Oldfield Park Junior School (Bath) WW1 Memorial Project | ||||||||
Christ Church (Bath) WW1 Memorial | ||||||||
Christ Church is at Montpelier, at the eastern end of Julian Road. Its beautiful WW1 memorial is beneath the gallery on the north side of the church. The memorial is unusual in that it includes a bound book with a page dedicated to each of the named servicemen. The book of remembrance: frontispiece (left) and an example page; there is one such page for each of the men named on the memorial From the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Saturday 10th July 1920: CHRIST CHURCH, BATH THE WAR MEMORIAL SHRINE DEDICATED BY PREBENDARY HOETS The war memorial shrine which has been erected under the
north gallery of Christ Church, Bath, in memory of the members of the
congregation who perished in the war was dedicated by Preb. M. E. Hoets, R.D., on
Sunday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation. The memorial is of
carved unpolished oak harmonising with the design of the reredos. The central
panel bears a Latin cross in slight relief and the names of the fallen are
inscribed on the two side panels. The memorial is surmounted by a carved canopy
and at the base is a shelf for the reception of vases of flowers. The clergy present in addition to Preb. Hoets, were the Rev.
F. B. Kerr-Thompson (curate), the Rev. J. C. Hayward, and Canon the Hon. Hugh
Mostyn. A special form of service was used, based largely on the Order for the Burial
of the Dead. The “Shepherd Psalm” was sung, and the lesson, taken from
Revelation, chapter vii., was read by Canon Mostyn. The singing of the hymn
"O Heavenly Jerusalem" preceded an address from the pulpit by Preb.
Hoets. Mr H. J. Davis was at the organ. OBJECT OF THE MEMORIAL Preb. Hoets said a very few words would suffice. With such
honour as they could render to those whose names were inscribed thereon they
met to dedicate a memorial shrine which was no mere ornament of furnishing of the
church, but which would belong to the spiritual life of all who worshipped
there. To that quiet corner of the church many would come from time to time
"to rest awhile” in prayer and thought — not only those to whom one or
more of the written names must ever speak with a pathos too great for words,
but all to whom the Church's doctrine of the Communion of Saints was no idle
form words, but a bright and glorious reality. They would surely take care that
their Shrine never lacked the offerings of flowers —beautiful symbols of love and
honour—and that those who visited it, whoever they were, should understand that
theirs was no barren, loveless record, but a living witness to the Faith and
the Hope that was in them. They pronounced no eulogy upon the departed. Let
these words which were engraved upon the hearts of some of them express their
thoughts that afternoon. "Those whom this shrine commemorates were
numbered among those who at the call of King and Country left; all that was
dear to them, endured hardship, faced danger, and finally passed out of the
sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving their own lives
that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that
their names be not forgotten." THE SHRINE DEDICATED Preb. Hoets then solemnly dedicated the shrine, and after
this ceremony the anthem "Give rest, O Christ" was sung to the “Kield
Melody." During the singing of the special war memorial hymn "O
Valiant Hearts” a collection was taken for the Shrine and for the expenses.
After the Blessing, the “Last Post” was sounded and the concluding processional
hymn was “For all the Saints" sung to the newer setting by Vaughan Williams.
The shrine was designed by Mr. Mowbray A. Green F.R.I.B.A.,
of Bath. And from the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Saturday 21st April 1923: CHRIST CHURCH, BATH BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE DEDICATED PREB. HOETS ON ITS APPROPRIATENESS The enrichments of the war memorial shrine at Christ Church
have now been completed by the provision of a Book of Remembrance. At evensong
on Wednesday, this volume was solemnly dedicated and placed on the shrine by
Preb. M. E. Hoets, R.D., who was assisted in the service by the Rev. F. B.
Kerr-Thompson. The volume is bound in vellum, and contains the names of some
forty members of the church and congregation who perished in the Great War. The
title page bears the arms of the diocese and the inscription "Christ
Church, Bath. Book of Remembrance, 1914-1919." The second is surmounted by
the Royal Arms, and contains the King's message, which also appears in the
larger volume forming the County of Somerset's record which is deposited in
Wells Cathedral. The message is: 'They whom this book commemorates are
numbered among those who, at the call of King and Count y, left all that was
dear to them, and endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the
sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving their own lives
that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that
their names be not forgotten.’ The work has been designed and executed by Mr.
Maurice J. Calvert. The singing was led by the Christ Church choir, and Mr. H. J.
Davis was at the organ. The dedication was performed by Preb. Hoets with these words:
"To the glory of God, and as a record of those whose names are recorded on
the war memorial shrine of this church, we now dedicate this Book of
Remembrance, Amen." Preb. Hoets afterwards recited further prayers, including
the Russian "Contakion" and the hymn, "Ten thousand times ten
thousand" was sung. After the dedication, Preb. Hoets gave an address from the
pulpit, taking as his text Malachi, ch. 3, verse 16, "A Book of
Remembrance was written before him." The inscription on the memorial reads:
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