St Peter's Parish News
Thursday 1 January 1970
Catherine Donne tomb
After the first phase of the roof repair works and the cleanup of the Lady Chapel, we’ve taken out the panel of carpet to reveal the tombstone set in the chapel floor. This marks the burial place of Catherine Donne (d.1733) and her daughter Anne Cowper (d.1737). It appears that Catherine was a relative of the 16th-century poet and priest, John Donne (1572-1631), one of the “metaphysical poets”.
Anne was married to Rev John Cowper, the Rector of St Peter’s from 1722 to 1756. The tombstone records family tragedy, the six Cowper children who died in infancy and were buried here. Only two of their children survived infancy, one of whom was William Cowper, the noted poet, hymn-writer and anti-slavery campaigner.
Stop in the Lady Chapel to see this poignant memorial, which links us with a long tradition of England’s sacred poets.
BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Extra recently included a segment on John Donne, with poetry read by actor Blake Ritson:
www.bbc.co.uk 
