John Buchan, 1st Lord Tweedsmuir of Elsfield, author and statesman,
was born in Perth in 1875. In 1907 he married Susan Charlotte
Grosvenor.
They came to live at Elsfield Manor in 1919.
Of all his many books perhaps the most famous is 'The 39 Steps'.
In 1935 he was appointed Governor General of Canada and raised to
the peerage.
He died in Canada in 1940, and his ashes were brought home to be
buried in Elsfield churchyard.
Lord Tweedsmuir's grave is at the eastern end of the churchyard,
covered by a circular stone. The stone is carved with a cross and a
Greek inscription which means 'Christ will prevail!' The lettering
round the edge of the gravestone reads
JOHN BUCHAN THE FIRST BARON TWEEDSMUIR
BORN SCOTLAND 26th AUGUST 1875
DIED CANADA 11th FEBRUARY 1940
QUI MUSAS COLUIT PATRIAE SERVIVIT AMICIS
DILECTUM INNUMERIS HIC SUA TERRA TENET
SUSAN CHARLOTTE HIS WIFE
BORN 20th APRIL 1882 DIED 21st MARCH 1977
A free translation of the Latin words might be
“Here, in his own earth, lies a man of letters, who served his
country and enjoyed the affection of many friends.”
The gravestone was designed by Sir Herbert Baker RA and executed by Mr John Armitage. The Latin inscription was composed by Sir Dougal Malcolm.
In 1996 the inscription round the stone was re-cut, with the aid of subscriptions from John Buchan's grandchildren and a generous gift from the John Buchan Society.