Statue

Isaac Watts statue

Erection date: /9/1845

Inscription

{On the front of the body of the plinth:}
In memory of Isaac Watts, D.D. and in testimony of the high and lasting esteem in which his character and writings are held in the great Christian community by whom the English language is spoken. Of his psalms and hymns it may be predicted in his own words:
"Ages unborn shall make his songs the joy and labour of their tongues."
He was born at Southampton July 17 1674. Died November 25 1748, after a residence of 36 years in the mansion of Sir Thomas Abney, Bart. then standing in these grounds.

{On the front of the pedestal:}
Few men have left behind such purity of character or such monuments of laborious piety. He has provided instruction for all ages from those who are lisping their first lessons to the enlightened readers of Malebranche and Locke. He has left neither corporeal nor spiritual nature unexamined. He has taught the art of reasoning and the science of the stars. Such he was, as every Christian church would rejoice to have adopted.
Johnson

{On the front of the base:}
Erected by public subscription September 1845.

The quote "Ages unborn..." is presumably from one of Watts' hymns or psalms but we cannot discover which.

The quote "Few men .. " is from Samuel Johnson's Lives of the Poets: Gay, Thomson, Young, Gray, &c. 1781. It references Nicolas Malebranche (1638 -1715) a French priest and philosopher, and John Locke.

Orbis report on their conservation of the statue.

Site: Isaac Watts statue (1 memorial)

N16, Abney Park Cemetery

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Isaac Watts statue

Subjects commemorated i

Abney House and Park

The house was built in 1700 and we understand it was close to Stoke Newington...

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Sir Thomas Abney

Merchant and banker.  Born in Willesley, then in Derbyshire but now in Leices...

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Isaac Watts

Hymn-writer, poet, theologian and logician. Born Southampton. As a non-confor...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Isaac Watts statue

Created by i

E. H. Baily

From Bristol. Born Edward Hodges Baily. Other work in London: the Pallas Athe...

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Dr Samuel Johnson

Essayist, biographer, lexicographer and speaker of quotes. Born Lichfield, St...

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