Chancel floor Osman 1940 St. Andrew

St. Andrew’s Church, on B1284, west of Houghton le Spring.

On priest’s stall in chancel.

1939-45

Wood blocks.

This wood block floor
given in memory of
James Osman
Lost at sea
19th December 1940.

Chancel floor.

A plaque at the foot of the priest’s stall gives the dedication.

The plaque is very plain, with a white single line border, the lettering in sans serif capitals.

1. “I am fairly familiar with what happened at St Andrew, Chilton Moor, where you will find the oak floor in the Chancel  as a memorial. I was in the choir there when this was fitted, I believe, by Binns Shopfitters of Sunderland. Other work was done about the same time by Binns – a new porch at the West door, a screen around the organ seat, a music cupboard for the choir music for example, however I do not know if any of them were War memorials. There were other items that I can remember – new hymn boards, communion vessels and so on and I suspect that there may be more War Memorials to find at this church but probably only from a perusal of Church records.” Alan Vickers

2. See his Every Name a Story entry

Photos: Richard Sidney

Diocese of Durham
Faculty EP/CM 4/33 dated 22 April 1958.

The Monumental Brasses of County Durham William Lack, H. Martin Stuchfield and Philip Whittemore 2002 ISBN 095 4327101

Dorothy Hall;
Alan Vickers;
Richard Sidney

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