Oldfield Park Junior School (Bath) WW1 Memorial Project | ||
St John the Evangelist ChurchLower Weston (Bath)WW1 Memorial | ||
This unassuming church is situated on the Upper Bristol Road, opposite the derelict gasworks, between Windsor Bridge and the Royal Victoria Park. It is home to no fewer than eight memorials relating to WW1. The main memorial commemorates 66 men who died in WW1 and is still in its original position in the north transept. Arriving at the church shortly before the 11am Sunday service, I was welcomed and assisted in taking photographs of the memorials. From Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette, Saturday 21st February 1920: ST. JOHNS, LOWER WESTON VICAR DEDICATES WAR MEMORIAL SERMON BY REV. R. F. WALTERS In the presence of a large congregation the Rev. J. C.
Church, Vicar of St. John's, Lower Weston, on Sunday dedicated the memorial
tablet which has been erected on the wall of the north transept in memory of the
parishioners who perished in the Great War. The sermon was preached by the Rev.
R. Farley Walters, S.C.F., a former curate. Many of the fallen soldiers were
members of Mr. Walter's Bible Class. Mr. H. F. Weight was at the organ. A special form of service was used. The processional hymn
was “O God of Bethel, by whose hand." The opening sentences of the Burial
Office were then read, the 23rd Psalm was chanted, and the lesson was taken
from the First Epistle to the Thessalonians, chapter 4, commencing at verse 13.
The hymn, "On the Resurrection Morning," was followed by the
Apostles' Creed and further prayers. THE DEDICATION The tablet was not veiled, but was in full view of the
congregation from the commencement of the service. After the singing of the
hymn, "Lead kindly Light," the Vicar dedicated the memorial "in
the faith of Jesus Christ and in loving and honoured memory of those whose
names are recorded on the tablet." He prayed that England might be kept
mindful of the sacrifice made by those men who, counting not their lives unto
the death, stood between us and a merciless foe. The hymn, "How bright
these glorious spirits shine," was then sung. THE SERMON The Rev. R. Farley Waiters, who prefaced his sermon by the
collect for Easter Day, chose for his text Jeremiah 31 verses 15 to 17, “A
voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping: Rachel weeping for
her children refused to comforted because they were not. Thus saith the Lord.
Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, for thy work shall be
rewarded; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is
hope in thine end that thy children shall come again to their own border."
The Vicar then read the inscription on the tablet and the names
of those commemorated, the congregation standing meanwhile. There was a
minute's silence in memory of the fallen, and the concluding hymn, "O Valiant
Hearts, who to your glory came," was followed by the National Anthem. As a
concluding voluntary, Mr. Weight played "0, rest in the Lord." THE MEMORIAL The tablet, which is of lateen brass, surrounded with Tinos
marble, bears the inscription: "To the memory of the men the parish of St. John,
Weston, Bath, who gave their lives in the Great War, 1919.' Upon it are
inscribed the 66 names of the fallen, and beneath is a sculptured laurel
wreath. To the memory of the men of the Parish of St John's, Weston, Bath who gave their lives for their country in the Great War 1914-19 |
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For as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord | |||
Individual Memorials The walls of the nave (and balcony) of the church also contain memorials to seven individuals, six of whom are also named on the main memorial. In alphabetical order: Private Albert Derrick Royal Warwickshire Regiment Private Albert Harrold The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 2nd Lieut. Reginald Hatcher King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment Lieut. Wilfred Missen Canadian Infantry Lieut. (acting Capt.) Frederick Olphert Royal Engineers Lance-Corporal Frank Stevens Gloucestershire Regiment Lance-Corporal Ronald Wheeler Somerset Light Infantry |