John Adams Memorial

At the central point of the Cemetery was the Cemetery Cross, erected to the memory of John Adams, who died on 7th January 1858, by his nephew Rev. Thomas Housman, incumbent of Catshill, and Dr. John Day Collis (see No.1 on the walk), headmaster of Bromsgrove School, who contributed a third of the cost. The design was by William Prosser who had been involved with the restoration of St John's church, working with George Gilbert Scott. The Memorial was built from four differing coloured stones in a strong High-Victorian style. The steps are red Corsehill sandstone, the column is grey Forest of Dean sandstone, and the base, superstructure and cross are Bath Stone. On the base were the four symbols of the Apostles, the name and death date of John Adams, the date of consecration of the Cemetery and text from 1 Corinthians xv 55. The inscriptions on the pediment are:

• on the South, a small Latin cross with the motto of the Emperor Constantine In this sign shalt thou conquer;
• on the East, Alpha and Omega interlaced beneath I am the Resurrection and the Life;
• on the North, IHS (the first three letters of the Greek word for Jesus) beneath Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord;
• on the West, XP (first and second letters of the Greek name for Christ), beneath I am the Way, the Truth, the Life.