Memorial

Choirfront 1914-18 Central Primitive Methodist

Chester le Street

Memorial Name: Choirfront 1914-18 Central Primitive Methodist (C105.04)

NEWMP Ref No.: C105.04

Parish: Chester le Street

Original Location:

Central Primitive Methodist Church.

Corner of Newcastle Road and North Burns. DH3 3TF.

Present Location:

In private hands in U.S.A.

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 15th November 1923 by Mr. Thomas Storey (church official for 42 years and one of the oldest members);
dedicated by Rev. Dr. F.H. Jackson, Rector.

Materials Used:

Fumed oak with gilded brass panel

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Messrs. Hunting and George, Newcastle.

Inscription:

Greater love hath no man
than this that a man
lay down his life
for his friends.
1914-1918
The
Great War

Memorial Description:

Choir front and pulpit.
A gilded plaque bears the dedication. The top line is curved to match the top of the plate.
The names are listed in a single column using Roman capitals throughout.

“The memorial itself is formed of two buttressed sides holding the general framework, and these are mounted by two carved crocketted finials, bound together by a band of Tudor rose carving. The panel itself is surmounted by a Gothic laurel wreath indicating victory. The spandrels above the tablet are carved with Gothic cuspings and within the wreath is the monogram IHS. The finials have not the well-known interpretation but are those of the words ‘In His Service'”.

Names:

14 full names.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. The memorial was part of a greater scheme to refurbish the church in a major restoration and refurbishment project.

2. The press report of the unveiling reports the names slightly differently. See transcript.

3. Offertories at the unveiling ceremony, amounting to £7 10s., were to be given towards the town’s war memorial.

4. The Memorial plaque was sold in 1979 for about £75 as its scrap value to a private buyer in the U.S.A.. The church felt it was surplus to requirements and it would interfere with the redecoration and restoration being undertaken then. There was also  a scratch on the Memorial front!

Sources:

Photos: Dorothy Hall

Chester le Street Chronicle
02/11/1923 reports refurbishment project;
16/11/1923 reports unveiling.

Consett and Stanley Chronicle
17/11/1923 reports unveiling.

Darlington and Stockton Times
17/11/1923 reports unveiling.

Durham County Advertiser
09/11/1923 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
10/11/1923 reports proposed unveiling;
17/11/1923 reports unveiling

Northern Echo
05/11/1923 reports proposed unveiling on Armistice Day;
12/11/1923 reports unveiling

Stanley News and Consett Chronicle
15/11/1923 reports unveiling.

Source of quotation
“Greater love hath no man than this” . . . St. John 15 v 13.

Sources Link: Northern Echo 11 05 Mon -1923
Sources Link: Northern Echo 11 12 Mon -1923
Sources Link: Darlington and Stockton Times (North) 11 17 Sat -1923

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

Dorothy Hall;
James Pasby;
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale

Research In Progress:

James Pasby is researching the names on this memorial

Contact:james@newmp.org.uk

Provide Details

If you know more about this memorial, please send the details to NEWMP.

Names Documents:

CHESTER LE STREET Central Chapel,

  Greater love hath no man

  than this that a man

  lay down his life

  for his friends.

  ————-

  Fred Brown

  Thomas Brown

  Peter S. Cole

  Ralph Curry

  Thomas Gilder

  Fred Gilder

  Isaac Harbron

  Joseph Hutchinson

  Nathan Marshall

  John L. Middleton

  James Middleton

  Joseph H. Pringle

  Alfred B. Tate

  James Smith Curry

  The

  1914  Great War  1918  

———————————————————-

A press report gives the names as follows:  

  

  Frederick Brown,

  Peter Smyth Cole,                             

  Thomas Brown,

  Ralph Curry,

  Thomas Gilder,

  Frederick Gilder,

  Isaac Harbron,

  Joseph Hutchinson,

  Nathan Marshall,

  John L. Middleton,

  James Middleton,

  Joseph H. Pringle,

  Alfred B. Tate.

It is possible that the name of James Smith Curry was added later,

as it comes at the end, out of alphabetical sequence, and is not

mentioned in the press report.

NamesC105.04  

War Memorial Indexes

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