Memorial

Stained Glass Window 1914-18, 1939-45 Newgate Primitive Methodist

Barnard Castle

Memorial Name: Stained Glass Window 1914-18, 1939-45 Newgate Primitive Methodist (B135.13)

NEWMP Ref No.: B135.13

Parish: Barnard Castle

Original Location:

Newgate Primitive Church (Demolished)

Present Location:

Trinity Methodist Church, Scar Top.

On right hand side.

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Abbot & Co. Lancaster, presumably for 1914-18 window.

Inscription:

a.
In loving memory of the young men of this church
who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-1918
“They were a wall unto us both by night and by day”.

b.
1939-1945
“Greater love hath no man
than this, that he should lay
down his life for his friends”.
“Well done thou
good and faithful
servant”

Memorial Description:

Originally a stained glass window of four lights. Now two windows of two lights, in a rather complicated format, using a mixture of Art Deco and Gothic styles.

Left hand window:
Left hand light (1939-45) shows Christ crowning a knight who has slain a dragon.
Beneath it are the words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” in Roman capitals.

Right hand light (1914-18) (In Gothic style) depicts an angel with red wings welcoming a knight.
Beneath it is the text “So they passed over, & all the trumpets / sounded for them on the other side” in black Gothic capitals.

Right hand window is more Art Deco style.
There are no pictures, just the wording at the bottom.
Left hand light (1939-45) has a panel at the bottom bearing the quotation “Greater love hath no man / than this, that he should lay / down his life for his friends”.
Beneath this are the six names from 1939-45.

Right hand light (1914-18)
“In loving memory of the men of this Church / who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-1919” in black Roman capitals.

Below this is: “They were a wall unto us both by night and day” which is in italics.

Below this is a row of four panels bearing the 10 names in Roman capitals on a black background.

Names:

a. 10 full names.
b. 6 full names.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. The Newgate Primitive Methodist Church was built in 1887. It united with the Wesleyan Methodist in 1974 and became Barnard Castle Methodist Church, using the Wesleyan building. The Newgate Church (NZ 054164) building was demolished and furnishings from it were installed in the former Wesleyan (Galgate Methodist) Church.

2. Following the closure of the building, the window was transferred. It could not fit into its new location in exactly the same way it had appeared in its former location. It had to be split into two windows, each of two lights. The left hands light were reformed to commemorate 1939-45, the right hand lights commemorate 1914-18.

Sources:

Photos: Jim Sewell; John and Mavis Dixon

Church guide

Source of quotation
“They were a wall unto us . . .” 1 Samuel XXV 15, 16;
“Greater love hath no man . . .” adapted from St. John 15 v13.
“So they passed over . . .” Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan.
“Well done, thou good & faithful servant” : Matthew 25 v 21.