Reredos 1914-18 St. Chad’s Chapel

St. Chad’s College Chapel, 18 North Bailey DH1 3RH.

1914-18

Dedicated 7th March 1924 by Bishop of Durham, Dr. Hensley Henson.

Wood

Designer Mr. W.H. Wood, F.R.I.B.A., Newcastle;
Artist Messrs. W.S. Brown & Son, Newcastle;
lettering by Art School of Armstrong College.

Orate fratres
p animab-
buius coll.alumnoru
qui p patria bonu
certamen certantes
nos in vita praecesserunt
a.s. mcmriv- mcmrmuiii.

Requiem aeterna dona
eis dne et lux perpetua
luceat eis

Reredos.

“It is in the style of the late 15th century English work, ornamented profusely with gold and colours. It is in the form of a triptych, the outer wings of which can be closed in penitential seasons.

The centre panel represents our Lord, crowned and vested, “reigning from the tree” in fulfilment of the ancient reading in the Psalms “Dominus regnavit a ligno”. He is surrounded by a nimbus, with adoring angels. On his right hand is the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on His left the patron of the collage, St. Chad, in his Episcopal vestments.

The wings are occupied respectively by the Venerable Bede, patron of Durham priests, bearing the chalice, and St. George, patron of soldiers, in full panoply.

On the back of the wings the names of the fallen are recorded, the priests on the one side and the soldiers on the other, with an inscription in the MS. hand of the 15th century.

The centre panel is surrounded by the instruments of the Passion displayed on shields, and around panels is a deeply undercut device of a vine in fruit.

The whole is surmounted by an elaborately carved cresting, richly gilt.”

1. The Latin translates roughly as:
Pray, brothers, for the souls of former pupils who in the sure victory in the struggle for their country went before us. The year of our Lord 1914-1918.

Photos: James Pasby

Durham County Advertiser
07/03/1924

Northern Echo
04/03/1924 reports unveiling as described in Note 1 above.

Durham University Journal
February 1924 contains description quoted and picture shown above.

The Story Durham (formerly Durham County Record Office)
Hodgson Fowler (architects) Durham: St. Chad’s College
Ref: D/HF 50/23 Plan of proposed war memorial reredos for chapel (revised design), n.d. Scale: 1 inch to 1 foot [1:12]
(1 plan, 36cm x 49cm, pencil, partly coloured, tracing paper)
Ref: D/HF 50/24 Plan of proposed war memorial reredos for chapel, n.d. Scale: 1 inch to 1 foot [1:12] (1 plan, 38cm x 49cm, ink, partly coloured)
Ref: D/HF 50/25 Details of inscription on back of wings of reredos, n.d. No scale (1 plan, 38cm x 93cm, pencil)
Ref: D/HF 50/26 Drawing of reredos in chapel, n.d. One inch scale [1:12] (1 plan, 37cm x 51cm, ink, paper on cardboard)
Ref: D/HF 50/27 Details of inscription, n.d. No scale (1 plan, 38cm x 93cm, pencil)

Source of quotation:
“Requiem aerterna dona . . .” May they rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon them”. Mass for the Dead.

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

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk