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Memorial Community Church bells

Memorial Community Church is located at 395 Barking Road, Plaistow, London Borough of Newham.  Although this grant related specifically to the memorial bells, the whole Church is also a war memorial. The memorial consists of 10 bells cast with the names of 172 men killed in World War I.  Of these 172 names, 169 had close association with the Church. The Unknown Warrior is named on a bell as is Prince Maurice of Battenberg who was the only member of the royal family killed in the war.  The Church is Grade II listed. 

In 2011, War Memorials Trust gave a grant for £2,500 towards conservation and repair work to the bells. The works undertaken in this project were to clean the bells to remove corrosion and re-enamel; once again making the names fully legible. The work to the bells was undertaken in situ to minimise any risk to the bells; it took five hours to lower the beam holding the first three bells. In addition, areas of repair were undertaken to the bell mechanisms such as the clavier and clappers. The works to the bells were part of a wider project of repairs to the bell tower and to make the belfry accessible.

The Church was opened in 1922 and was originally called ’West Ham Central Mission’.  Fundraising for the Church had begun before World War I but had to be abandoned with the outbreak of war and resumed in 1917, with work commencing in 1921. The foundation stone for the Church notes the building is in memory of those killed.

A report in the ‘Tabernacle Messenger’ in June 1921 notes “We have long wondered how best we could commemorate our noble men who laid down their lives for us. It is proposed to hang a peal of chiming bells in the towers of the new church now being erected. These bells will bear the names of men of the district who fell in the War. The music of the bells will ever remind us of the heroic sacrifice of our men who gave their lives for us.”

The bells were dedicated on 14th March 1925 and made by the bell founders Gillet & Johnston, which interestingly is the same company which undertook the recent repair of the bells. At the dedication of the bells, Mrs Edmondson (whose two sons’ names are included on the bells) commented “We have gathered here to do homage to our glorious dead, and I would like to say how glad I am to have the privilege of unveiling the tablet and ringing the bells to the memory of those who, in the flower of their manhood, poured out the red sweet wine of youth for our sakes, and for our children’s children.”

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM4459
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 12411

Website with information on those named on the bells

The National Heritage List for England

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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