Notes & Queries Archive
NOTE1850

Inscription on an Alms-dish

By F. B. RELTON.

In Bardsea Church, Island of Furness, is an alms-dish(?) of a large size, apparently very old, gilt, and bearing the following inscription:— "WYLT : GHY : LANGHELEVEN : SOO : ERT : GODT : ENDE : HOOVT : ZYN : GEBAT : VORWAR." Bardsea Church is recently erected in a district taken out of Urswick parish. Can any of your readers give an explanation of the inscription? [This is another specimen of the alms-dishes, of which several have been described in our First Volume. The legend may be rendered, *If thou wilt live long, honour God, and above all keep His commandments*.]

Topics: Historical Inscriptions, Church Artifacts

Locations: Bardsea Church, Island of Furness, Urswick