 Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is a poem by Thomas Gray , completed in 1750 and first published in 1751 . The poem ’ s origins are unknown , but it was partly inspired by Gray ’ s thoughts following the death of the poet Richard West in 1742 . Originally titled Stanzas Wrote in a Country Church @-@ Yard , the poem was completed when Gray was living near St Giles ' parish church at Stoke Poges . It was sent to his friend Horace Walpole , who popularised the poem among London literary circles . Gray was eventually forced to publish the work on 15 February 1751 , to pre @-@ empt a magazine publisher from printing an unlicensed copy of the poem . 
