Memorial Details
Memorial
Calvary 1914-18 1939-45 All Saints R.C.
Reference
L62.07
Place
LANCHESTER
Map ref
NZ 163477
Original Location
All Saints’ Roman Catholic Church, Kitswell Road.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
Sunday June 17th 1917 - Unveiled by Canon Harris of Esh.
Memorial Description
Calvary approx. 15 feet high, with gabled top, set into a mound of random stone and concrete. The original figure of Christ was of oak and was life sized. The Cross is of indian teak.
The dedication and names for 1914-18 are on a marble plaque 3 feet high x 2 feet wide which rests on the upper part of the stone base.
The lettering is carved and coloured black, dedication is in Gothic script, the names in sans serif capitals.
Below this is another plaque 1 foot high x 2 feet wide bearing the dedication and names for 1939-45 in sans serif capitals.
The dedication and names for 1914-18 are on a marble plaque 3 feet high x 2 feet wide which rests on the upper part of the stone base.
The lettering is carved and coloured black, dedication is in Gothic script, the names in sans serif capitals.
Below this is another plaque 1 foot high x 2 feet wide bearing the dedication and names for 1939-45 in sans serif capitals.
Materials used
Oak Calvary on stone pedestal, grey marble tablets.
Inscription
a. Crucified Jesus / have mercy on the souls / of (names) / Who gave their lives / in the Great War / 1914–18 / R.I.P.
b. Crucified Jesus have mercy / on the souls of / (names) / Who gave their lives in the World War 1939–45
Names
How money was raised
Roman Catholics of the District
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Figure of Christ by Boulton of Cheltenham.
Cross by Gradon of Durham
Cross by Gradon of Durham
Notes
An unknown newspaper report undated reports:-
1. It is the first to be erected in the County of Durham and one of the first in the North of England.
2. Bishop Collins of Hexham and Newcastle should have performed the ceremony but was indisposed and his place was undertaken by Canon Harris of Esh.
3. As yet the tablet bears no names but up to the present time we have six Lanchester men who have surrendered their lives in their country's cause- Thomas Robinson, Wm. O'Brien, Joseph McHatton, (McElhatton)Wm. Costello, Robert Wainwright and Ernest Halton (Fallon)
4. All Saint's Church produced a leaflet for November 11th 2018 which provides details about the War Memorial:-
Our War Memorial was erected in 1917 more than one year before the Armistice. The impact and unbearable sense of grief in communities across the land is difficult for us to appreciate. The great loss of life, an army consisting of so many young volunteer recruits and then the policy of non-repatriation of the dead, meant that families and communities longed for some sort of memorial. Temporary street shrines spontaneously appeared, usually around the latest list of casualties, which then became Rolls of Honour. The Catholic community of Lanchester were especially determined to set up a permanent outdoor memorial for their loved ones.
A CALVARY was the style chosen, which is very much in the European Catholic tradition and it is unlike the Celtic style crosses, obelisks or warrior sculptures which became the norm in Britain in the following years. A canopied cross of Indian teak stands over 20 feet high. A cast metal Christ corpus hangs in sacrifice, with his head raised at the moment of the Seven Last Words.
A GOLGOTHA, in the form of a curved black stone forms a cairn base set firmly into a concrete platform. This echoes the stress upon salvation and the altar of sacrifice for the souls of the departed.
The STONE OF NAMES is of black polished granite and is set into the cairn. Below it is a smaller stone for World War II
The INSCRIPTION also emphasises the Catholic theology of Salvation rather than Remembrance.
Crucified Jesus
Have mercy on the souls of
Who gave their lives in the Great War
1914-18
R.I.P.
Regrettably, at some point, and certainly by the 1970s, the original oak Christ had been replaced by the current gilded metal sculpture. It is less than life size and does not have the drooped head, steeply angled arms, or colouration of the hair of the original Boulton figure. There is an identical Memorial at Esh (E73.01which still has the carved oak figure obviously commissioned by Canon Harris.
