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Lychgate

December 18, 2023

A lychgate (from Old English līc, corpse) or resurrection gate[1] is a covered gateway found at the entrance to a traditional English or English-style churchyard. Examples also exist outside the British Isles in places such as Newfoundland,[2] the Upland South[3] and Texas[4] in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Norway,[5] and Sweden.

A lych gate in Ceredigion, Wales, decorated for a wedding

Etymology edit

The word lych survived into modern English from the Old English or Saxon word for "corpse", mostly as an adjective in particular phrases or names, such as lych bell, the hand-bell rung before a corpse; lych way, the path along which a corpse was carried to burial (this in some districts was supposed to establish a right-of-way); lych owl, the screech owl, because its cry was a portent of death; and lyke-wake, a night watch over a corpse (see Lyke-Wake Dirge).

It is cognate with the modern German Leiche, Dutch lijk and lichaam, West Frisian lyk and Swedish lik, all meaning "corpse".

Lychgate in Swedish is called stiglucka, literally "step hatch". The explanation is that the gate was split vertically so that you could step over the lower part without having to open it. Therefore, one can also guess another meaning of lych (lyke, luke, lucka "hatch, gap") from the Scandinavian languages.

Description edit

Lychgates consist of a roofed porch-like structure over a gate, often built of wood. They usually consist of four or six upright wooden posts in a rectangular shape. On top of this are a number of beams to hold a pitched roof covered in thatch or wooden or clay tiles. They can have decorative carvings and in later times were erected as memorials. They sometimes have recessed seats on either side of the gate itself, for the use of pall-bearers or vigil watchers.[6]

Lychgates followed a somewhat predictable pattern, though great variations in form could be seen. Typically, they were gable or hipped roofed, often with benches where mourners could sit, or with a lych-stone, coffin-stool or trestle, upon which a coffin could be rested.[7]

The most common form of lychgate is a simple shed composed of a roof with two gabled ends, covered with tiles or thatch. At Berrynarbor, Devon, there is a lychgate in the form of a cross, while at Troutbeck, Westmorland, there are three lychgates to one churchyard. Some elaborate gates have chambers over them. In Texas and the South of the US, lychgates are simpler in construction, usually consisting of a steel or wooden span with a sign showing the name of the burial space.[4]

Dates of surviving lychgates edit

 
Lych gate, St George's church, Beckenham, South London, said to be the oldest in England[8]

Most were built from around the mid-15th century although some date from earlier, including the 13th-century lychgate of St George's churchyard in Beckenham, South London, claimed to be the oldest in England.[8] After World War I a number of lychgates were built as war memorials, for example that of Sandridge, Hertfordshire. Sandridge lychgate is a Grade II listed building as is that of St Cuthbert's, Allendale, Northumberland.[9] However, many of these memorial lychgates, such as that of St Peter's, Felkirk, Yorkshire, are not listed.[10] Several new examples were built to mark the new millennium, such as that at Lenton, Lincolnshire.

Use edit

In the Middle Ages, before mortuaries, and at a time when most people died at home, the dead were placed on a bier and taken to the lychgate where they remained, often attended against bodysnatchers, until the funeral service, which may have been a day or two later. The lychgate kept the rain off, and often had seats for the vigil watchers. Bodies at that time were buried in just shrouds rather than coffins. At the funeral, the priest conducted the first part of the service under the shelter of the lychgate.

In traditional usage, the gate was "the sheltered point at which the coffin was set down at a funeral to await the clergyman's arrival."[11] An English commentator, writing in 1899, noted that the lych-gate, "or corpse-gate, with its pent-house roof, is specially provided for the shelter of a funeral while awaiting the priest, but it is only in a few cases that it is exclusively used for that purpose; it is frequently, perhaps, where it exists, commonly, the principal gateway of the churchyard."[12] In some regions of Cornwall and Devon, such gates were called "trim-trams" – the spot where a funeral train (or tram) was brought into the proper order (or trimmed) to be ready for the officiating clergyman.[13] In parts of Scotland, Lykerstanes (lit. "corpse stones") may have served a similar purpose.[14]

