Sculpture, Thomas Wentworth, Holy Trinity Old Church, Wentworth, Rotherham,UK
Posted by: 
wireworm
N 53° 28.771 W 001° 25.404
30U E 604626 N 5926772
Sculpture of Sir Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, in the church.
Waymark Code: WMEG99
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/26/2012
Views: 1
The framed stone sculpture shows Thomas Wentworth kneeling with hands in prayer and dressed in armour. It is set with two pillars supporting the upper section. This is surmounted with his coat of arms with cherubs either side. Upper left is a canon and upper right pistol and helmet. Below the frame are the faces of angels with folded wings either side of an inscription, gold lettering set in black marble. Reads as follows-
"THOMAS WENTWORTH
Earle of Strafforde Viscount Wentworth, Baron Wentworth of Wentworth Woodhouse, Newmarth,Oversley, and Raby. Lord Leuetenant of Ireland, Lord President of the North of England and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter. His birth was upon Good Friday the 13th April 1593 His death upon 12th may 1641 His soule through the Mercy of God lives in Eternal Bliss and his Memory will never dye in these Kingdomes."
Sculpture is set in the north wall in the altar area to the left of the sculpture of his parents including him and his siblings.
(
visit link)
Thomas became a member of parliament on the death of his father and tried to oppose the type of rule of James 1 who believed in his right to rule as opposed by parliament. Under Charles 1 he refused to pay a forced loan and was imprisioned between 1627- 1628.
It was after this that his loyality was given to Charles 1 who was also having trouble with parliament. He was appointed Lord President of the North of England in 1628 and did a lot of good for the poor and controlled the more powerful, making some enemies in the progress.
By July 1633 he was a privy councillor and was also made Lord Deputy of Ireland, later Lord Leuetenent of Ireland. There he also did a lot of good bringing law and order but also making enemies. During his time there he raised an army to support the King in a war against the Scots but the English army was beaten before the Irish army had been involved.
There was ongoing opposition between Charles and the parliaments and in 1640 parliament feared that he, Wentworth, would use the Irish army against them. This gave them the chance to charge him with treason, and on 22nd March 1641 his trial started. He defended himself and was found not guilty of treason. However parliament would not accept this and asked the king to sign a bill, Bill of Attainder, convicting him without evidence. Public opinion had been raised against Wentworth and the King eventually signed it. Wentworth was executed at Tower Hill on 12th May 1641 and his wealth and lands confiscated. Later the bill was revoked and the family titles and possessions returned to his family.
On the 30th January 1649 Charles 1 was also executed.