Stained Glass Window and Plaque 1914-18 Congregational

Congregational Church, Ocean Road (Demolished)

Unknown

1914-18

Unveiled Sunday September 12th 1920 at 6.30 p.m. by Harrison Reid, Esq.,
dedicated by Rev. E. Johnson Saxton, Moderator of the North-Eastern Province of the Congregational Union.

Plaque made by Messrs. Dennis Bros., South Shields.
Designed by  Philip B. Bennison, A.R.C.A. of Hartlepool.

On plaque:
These two windows and this tablet
are dedicated to
the Glory of God and in loving memory
of the
Members of this Church and Congregation
who died for their Country during
The Great War 1914-1918

Two stained glass windows, depicting Christ the Good Shepherd, a knight of the Red Cross, medieval reformers, and fighting men from the Great War.
See Note 1 below.

There is a plaque bearing the dedication.

1. Description of windows taken from Unveiling Programme:
“The subject panels embody a processional scheme representing and symbolising the martyrdom associated with the various epochs throughout the traditions of Christianity. The processional arrangement is headed by a panel containing the figure of ‘The Good Shepherd’. followed by a knight of the Red Cross and characteristic figures of medieval reformers. The fourth panel is a representative depicture of ‘Our Boys’ who made the supreme sacrifice. There are those who feel the loss of their loved ones and the circumstances of their death likened to the self-sacrifice of Martyred Saints, and when one thinks of youth cut down in the full vigour of life’s aspirations and possibilities, the thought manifested in the Memorial Windows might be expressed in the words ‘Make them to be numbered with The Saints in glory everlasting’”.

Photos of Unveiling Programme: James Pasby

Northern Echo
15/09/1920 reports unveiling.

Shields Daily Gazette
14/09/1920 reports unveiling.

Tyne and Wear Archives
Unveiling programme: Ref: 1115/62

James Pasby;
Tyne and Wear Archives;
Dorothy Hall;
Michael Mulhern