananfel’; it may possibly read ‘an anfel’ or ‘a’nanfel’; but each reading is equally inexplicable; and what is also remarkable is that there is no sign of a church porch to this building (since the conservation the foundations of one are outside the S doorway).
In the upper end of the slab are carved the instruments of our Lord’s Passion and Crucifixion, consisting of: A rayed sun. The spear. Two three-thonged scourges. The seamless vesture. Three dice. A hammer. A pincers and nail. A ladder. ? Three nails. A heart pierced by two swords; all on a shield. And, below all, an INRI on a T-shaped cross.

Date of upload: 18 March, 2015

References

FitzGerald, Lord W. 1911 Killeen Church Ruins. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland, 8, 2, 401-.18

Moore, B.F.E. 1970 Tombs in St Mary's ruined church, Killeen. Ríocht na Mídhe, 4, 4, 24-9.