Stained Glass Window Forces Memorial 1939-45 Cathedral

Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St. Cuthbert of Durham, Palace Green.
North side of north aisle

1939-45

Dedicated 8th April 1948 ceremony led by H.R.H. Duke of Gloucester, K.G.

See Note 1 below.

Grey marble plaques.

£2,000

Hugh Easton

Window:
“As birds flying
so shall the Lord of Hosts protect Jerusalem”

Left plaque:
For all those
who on every
Continent and
against every
foe maintained the
honour of
the British arms.
Thanks be to God

Centre plaque:
For all those
who in time of
war went down
to the sea in
Ships – Giving
their lives
that we might
live.
Thanks be to God.

Right plaque :
For all those
who guarded
our homes from
the manifold
perils of the Air
and won for us
the Freedom of
the Skies.
Thanks be to God.

On the floor :
Remember with honour the men and women of County Durham of all services and all ranks who served in the war 1939-1945 and give thanks
for the courage and constancy of those whose task was to endure +

Stained glass window of a single light.

Four angels look up to heaven.

Below them ?Archangel Gabriel looks down on a view of the Cathedral and the industrial chimneys of Durham at the bottom.

Beneath him a large black eagle supports a kneeling airman who is being received into Paradise.

There are cherubim and seraphim above in gold and red.

At the foot of the window are the words
“As birds flying
So shall the Lord of Hosts protect Jerusalem”.

Below the window, set into the arcade, are three tall plaques.

Each has a rope carved border.

These commemorate the three services, each with the appropriate badge at the top, and “Thanks be to God” at the bottom.

Left plaque, 60 inches high x 18 inches wide (152cms x 46cms), has a flat top and carries the Army badge;
centre plaque, 70 inches high x 18 inches wide (179cms x 46cms), has an arched top bearing the Navy badge;
right plaque is flat topped, 60 inches high x 18 inches wide (152cms x 46cms), bearing the badge of the RAF.

Running along the base of the whole memorial is a stone 12 feet long (3.7m) which carries a general dedication.

Lettering is in red Roman capitals.

1. The Sunderland Echo 08/04/1948 reports:-
The Duke of Gloucester said – Let the Memorial be unveiled. The wall tablet to the Royal Navy on an archway beneath the RAF window was unveiled by Rear Admiral Sir Wellwood Maxwell. General Sir Montagu Stopford G.O.C. in C. Northern Command unveiled the tablet to the Army. Then came the most inspiring moment Air Marshal Sir James Robb unveiled the wall tablet for the R.A.F. then touched the cord which withdrew the curtain covering the memorial window. The Mayor of Durham Coun. H.C. Ferens unveiled the tablet -Remember with honour the men and women of County Durham of all services and all ranks who served in the war 1939-1945 and give thanks for the courage and constancy of those whose task was to endure.

2. Pevsner describes the window as “painfully obtrusive”.

3. The window refers to the link between Durham, Rome and Jerusalem, in that they were each built on seven hills.

4. There is supposed to be a connection with the “Baedecker” raid on Durham, allegedly foiled by fog on the Wear, but confirmation is needed.

Photos: John and Mavis Dixon; James Pasby

Durham County Advertiser
9/4/1948 reports unveiling

Durham Town and Country
Autumn 1998 tells the story of St Cuthbert and the Bombers

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail
09/04/1948 reports unveiling.
(Available on The British Newspaper Archive)

Sunderland Echo
30/01/1948 announces Duke of Gloucester’s visit;
08/04/1948 reports unveiling with photographs.
(Available on The British Newspaper Archive)

Friends of Durham Cathedral
15th Annual Report 1947-48

Battle of Britain Week 1949: A Souvenir Published by Bishop Auckland Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association.

Buildings of Durham Pevsner.

Sources of quotations:
“As birds flying . . .” Isaiah 31 v5;
“For all those who in time of war went down to the sea in ships” Based on Psalm 107 v 23;

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
Ann Heywood (Chapter Steward);
Ron Carson;
Errol Broomfield;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Staff at the Cathedral;
Dorothy Hall

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