The Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead

1/11/2015

Euphemisms for death

as found on graves in our churchyards and listed in the Camden History Society records: (the grave numbers are given in brackets)

1800    passed away (XB018)
1829    departed to be with Christ (P47)
1838    taken to the arms of her Saviour (G30)
1856    entered the spiritual world (F74)
1865    whose spirit fled (XB001)
1867    sank into eternal rest (I33)
1878    fell asleep in Jesus (XF022)
1888    at rest (D24)
1889    our Blessed Lord took home (C54)
1894    called home (G41)
1903    entered into rest (C21)
1917    called to higher service (a Vicar) (I13)
1931    called to rest (N63)
1935    passed on (C35)
1937    passed to rest (M91)
1940    passed from this life (E9)
1952    passed over (G105)

Dr Askew (CH1) exchanged this life for a better in 1774 according to Parks transcription in 1814 but he departed this life on the present monument in the church, which must have been erected between 1814 and 1828. 

Somewhere in our church archive is a prayerbook lovingly given and inscribed in memory of a server who fell asleep – the image is irresistible.