Grave of Mary Carpenter

The grave of Mary Carpenter, a prominent social reform campaigner, dates from the late 19th century and is made of stone. It features a Latin cross that stands on a plinth with a two-stepped base. The plinth has inscriptions on each face, although they are very worn and difficult to read in places.

On the north face, the inscription reads: "HERE LIE/ THE MORTAL REMAINS OF/ ANNA/ DAUGHTER OF JAMES & BRIDGET PENN/ AND/ WIDOW OF LANT CARPENTER/ BORN AT KIDDERMINSTER/ SEPTEMBER 28TH 178[ ]/ PEACEFULLY DEPARTED THIS LIFE/ JUNE 19TH 1856/ HERE CHILDREN ARISE AND CALL/ HER BLESSED."

The south face states: "MARY/ DAUGHTER OF LANT AND HANNAH CARPENTER/ BORN AT EXETER 3RD APRIL 1807/ DIED AT BRISTOL 14TH JUNE 1877/ SHE LOVED M[ ] PHILIP PEARSALL/ SON OF/ LANT AND HANNAH CARPENTER/ BORN AT BRISTOL NOVEMBER [ ] 1810/ DIED AT MONTREAL MAY 24 1877/ SERVANT IN SPIRIT SERVING THE LORD."

The east face commemorates: "IN MEMORY OF/ LANT CARPENTER LL.D/ TWELVE YEARS MINISTER/ OF ST GEORGE’S MEETING EXETER/ AND TWENTY THREE YEARS/ OF LEWINS MEAD CHAPEL BRISTOL/ BORN AT KIDDERMINSTER/ SEPTEMBER 2ND 1780/ LOST OFF THE COAST OF ITALY/ APRIL 5TH 1840./ BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD/ FROM HENCEFORTH: YEA, SAITH THE SPIRIT,/ THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS;/ AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM."

The west face reads: "ANNA/ THE BELOVED WIFE OF/ HERBERT THOMAS. DAUGHTER OF/ LANT AND HANNAH CARPENTER/ BORN AT EXETER SEPTEMBER 18TH 1808/ DIED AT BRISTOL OCTOBER 21ST 1870/ BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART/ FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD."

The grave is enclosed by a rectangular structure with stones and obelisks at each corner. These obelisks originally had iron fixtures at the top that would have been connected by chains, although these are no longer present.