Located outside of the museum is the gravestone of Maria Sophia Bawyr von Frankenberg (1667-1737). It reads:
“To God, the Best and Greatest.
The most reverend and most excellent Lady, Lady Maria Sophia de Bawer, Countess of Frankenberg, confirmed and blessed abbess of the illustrious collegiate church of St Cäcilia, Lady of Rondorf etc., enrolled in the most august Order of the Ladies of the Starry Cross. After increasing divine worship, completing the abbess’s building works, and restoring the church of St Maternus, she died in the year of Christ 1737, aged 70, after 52 years in religion and 24 years in the dignity of abbess. Rest in peace”
I often take photos of gravestones, as I don’t get out much, to try and understand something about who they commemorate. Usually when I’m overseas it’s something of a forlorn exercise as I can’t work out anything about them. But, this is a little different as she has her own Wikipedia page, albeit only in Germany.
A countess by birth and abbess of the collegiate church of St Cäcilien in Cologne (which is where this museum now is), she was also Lady of Rondorf and a member of the Order of the Starry Cross. She sounds quite decadent and rich…. She came from a large family, she had five siblings and five half-siblings, with two of her full siblings being military generals, which must help in feeling more safe and secure in life.
Her memorial inscription makes clear that she took her responsibilities seriously and it credits her with increasing divine worship, completing abbey building works and restoring the church of St Maternus (which still exists), which is a fairly respectable administrative record for anyone. The stone has become a little smashed up over time, but it has been repaired although perhaps the museum could put a little information panel by it.