Triptych 1914-18 1939-45 Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Church, Church Bank, Eggleston. DL12 0AH. NY 99854 23675

On north wall of nave.

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Dedicated 3rd August 1918 by Bishop Moule.

Ship’s timbers with copper cross.

Presented by H. Abbott, Esq.

In pediment
For
God, King and Country

Above arms of cross
Greater
love hath
no man
than this.

On inner doors:
Roll of Honour

Triptych, total size is 48 inches high x 18 inches wide (1.22m x 457mm).

Above it is a pediment in which are the words “For God, King and Country” are in gilded block sans serif capitals with black shadowing.

The doors open to show a copper cross with the words “Greater love hath no man than this” in the spaces above the arms.

Lettering is hand written in block red sans serif capitals with black shadowing.

The names of those who died in 1914-18 are written on the insides of the doors and continued under the arms of the cross on the back panel, painted by hand using black elaborate lettering with red initials.

Those for 1939-45 are in the bottom left hand corner of the back panel, hand painted in sans serif capitals.

Below is a shelf for flowers.

A small ivory strip states that the materials were from H.M.S. Britannia 1860-1916.

1.   This was originally erected outside the church, but was taken indoors because of weather damage.

2.   This memorial was made from the timbers of H.M.S. “Britannia” 1860-1916 In a booklet presented by Hughes Bolckow to their staff when the firm was taken over in 1961, there is a long piece about the break-up of the “Britannia”. The salvaged material went to making up all kinds of things.  A sentence reads : “Folding chairs on offer were designed with wounded soldiers in mind” (‘their high back is very restful, but does not interfere with the hat when seated’); tea trolleys were advertised (‘in hospitals and nursing homes they ease the extra work brought by the war’); and there were three patterns of memorial shrine with space for names of up to 150 dead; the names could be added ‘in black at a halfpenny a letter, or in gold at a penny a letter'”.

3.   The copper cross is probably Munze metal from the ship’s plating.

4.   The Teesdale Mercury only lists seven names of the fallen. The last two must have been added after the ceremony.

5. Restored 2008.

Teesdale Mercury Archive website

Photos: John & Mavis Dixon; C. Sanders; Simon Raine; Jim Sewell

Teesdale Mercury
07/08/1918 reports unveiling.

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

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
John & Mavis Dixon;
C. Sanders;
Jim Sewell;
J.H. Thompson (Eggleston Church)

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