All Saints' Church, Ilkley

All Saints’ Church at Ilkley is an impressive building. It was once known for being evangelical in its belief and practice, and may still be. When I visited, I was struck by the number of historic, brass memorials within, belonging to the great and the good of yesteryear.

Few will now be remembered, and those whose estates or heirs could not afford a stone or brass plaque were forgotten even sooner.

One caught my attention:

HERE LYETH THE BODY OF LETEBER DAVGHTER TO THE SAID REGINALD HEBER WHO DIED THE 22 OF APRILL 1649 HER AGE 18 I KNOW THAT I SHALL RISE: AGAINE IN THE RESVRECTION OF THE LAST DAY FOR IAM SVRE THAT THOV MY REDEEMER: LIVEST AND THOUGH THAT AFILI MY DEATH WORMES DESTROYE THIS BODYET I SHALL SEES THEE MY LORD AND MY GOD: IN THIS FLESH

All rather uplifting. Nevertheless, I suspect that it is not all saints buried at All Saints’, and that many unbelievers- chaff and tares- were included among those who congregated here, whose shiny memorials still reflect the light. God knows His own.

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:14