(2) The Upton Memorial

The Upton Memorial

  The Latin inscription high up on the wall of the north aisle commemorates a man of great ability and achievement.
  James Upton was born in December 1670, educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. He returned to Eton as an assistant master at the request of the headmaster.
  Later he was invited to teach at Ilminster and lastly at Taunton Grammar School. He must have been a wonderful teacher for it is said that he was followed to Taunton by his Ilminster pupils and that the school became the largest provincial grammar school in the country.
  He was a distinguished classical scholar and grammarian and published many works, notably (but not exclusively) on the Greek classics.
  He was also much involved with the church: he had been ordained priest in 1701 and was presented by Lord Sydenham first to the rectory of Brimpton near Yeovil, and later to that of Monksilver.

  In 1731 he became vicar of Bishop's Hull, dying here in August 1749 at the age of 78. Also commemorated is Mary 'his most faithful wife ten times in labour' whom he had married in Eton.