Making your choice

You will have three decisions to make in buying a memorial, the stone, the style and the inscription. As we have already discussed your choice of stone will sometimes be made for you, and the choice of styles limited if the memorial is to be erected in a churchyard. Elsewhere, choices are almost limitless. Hereafter we have prepared some guidance that might help your choice.

The inscription

Some suggestions follow to assist you in composing a succinct, yet vital tribute. As a general rule our advice, whether serious or humorous, is to keep it simple. It is also worth leaving room for an additional inscription if there are other family members likely to be interred in the grave.

Inscriptions & epitaphs

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF

GONE ARE THE DAYS
WE USED TO SHARE
BUT IN OUR HEARTS
YOU’RE ALWAYS THERE

GOD TAKES OUR LOVED ONES
FROM OUR HOMES
BUT NEVER FROM OUR HEARTS

FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS 

A LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER
IS NOW AT REST
FOR EACH OF US HE DID HIS BEST

HIS LOVE WAS GREAT
HIS HEART WAS KIND
A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY LEFT BEHIND

PEACE PERFECT PEACE
REST IN PEACE

IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE YOU
BUT YOU DID NOT GO ALONE
FOR PART OF US WENT WITH YOU
THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME

OH FOR THE TOUCH OF A VANISHED HAND
AND THE SOUND OF A VOICE THAT IS STILLED

TALIS VITA (Such a life) 

TOO DEARLY LOVED TO BE FORGOTTEN

THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD I SHALL NOT WANT

LOVED AND MISSED BY ALL THE FAMILY

 ON EARTH ONE GENTLE SOUL LESS
IN HEAVEN ONE ANGEL MORE 

GOD HAS YOU IN HIS KEEPING
WE HAVE YOU IN OUR HEARTS 

ALL THROUGH YOUR SUFFERING
GREAT PATIENCE YOU BORE
TIL GOD CALLED YOU HOME
TO SUFFER NO MORE

WE MISS HIS SMILE, HIS CHEERY WAY
WE MISS THE THINGS HE USED TO SAY
AND WHEN OLD TIMES WE OFT RECALL
IT’S THEN WE MISS HIM MOST OF ALL 

SHE GAVE US LOVE IN FULLEST MEASURE
CARE, DEVOTION, MEMORIES TO TREASURE
IN OUR HEARTS SHE WILL ALWAYS LIVE
THIS DEAREST MOTHER GOD COULD GIVE 

A TINY FLOWER LENT NOT GIVEN
TO BUD ON EARTH AND BLOOM IN HEAVEN 

GOD GAVE A TREASURE FOR A WHILE
TO FILL US WITH HIS LOVE
AND THEN HE TOOK OUR DARLING CHILD
TO DWELL WITH HIM ABOVE

Letter cutting and finish

The table below details the finishes appropriate to each type of stone and may limit the range of ornate engravings and embellishments that are available.

Some popular typefaces