Sutton: Mary Gibson’s Mausoleum Inspection

Where: Sutton, London at St Nicholas'Church
When: 12th August
Time: 1 pm (ish)/2pm

 

Every 12th August for over 200 years, Mary Gibson’s Mausoleum has been inspected in the churchyard of St Nicholas’ in Sutton (formerly in Surrey but now in London). She left a bequest in her will to pay for the annual visit by the Rector and for him to check for necessary repairs; legend suggests that this was connected to a fear of body-snatchers or burial alive but these both seem doubtful theories. The inspection ceased for some years due to health and safety concerns and a lack of enthusiasm on the part of the vicar (thanks to Paula Gerrard for finding this out!) BUT from 2015 it was revived with a new incumbent (and thanks to Ross Parish for this news!) and is once again a feature on the calendar of unusual events. Let’s hope the revival gathers momentum to keep this curious ritual alive for future visitors to experience – it certainly seems secure once again. A small procession makes its way across the churchyard including the Rector and a key-bearer with the mausoleum keys on a red cushion, before a short service explaining the origins of the custom and a few prayers. The mausoleum door remains open for a short while for visitors to peep inside, and an exhibition on the custom is displayed inside the church, while tea and biscuits are offered to all.

Helpful Hints

In 2023 the inspection was carried out on the 12th at 2pm as a church rather than a  public event- the inspection has been very small scale in recent years and anyone wishing to attend would be wise to contact the organisers first.

If you walk seven times around the mausoleum, a ghost comes out of the urn on the roof… don’t say I didn’t warn you..but I have it on excellent authority from the Churchwardens, no less, that the myth that a giant toad inhabits the mausoleum is totally unfounded.

Click here for the church website: http://stnicholas.suttonteam.org.uk

and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StNicholasSutton/

Click here for a first hand account: https://traditionalcustomsandceremonies.wordpress.com/2015/08/31/custom-demised-the-inspection-of-the-gibson-mausoleum-sutton/

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