Memorial

Baptistry and Plaque 1914-18 St. Bede R.C.

Bedlington

Memorial Name: Baptistry and Plaque 1914-18 St. Bede R.C. (B15.17)

NEWMP Ref No.: B15.17

Parish: Bedlington

Original Location:

St. Bede’s Roman Catholic Church.

In the lobby.

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Baptistry dedicated and Roll of Honour unveiled March 1924

Materials Used:

Brass

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

The Empire Engraving Coy., Rudyerd St. North Shields.

The Baptistry was designed by Rev. Father Raines, Parish priest.

Inscription:

Of your charity
pray for the souls
of the members
of our parish
who gave their lives in the
1914 Great War 1918.
This baptistry is erected
to their memory by the
congregation of St. Bede’s.
May they rest in peace.

Memorial Description:

Baptistry “is especially pretty” with ceramic tiled floor, “while the baptismal font standing in the centre has also an ornamental design”.

The plaque is of brass with rounded top 38 inches high x 24 inches wide (97cms x 61cms)

There is a wide border round the edge of vine leaves raised in casting on a sunken red background outlined in green.

At centre top is mounted a wood crucifix with a brass figure.

The names are listed in three columns divided by vertical red lines.

The names are underscored by some leaves, with the prayer below.

All lettering is in sans serif capitals for the dedication and lower case Roman for the names.

The name of the makers is at centre bottom.

Names:

26 full names.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. The original church which contained the baptistry was demolished and rebuilt, and the plaque was classed as missing. However, a chance visit many years later saw the memorial in the lobby, placed there by people who discovered it among other items in store.

2. It is thought that the crucifix is not part of the original plaque, and may have been added later.

3. The church had been enlarged to accommodate an increasing congregation. A wall was removed and replaced by pillars which extended the space by 11 feet (3.4m)

Sources:

Photos: J. Brown

Blyth News
03/03/1924 reports unveiling

Morpeth Herald
07/03/1924 reports unveiling.

.Source of quotation
“May they rest in peace” Mass for the Dead