Lychgates serve to differentiate consecrated and unconsecrated space, and serve as a liminal space.[15] Stone lychgates may create an increased aural awareness of the transition from one space to another by creating a tangible contrast between sounds inside and outside.[16] In England, there was a folk belief that the spirit of the last person buried stands watch at the gate till the next is buried, leading to funeral fights at the entrance to decide which corpse should be buried first.[13]

Wedding traditions edit

Traditionally in some parts of England, particularly parts of Yorkshire, at the end of the wedding as the bride and groom leave the church the gates are closed (or where there is an absence of gates a rope is held across) by the local children and the couple have to pay them to let them pass. Conversely, in Cheshire and Shropshire, wedding parties would never pass through the lychgate, so as to avoid misfortune.[12]

Examples edit

See also edit

References edit

  •   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lich-Gate". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  1. ^ "the definition of lich gate". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  2. ^ Jarvis, Dale. "More (yes more) on Newfoundland Lych Gates for #MortuaryMonday". Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  3. ^ Jeane, D. Gregory; Deetz, James (1989), Meyer, Richard E. (ed.), "The Upland South Folk Cemetery Complex:: Some Suggestions of Origin", Cemeteries Gravemarkers, University Press of Colorado, pp. 107–136, ISBN 978-0-87421-160-3, JSTOR j.ctt46nqxw.11, retrieved 2020-06-28
  4. ^ a b Jordan, Terry G. (1980). ""The Roses so Red and the Lilies so Fair": Southern Folk Cemeteries in Texas". The Southwestern Historical Quarterly. 83 (3): 227–258. ISSN 0038-478X. JSTOR 30241035. PMID 11633245.
  5. ^ Pritchett, R. T. (1878). "Norway. Chapter XVII". The Art Journal. 4: 168–171. doi:10.2307/20569228. ISSN 2152-243X. JSTOR 20569228.
  6. ^ Curl, James Stevens; Wilson, Susan (2016). Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. Oxford University Press. p. 454. ISBN 978-0-19-967499-2.
  7. ^ Jarvis, Dale Gilbert (2013). "Newfoundland Lych Gates". The Newfoundland Ancestor. 29 (2): 64–67.
  8. ^ a b Brewer's Britain and Ireland, compiled by John Ayto and Ian Crofton, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2005, ISBN 0-304-35385-X
  9. ^ Historic England. "St Cuthbert's (1393517)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Felkirk". War Memorials Online.
  11. ^ Veillette, John; White, Gary (1977). Early Indian Village Churches: Wooden Frontier Architecture in British Columbia. Vancouver: U of BC P. p. 90. ISBN 9780774800754.
  12. ^ a b Tyack, George S. (1899). Lore and Legend of the English Church. London: William Andrews & Co. p. 67.
  13. ^ a b Dyer, T.F. Thiselton (1892). Church Lore Gleanings. London: A.D. Innes and Co. pp. 153–154.
  14. ^ Laing, Alex. (1891). "Replies to Queries". The Scottish Antiquary, or, Northern Notes and Queries. 6 (21): 46–48. ISSN 2042-0013. JSTOR 25516421.
  15. ^ "Lych-gates in Newfoundland :: ICH - Other Materials". collections.mun.ca. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  16. ^ Hedfors, Per (2004). "Considering the Authenticity of the Garden Soundscape: Preliminary Research Based on Interviews". Garden History. 32 (2): 281–284. doi:10.2307/4150388. ISSN 0307-1243. JSTOR 4150388.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lychgates.
 
Look up lych-gate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
 
Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article "Lich-gate".
  • A restoration of a lych gate at Houghton-le-Spring's Hillside Cemetery
  • featuring a traditional lychgate
  • Otterbourne lychgate
  • Illustrated article on lych gates in Newfoundland, Canada

