Memorial to Henry Ramsden

Halifax Parish Church

HIC JACET HENRICVS RAMS- DEN, FILIVS NATV SECVNDVS GAL- FRIDI RAMSDEN DE GREETLAND INFRA VICARIAM DE HALIFAX, ARTIVM MAGISTER, NEC NON COLLEGII LINCOLN. IN INCLYT. OXON. ACADEM. QVONDAM SOCIVS, TANDEM VICARIVS DE HALIFAX, IBIDEMQVE FRATRIS SVI HVGONIS PERMAGNI, LICET MVLTIQVE NOMINIS DECESSORIS HAVD IMPAR SVC- CESSOR, VIR EQVIDEM MVLTIIVGIS ERVDITIONIS, ET QVOD FAMILIAM DVCIT, SPECTATÆ ADMODVM PROBITATIS, QVO SA NE EGREGIE VIGVIT, QVICQVID EST QVOD IN ALIIS AVT SVSPI- CIMVS ERVDITI, AVT QVOD VENERAMVR SANCTI, LITER- ARVM PERINDE DECVS PIETATISQVE EXEMPLVM PER DVO PRÆTER PROPTER ANNORVM LVSTRA MEMOR STATIONIS MVNERISQVE SVI HVIC SVMMOPERE INVIGILABAT ECCLE- SIÆ, ARDENS VITA, VERBOQVE LVCENS, QVO TEMPORIS DECVRSV FIDELIS ERAT POPVLI PASTOR, CAVSÆ PAVPERVM PRO- PVGNATOR ACERRIMVS, PACIS ECCLESIÆ STRENVVS ASSERTOR, IVSTITIÆ PVBLICÆ, VTI PRO OFFICIO TENEBATVR, PROMPTVS, LICET CAVTVS TAMEN ET ÆQVVS DISPENSATOR, HVIVSCE LOCI ORDINIS REGIMINISQVE POLITICI CVM PRIMIS AVTHOR, TANDEM LÆTHALI CORREPTVS VICTVSQVE FEBRI, TRISTE SVI APVD BONOS OMNES RELINQVENS DESIDERIVM, GRATAM- QVE MEMORIAM, NON SINE IVSTITIO LVCTVQVE PVB- LICO, SPIRITVM IN MANVS DOMINI REDDIDIT, PLACIDEQVE SPE RESVRRECTIONIS FVLTVS OBDORMIVIT ANNO SALVTIS 1637, SEP- TIM. CALEND. MARTII.     HOC MÆRENS MONVMENTVM POSVIT FRA- TER EIVS GVLIELMVS RAMSDEN NATV MINOR, RECTORQVE ECCLESIÆ EDGMVND IN AGRO SALOP.

Here lies Henry Ramsden, Second son of Geoffrey Ramsden of Lower Greetland, Parish of Halifax, A. M. Sometime fellow of Lincoln college, in the university of Oxford, and afterwards vicar of Halifax. To his very celebrated and renowned predecessor and brother Hugh, be was no unworthy successor. A man of universal learning, and of the most approved integrity in his family. Whatever we admire in the learning, or venerate in the sanctity of others, shone conspicuously in him, who was the ornament alike of literature and of piety. For more than eight years, he was a remarkable example of diligence in his office; during which time he vigilantly watched over his church, and was a burning and a shining light, both in his life and doctrine. A faithful pastor of his people. A most courageous defender of the cause of the poor. A firm advocate of the peace of the church. He was esteemed a quick, yet cautious and equitable distributor of public justice: A chief promoter of good order and civil government. He was seized with a violent fever, leaving his affectionate blessing, and kind remembrance with all, not without just and public sorrow, he surrendered his soul into the hands of his Lord, sweetly supported by the hope of the Resurrection, he fell asleep March 7, 1637.     This monument was erected by his younger brother William Ramsden, Rector of Edgmond, in the county of Shropshire, lamenting his death.