St. James Cemetery

A couple of my blogging friends having posted on their love of cemeteries in the last couple of days, I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and share one of my favorites. These photos are from St. James Episcopal Church in Arlington, Vermont. The shorter stones, featuring carvings of angels, date from the 1790s, while the taller stones, capped by pyramids, date from the 1850s. Isn't it amazing what just a half century can do in terms of style? With the 18th century stones one expects a restraint and simplicity that possibly reflected the reserved demeanor of those laid to rest in this small New England community. It's amazing that these older stones have survived intact, since they seem fragile and are no more than 3" thick.