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Monument to Bishop Herber

Chantrey, Francis Leggat, Sir (1781 - 1841) (Sculptor)

Free-standing monument to Bishop Heber (1783-1826) by Sir Francis Leggat Chantrey.

CHANTREY, / SCULPTORTO THE MEMORY OF / REGINALD HEBER, D.D. LORD BISHOP OF CALCUTTA, / THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY THOSE WHO LOVED AND ADMIRED HIM. / HIS CHARACTER EXHIBITED A RARE UNION / OF FERVENT ZEAL WITH UNIVERSAL TOLERANCE, / OF BRILLIANT TALENT WITH SOBER JUDGEMENT / AND WAS ESPECIALLY DISTINGUISHED BY CHRISTIAN HUMILITY / WHICH NO APPLAUSE COULD DISTURB NO SUCCESS ABATE.HE CHEERFULLY RESIGNED PROSPECTS OF EMINENCE AT HOME, / IN ORDER TO BECOME / THE CHIEF MISSIONARY OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE EAST; / AND HAVING IN THE SHORT SPACE OF THREE YEARS / VISITED THE GREATER PART OF INDIA / AND CONCILIATED THE AFFECTION AND VENERATION / OF MEN OF EVERY CLASS OF RELIGION, / HE WAS THERE SUMMONED TO RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS LABOURS / IN THE XLIIID. YEAR OF HIS AGE MDCCCXXVI.THOU ART GONE TO THE GRAVE BUT WE WILL NOT DEPLORE THEE, / THOUGH SORROWS AND DARKNESS ENCOMPASS THE TOMB; / THY SAVIOUR HAS PASSED THROUGH THE PORTAL BEFORE THEE, / AND THE LAMP OF HIS LOVE IS THY GUIDE THROUGH THE GLOOM. / THOU ART GONE TO THE GRAVE BUT WE WILL NOT DEPLORE THEE, / WHOSE GOD WAS THY RANSOM THY GUARDIAN AND GUIDE; / HE GAVE THEE, HE TOOK THEE, AND HE WILL RESTORE THEE, / AND DEATH HAS NO STING, FOR THE SAVIOUR HAS DIED.