December 18, 2023
lychgate, lychgate, from, english, līc, corpse, resurrection, gate, covered, gateway, found, entrance, traditional, english, english, style, churchyard, examples, also, exist, outside, british, isles, places, such, newfoundland, upland, south, texas, united, s. A lychgate from Old English lic corpse or resurrection gate 1 is a covered gateway found at the entrance to a traditional English or English style churchyard Examples also exist outside the British Isles in places such as Newfoundland 2 the Upland South 3 and Texas 4 in the United States Australia New Zealand South Africa Norway 5 and Sweden A lych gate in Ceredigion Wales decorated for a wedding Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 2 1 Dates of surviving lychgates 3 Use 3 1 Wedding traditions 4 Examples 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEtymology editThe word lych survived into modern English from the Old English or Saxon word for corpse mostly as an adjective in particular phrases or names such as lych bell the hand bell rung before a corpse lych way the path along which a corpse was carried to burial this in some districts was supposed to establish a right of way lych owl the screech owl because its cry was a portent of death and lyke wake a night watch over a corpse see Lyke Wake Dirge It is cognate with the modern German Leiche Dutch lijk and lichaam West Frisian lyk and Swedish lik all meaning corpse Lychgate in Swedish is called stiglucka literally step hatch The explanation is that the gate was split vertically so that you could step over the lower part without having to open it Therefore one can also guess another meaning of lych lyke luke lucka hatch gap from the Scandinavian languages Description editLychgates consist of a roofed porch like structure over a gate often built of wood They usually consist of four or six upright wooden posts in a rectangular shape On top of this are a number of beams to hold a pitched roof covered in thatch or wooden or clay tiles They can have decorative carvings and in later times were erected as memorials They sometimes have recessed seats on either side of the gate itself for the use of pall bearers or vigil watchers 6 Lychgates followed a somewhat predictable pattern though great variations in form could be seen Typically they were gable or hipped roofed often with benches where mourners could sit or with a lych stone coffin stool or trestle upon which a coffin could be rested 7 The most common form of lychgate is a simple shed composed of a roof with two gabled ends covered with tiles or thatch At Berrynarbor Devon there is a lychgate in the form of a cross while at Troutbeck Westmorland there are three lychgates to one churchyard Some elaborate gates have chambers over them In Texas and the South of the US lychgates are simpler in construction usually consisting of a steel or wooden span with a sign showing the name of the burial space 4 Dates of surviving lychgates edit nbsp Lych gate St George s church Beckenham South London said to be the oldest in England 8 Most were built from around the mid 15th century although some date from earlier including the 13th century lychgate of St George s churchyard in Beckenham South London claimed to be the oldest in England 8 After World War I a number of lychgates were built as war memorials for example that of Sandridge Hertfordshire Sandridge lychgate is a Grade II listed building as is that of St Cuthbert s Allendale Northumberland 9 However many of these memorial lychgates such as that of St Peter s Felkirk Yorkshire are not listed 10 Several new examples were built to mark the new millennium such as that at Lenton Lincolnshire Use editIn the Middle Ages before mortuaries and at a time when most people died at home the dead were placed on a bier and taken to the lychgate where they remained often attended against bodysnatchers until the funeral service which may have been a day or two later The lychgate kept the rain off and often had seats for the vigil watchers Bodies at that time were buried in just shrouds rather than coffins At the funeral the priest conducted the first part of the service under the shelter of the lychgate In traditional usage the gate was the sheltered point at which the coffin was set down at a funeral to await the clergyman s arrival 11 An English commentator writing in 1899 noted that the lych gate or corpse gate with its pent house roof is specially provided for the shelter of a funeral while awaiting the priest but it is only in a few cases that it is exclusively used for that purpose it is frequently perhaps where it exists commonly the principal gateway of the churchyard 12 In some regions of Cornwall and Devon such gates were called trim trams the spot where a funeral train or tram was brought into the proper order or trimmed to be ready for