This is the first of three chapters that address inscriptions found on the front
panels of erect headstones. In this chapter, introductions are examined. These
inscriptions appear towards the top of headstone front panels and often appear in large
(ornate) letters. The trends evident for England and Scotland are noted here. Salvationinfluenced
introductions, such as ‘Sacred’ and ‘In memory of’, were the most
commonly used introductions in Britain, with the former (‘Sacred’) being more popular
in England, while the latter (‘In memory of’) common in Scotland. These expressions
displayed the changing views of death throughout the 17th and 19th centuries.
Keywords: front panel, Headstones, In memory of, Inscriptions, Introductions,
Mortality, Remembrance, Sacred, Salvation.
