Floor Slab - St Guthlac - Branston, Leicestershire - Stone Church Artefacts on Waymarking.com

"Tomb Slab of John Spethyn, Branston Church
Rector of Branston-by-Belvoir (1439-1460)
The slab of Ancaster stone at the east end of the north aisle has an effigy of a priest dressed for Mass and has an inscription around its edges which, when translated into English reads as follows:
“Here lieth Master John Spethyn once Rector of this church, Who died on the sixth day of the month of July in the year of our Lord 1460, for whose soul may God be propitiated.”

There is no sign of adornment on amice, chasuble, stole or maniple; and apparels on all sleeves are nearly effaced. The hands are small and badly drawn. Over his head is a canopy consisting of a cusped and crocketed arch terminating in a large finial and placed between two turrets connected by a crenelated parapet.

John Spethyn was instituted on June 3rd 1439, and his patron was the Lord of the Manor, Sir Walter Devereaux. Walter inherited the Manor and advowson of Branston, held under the Bishop of Lincoln, from his Grandmother, Agnes, in 1435. She was the daughter and heir of Thomas de Vrophull, and cousin and heir to Sir John de Crophull, and in 1384 she married a Walter Devereaux. Their grandson Walter married Anne, he only daughter and heir of William, Lord Ferrars of Chartley and obtained the latter title in 1461. Edward IV made many grants to him and he became a Knight of the Garter in 1470. He fought on the side of Richard III and was killed on August 22nd 1485 at Bosworth Field. As a result his estates were confiscated by the Crown."

SOURCE - framed info sheet near artefact

Approximate Age of Artefact: 1460 Relevant Website: Not listed

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