the officiating clergyman 13 In parts of Scotland Lykerstanes lit corpse stones may have served a similar purpose 14 Lychgates serve to differentiate consecrated and unconsecrated space and serve as a liminal space 15 Stone lychgates may create an increased aural awareness of the transition from one space to another by creating a tangible contrast between sounds inside and outside 16 In England there was a folk belief that the spirit of the last person buried stands watch at the gate till the next is buried leading to funeral fights at the entrance to decide which corpse should be buried first 13 Wedding traditions edit Traditionally in some parts of England particularly parts of Yorkshire at the end of the wedding as the bride and groom leave the church the gates are closed or where there is an absence of gates a rope is held across by the local children and the couple have to pay them to let them pass Conversely in Cheshire and Shropshire wedding parties would never pass through the lychgate so as to avoid misfortune 12 Examples edit nbsp A traditional English lychgate nbsp Millennium lychgate at Lenton Lincolnshire nbsp A rare Scottish example at Cummertrees Dumfries and Galloway nbsp Lychgate at the Church of St James the Less Philadelphia nbsp Lychgate at St Michael s church Aylsham Norfolk nbsp Lychgate of All Saints Parish Church Shiptonthorpe East Yorkshire nbsp Lychgate at St Mary s parish church Castle Eaton Wiltshire nbsp Lychgate at Kirkley Cemetery Lowestoft Suffolk nbsp Lychgate designed by John Douglas at St Michael s Church Manafon Powys nbsp Early 20th century lychgate at St Andrew s Church West Tarring West Sussex nbsp Lychgate at St Columba s Chapel Middletown Rhode Island nbsp Lychgate at St Wulfran s Church Ovingdean East Sussex nbsp Lychgate at St Anne s Chapel Fredericton New Brunswick nbsp Lychgate at Alskog Church Gotland Sweden nbsp Lychgate at Garde Church Gotland nbsp Combined lychgate and bell tower at Ro Church Sweden nbsp The Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist amp its Lych Gate Camden NSW 27 Feb 2017 nbsp St Baglan s Church Llanfaglan Wales nbsp Lychgate of the St Swithun s Church BournemouthSee also editCorpse road Church porch Lich Lyke Wake DirgeReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Lich Gate Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press the definition of lich gate Dictionary com Retrieved 6 April 2018 Jarvis Dale More yes more on Newfoundland Lych Gates for MortuaryMonday Retrieved 2020 06 28 Jeane D Gregory Deetz James 1989 Meyer Richard E ed The Upland South Folk Cemetery Complex Some Suggestions of Origin Cemeteries Gravemarkers University Press of Colorado pp 107 136 ISBN 978 0 87421 160 3 JSTOR j ctt46nqxw 11 retrieved 2020 06 28 a b Jordan Terry G 1980 The Roses so Red and the Lilies so Fair Southern Folk Cemeteries in Texas The Southwestern Historical Quarterly 83 3 227 258 ISSN 0038 478X JSTOR 30241035 PMID 11633245 Pritchett R T 1878 Norway Chapter XVII The Art Journal 4 168 171 doi 10 2307 20569228 ISSN 2152 243X JSTOR 20569228 Curl James Stevens Wilson Susan 2016 Oxford Dictionary of Architecture Oxford University Press p 454 ISBN 978 0 19 967499 2 Jarvis Dale Gilbert 2013 Newfoundland Lych Gates The Newfoundland Ancestor 29 2 64 67 a b Brewer s Britain and Ireland compiled by John Ayto and Ian Crofton Weidenfeld amp Nicolson 2005 ISBN 0 304 35385 X Historic England St Cuthbert s 1393517 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 15 October 2020 Felkirk War Memorials Online Veillette John White Gary 1977 Early Indian Village Churches Wooden Frontier Architecture in British Columbia Vancouver U of BC P p 90 ISBN 9780774800754 a b Tyack George S 1899 Lore and Legend of the English Church London William Andrews amp Co p 67 a b Dyer T F Thiselton 1892 Church Lore Gleanings London A D Innes and Co pp 153 154 Laing Alex 1891 Replies to Queries The Scottish Antiquary or Northern Notes and Queries 6 21 46 48 ISSN 2042 0013 JSTOR 25516421 Lych gates in Newfoundland ICH Other Materials collections mun ca Retrieved 2020 06 28 Hedfors Per 2004 Considering the Authenticity of the Garden Soundscape Preliminary Research Based on Interviews Garden History 32 2 281 284 doi 10 2307 4150388 ISSN 0307 1243 JSTOR 4150388 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lychgates nbsp Look up lych gate in Wiktionary the free dictionary nbsp Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Lich gate A restoration of a lych gate at Houghton le Spring s Hillside Cemetery Horsham s Denne Road Lych Gate featuring a traditional lychgate Otterbourne lychgate Illustrated article on lych gates in Newfoundland Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lychgate amp oldid 1189360664, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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