Dedicatory inscription. An inscription in a church that refers to the donor of the building, or of something within it. Before the Reformation, these asked for prayers for the soul of the donor, and such examples of Catholic theology were vigorously excised by Anglican and Puritan reformers. However, hundreds of good ones survive.

Since the Reformation, a dedicatory inscription is more likely to take the form of a memorial, particularly in 19th century stained glass.