Canon John Quine was born on 5th May 1857 and, as you will see from the photographs below, he was Vicar of All Saints' Church, Lonan for 45 years, from 1895 until his death on 29th February 1940. He was Chaplain to the House of Keys from 1906 to 1924 and Canon of St German from 1909 to 1940.

He was an academic, a former president of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society, an author and was also the headmaster of Douglas Grammar School from 1893 to 1895.

He introduced Archibald Knox to a study and love of Manx Celtic crosses and they often walked out together looking for objects of antiquity and inscribed stones of the Isle of Man (some of which are outside All Saints' Church, Lonan).

Both Canon Quine and Knox were staunch supporters of having the Cathedral on St Patrick's Isle renovated, returned to the Church  of England, and used as the Cathedral of the Isle of Man. This did not come about but the wish was behind the three pieces of communion silver designed by Knox (two of which were commissioned by Canon Quine).

To find out more about the Cathedral silver, and the gift made by the Quine family to Peel Cathedral, please see the section on Peel Cathedral Silver under the Silver Metalware heading.

To find out more about Canon John Quine there is a Facebook page dedicated to him, his family, life and work - John Quine Forum.

Unlike the other examples of Knox designs it is angular - Annie Knox claimed that it was actually Quine's own design (though as Quine was a great friend of Knox, the latter may have had a hand). Tim Quayle however is on record as saying that Knox personally drew the design direct onto the massive slate.

Whatever the circumstances were the two men were great friends and as can be seen in the second from last photograph below there is an inscription on the grave border saying "Donor and designer of the stone - A Knox - life long friend". Perhaps Knox donated and designed the green perimeter stone of the grave plot? Perhaps the headstone was designed by Canon Quine or the two together - the Knox designed  pavement inside Lonan Church is very angular and was a design concept well ahead of its time in 1914.

What is clear - Knox did not have a hand in the final lettering etc. as he died seven years before Canon Quine.

The cracks and flaking will be looked at in due course, and hopefully a proper scheme of repair and maintenance will be put in place for this important memorial to Canon John Quine.

Canon John Quine All Saints' Lonan

Canon John Quine All Saints' Lonan - Copy

Canon John Quine All Saints' Lonan - Copy (2)

The first three photographs were taken some years ago and already the lettering has deteriorated since 1940.

Below are photographs taken in May 2018 showing the there are now cracks and pieces flaked off the headstone.

In order to pick out some of the lettering more effectively I the photographs have been shown with a greenish filter - the actual colour of the headstone is grey.

P1030923

P1030927

P1030928

P1030929

P1030931

These last four photographs show the flaking and cracking, the inscription showing that Archibald Knox donated and designed the stone and that T Quayle was the stonemason.

P1030924

P1030946 - Copy

P1030941