Features of Old Kirk Braddan

The three-decker pulpit

decorated for the Harvest Festival 2002

The Braddan Cross

A large wheel-headed cross-slab in the Celtic tradition, from the 9th or 10th century. The ornamental panel in the upper limb depicts two crouching beasts with open jaws framing a human face, symbolising the gates of Hell (it is sometimes referred to as "Daniel in the lions' den"). The rest of the cross is filled with interlacing. The wheel-head, between plaitwork borders, contains stylised animals.

The Murray monument

Sacred to the memory of the Honorable Richard Murray
Son of the late Lord Henry Murray
Nephew to the late John Duke of Atholl
and formerly Lieut. Col. of Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards.
Having honorably served his country in India
And subsequently on the continent of Europe under
Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington.
He retired to the Isle of Man
where he was elected a Member of the House of Keys,
and in that capacity long and zealously exerted himself
to promote the welfare of the Island.
He departed this life October 16th 1843, aged 55 years.

Also to the memory of his son Richard Green Murray
Who died February 15th 1856 aged 15 years

This monument is erected by his Widow, as a small
but sincere token of regard for the memory
of a most considerate husband, and a most amiable child.

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death;
and to the house appointed for all living.
Job xxx.23

[Richard Murray, of Mount Murray, born 19 October 1787, died 16 October 1843
eldest son of Lord Henry Murray (4th son of John 3rd Duke of Atholl), born 1767 died 1805 (to whom there is a memorial in the form of an obelisk in the churchyard)
married (1) 1811 Catherine Bacon (1789-1817), daughter of John Joseph Bacon (1728-1800); (2) 1819 Margaret Tenison (d.1864), daughter of William Barton Tenison of Lough Bawn, Co. Monaghan (her monument is on the opposite wall)]

The slave grave

"SAMUEL ALLY, an African and Native of St. Helena. Died the 28th of May, 1822, aged 18 years. Born a slave and exposed in early life to the corrupt influence of that unhappy state, he became a model of TRUTH and PROBITY. This stone is erected by a grateful master to the memory of a faithful servant."

Colonel Mark Wilks (1759-1831) was the son of the Rev. James Wilks (vicar of Kirk Michael 1752-1771 and rector of Ballaugh 1771-77). He served with the East India Company and was appointed governor of St Helena in 1813. He was in post when Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled there in 1815, and became friends with the former emperor, who was impressed by his intelligence and wide knowledge, and much regretted his replacement in 1816 by the quarrelsome Sir Hudson Lowe. (The Duke of Wellington is reported to have said that his removal was a mistake on the part of the Government.) He built Kirby House, to which he returned in 1816, bringing with him as a servant the former slave Samuel Ally. Col. Wilks died of apoplexy on 19 October 1831 while on a visit to his son-in-law. (His daughter Laura (1797-1888) was a celebrated beauty. On 22 July 1817 she married Major-General Sir John Buchan KCB (?-1850). They had one child, Mark, who died in 1834. She gave the site of the new Braddan church in 1873, and founded the Buchan School at Castletown in 1875.) After Col. Wilks' death Kirby was let to Sir George Drinkwater, who purchased it in 1840.