Within the sanctuary of Crich church in Derbyshire, next to the high altar stands the alabaster tomb of Godfrey Beresford. The inscription in Latin reads ‘Here lies Godfrey Beresford,gentleman, recently part of the household of George the very honourable Earl of Shrewsbury and also son and heir apparent of Aden Beresford of Fenny Bentley who died on the 29th day of the month of November in the year of Our Lord One thousand Five Hundred and Thirteen’ .
The stone is so old that its memorial is almost worn smooth, but the coat of arms depicted bear the arms of Beresford and Hassall quartered. His father, Aden, was the eldest of the sixteen sons of Thomas and his wife Agnes Hassall.
The tomb is surprisingly short in length and after allowing for the fact that people in those days were smaller in stature than today, it could be that Godfrey died whilst still a young man.
Godfrey is also shown wearing some plate armour, which suggests that he accompanied the Earl of Shrewsbury on his military campaigns. But a mystery remains. Why was he buried at Crich and not in his home parish of Fenny Bentley? Was he wounded in some battle and died there on his journey home? Was this special tomb, sited in an honoured place beside the high altar, erected by a grateful Earl to one of his closest staff?