Memorial

Cross 1914-18 St. Michael’s Churchyard

Bishop Middleham

Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 St. Michael's Churchyard (B141.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: B141.01

Parish: Bishop Middleham

Original Location:

St. Michael’s Churchyard, Church Street DL17 9AF.

Left hand side of entrance to churchyard.

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 9th October 1921 by Lt. Col. Thomlinson of Seaton Carew.
Dedicated by Archdeacon Derry. See Note 1 below.

Materials Used:

Polished granite.

Who Commissioned:

War Memorial Committee was comprised of disabled soldiers and sailors.

Cost:

£245

How Money was Raised:

Public subscription.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Ainsley and Collins of West Hartlepool.
Faculty also gives Francis Jones, Sculptor, West Hartlepool.

Inscription:

To the glory of God
and in loving memory of
the men of
Bishop Middleham
and Mainsforth
who laid down their lives
in the Great War 1914-1918.

Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Memorial Description:

Cross, of wheel type, total height 12 feet (3.7m).

It is set on a square tapering stone pedestal on three steps.

The whole a “grave surround” with low kerb.

The dedication is on the front of the pedestal, the names are carried on the other faces.

The lettering is incised and whitened using elaborate Roman capitals throughout.

Names:

21 surnames and initials.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. In “Sedgefield and Bishop Middleham” is the following quotation which appears to give a different date for the unveiling:
“St. Michael’s Churchyard, October 1920. General Sir Herbert Conyers Surtees of Mainsforth Hall pays tribute to the men of the parish who fell in the First World War. The Revd. W.G. Davison officiated at the service held during the unveiling ceremony of the War Memorial raised from public subscription”.

2. Lieut. Col. Thomlinson was a director of Carlton Iron Co., owners of Mainsforth Colliery.

3. In 2013 the War Memorial was found to be unstable, with the help of funding from War Memorials Trust, Heritage Lottery and the Parish Council refurbishment took place. The Cross was moved slightly away from the wall and reset in place.

4. A rededication service took place on Thursday July 10th 2014 taken by the Bishop of Jarrow, Mark Bryant. The local school, scouts and brownies as well as representatives from the Parish Council, Durham County Council, War Memorials Trust, NEWMP and the Durham Light Infantry were in attendance.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: Simon Raine; Dorothy Hall; old postcard: George Nairn

Auckland and County Chronicle
13/10/1921 reports unveiling.

Durham County Advertiser
14/10/1921 carries report of unveiling.

Evening Despatch
08/10/1921 reports proposed unveiling tomorrow;
10/10/1921 reports unveiling.

Stanley News
13/10/1921 carries report of unveiling.

Diocese of Durham
Faculty number 1039, issued 6th October 1921

The Story Durham (formerly Durham County Record Office)
Ref: EP/BM 97 Faculty for the erection of a churchyard cross and war memorial, 6 October 1921 (1 paper)

Sedgefield and Bishop Middleham (Frank Bellwood and Sedgefield L.H.S.)

Bishop Middleham and Mainsforth World War 1 Commemorations 2014 L. Johnson and H. Boorman; 2014

Source of Quotation
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13