The Trumpet Shall Sound...

Scattered in graveyards throughout the North East are stones depicting angels blowing trumpets, usually depicted in pairs these represent the angels of the resurrection which will blow their trumpets on the day of judgement 

One of the angels depicted on a flat stone dated 1745  in Fetterangus kirkyard.
'Here lyes waiting a glorious resurrection the corpse of Anna Gordon, spous (sic) to John Wildgoos'

Like the angels on the  stone (below)  in Peathill kirkyard the Fetterangus angels appear to be wearing kilts or feathery skirts.

This Peathill resurrection scene shows two angels of the resurrection flanking a corpse, the crown and position above the skull and crossed bones suggest that this may be Christ triumphant over death. 

The text on this stone reads 'Hear Lyes Anna Sim somtime spous to William Ranney in Rosehearty who departed March 1724 Also Margaret Mitchell Daughter of James Mitchell and Jean Renny in Rosehearty who died April 10th 1820 aged 25 years'

The angels on the stones above and below, both at Ellon are rather more stylised. Both Ellon stones also have a range of mortality symbols, the deid bell, which was rung at funerals, the hour glass symbolising the passing of time, the coffin, skulls and crossed long bones and the book of life.

Trumpet playing cherubs or putti at Lonmay

The quotation is from 1 Corinthians 15:52  'In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed'.

An elegant Victorian version in St Combs kirkyard.
This is on the reverse of  a stone erected in 1862 by James Carle in memory of his mother Bettsie Stephen.