Family Lessons 120: De La Croyze

Behold the dead:

-Richard de la Croyze, my 23x great-grandfather, who died after 1272, at Wigan. He was father to

-Adam de Cruze, who lived at Wigan. He was father to

-John de Cruce, who died 1329, at Wigan. He was father to

-Thurstan de Cruce, who died around 1367, at Wigan. He was father to

-Huzo Del Crosse, who died around 1384, at Wigan. He was father to

-Richard Del Crosse, who died 1441, at ‘Lyverpole’. He was father to

-John Crosse, who died 1502, at Cross Hall, Liverpool.

One can see how the surname ‘Cross’ developed. All the expressions ‘de’, ‘del’ and ‘de la’ all mean ‘of’, or ‘of the’. Although it would be tempting (and not overly fanciful) to think that one of Richard’s great-grandparents ‘took the cross’ and went on a crusade, there is no evidence for this. Furthermore, there seems to have been a stone cross erected near Lathom in West Lancashire, from where the family seems to have come, and this was used as a boundary stone. The cross, after which they are named, was probably an old Saxon preaching station; for all I know, its base remains.

False Christianity is always apparent by its neglect, disdain or indifference to the cross of Calvary. It either teaches that God has no wrath, so the cross is not needed, or it teaches DIY salvation by good works, so the cross is not necessary. If it is more interested in health and wealth, or climate change, or critical race theory, then the cross of Calvary is little more than a mere symbol of global religion.

Whatever your name, background, place and time of birth & death, may you be a man or woman 'of the cross'. May you understand that Christ bore God’s wrath there on your behalf, and that you too must deny yourself, take up your own cross and follow Him henceforth.  When Christianity de-emphasises the cross, it ceases to be authentic Christianity. The cross and the empty tomb are the only means by which we may have abundant life after our bodies are decayed.

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2