1. It is the first to be erected in the County of Durham and one of the first in the North of England.
2. Bishop Collins of Hexham and Newcastle should have performed the ceremony but was indisposed and his place was undertaken by Canon Harris of Esh.
3. As yet the tablet bears no names but up to the present time we have six Lanchester men who have surrendered their lives in their country's cause- Thomas Robinson, Wm. O'Brien, Joseph McHatton, (McElhatton)Wm. Costello, Robert Wainwright and Ernest Halton (Fallon)
4. All Saint's Church produced a leaflet for November 11th 2018 which provides details about the War Memorial:-
Our War Memorial was erected in 1917 more than one year before the Armistice. The impact and unbearable sense of grief in communities across the land is difficult for us to appreciate. The great loss of life, an army consisting of so many young volunteer recruits and then the policy of non-repatriation of the dead, meant that families and communities longed for some sort of memorial. Temporary street shrines spontaneously appeared, usually around the latest list of casualties, which then became Rolls of Honour. The Catholic community of Lanchester were especially determined to set up a permanent outdoor memorial for their loved ones.
A CALVARY was the style chosen, which is very much in the European Catholic tradition and it is unlike the Celtic style crosses, obelisks or warrior sculptures which became the norm in Britain in the following years. A canopied cross of Indian teak stands over 20 feet high. A cast metal Christ corpus hangs in sacrifice, with his head raised at the moment of the Seven Last Words.
A GOLGOTHA, in the form of a curved black stone forms a cairn base set firmly into a concrete platform. This echoes the stress upon salvation and the altar of sacrifice for the souls of the departed.
The STONE OF NAMES is of black polished granite and is set into the cairn. Below it is a smaller stone for World War II
The INSCRIPTION also emphasises the Catholic theology of Salvation rather than Remembrance.
Crucified Jesus
Have mercy on the souls of
Who gave their lives in the Great War
1914-18
R.I.P.
Regrettably, at some point, and certainly by the 1970s, the original oak Christ had been replaced by the current gilded metal sculpture. It is less than life size and does not have the drooped head, steeply angled arms, or colouration of the hair of the original Boulton figure. There is an identical Memorial at Esh (E73.01which still has the carved oak figure obviously commissioned by Canon Harris.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Errol Broomfield; Ron Carson; Dorothy Hall; James Pasby
Lanchester Remembers - Project Poppy Remembering our Fallen 1918-2018 booklet
Lanchester Remembers - Project Poppy Remembering our Fallen 1918-2018 booklet
External web link
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
Errol Broomfield; Ron Carson; Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; Dorothy Hall; Ian Murray
Research In Progress
The names on this memorial have been researched by Ian Murray. Contact: iwmurray63@gmail.com
Calvary 1914-18 1939-45 All Saints R.C. (L62.07)
LANCHESTER, All Saints’ Roman Catholic Church.
Upper plaque
Crucified Jesus
have mercy on the souls
of
Lieut. S. McClay 1st Lns.
Sgt. M. Salmon 8th E-Y.
Cpl. T. Robinson 13th D.L.I.
Cpl. W. O'Brien 16th D.L.I.
Cpl. M. Leonard D.C.M.,M.M. T.I.
Dvr. A. Rowe 112th R.F.A.
Priv. W. Costello R.A.M.C.
" W. Salmon 1st Lstrs.
" J. Reynolds 12th D.L.I.
" J. McElhatton 13th D.L.I.
" E. Fallon 8th D.L.I.
" R. Wainwright D.L.I.
Who gave their lives
in the Great War
1914 – 18
R.I.P.
---------------------------------------------
Lower plaque
Crucified Jesus have mercy
on the souls of
B.Q.M.S. M. O'Brien R.A.
Sgt. J. Finch R.A.F.
Gnr. N. Thornton R.A.
Pte. J. Halpin G.H.
Pte. A. McGeary B.W.
Who gave their lives in the World War 1939 – 45.
NamesL62.07
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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