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Bethesda Chapel
Town or City: Stoke-on-Trent
County: Staffordshire
Country: England
WMT Reference Number: WM5897
Value of grant: £447.00
Type of memorial: Non-Freestanding
Type of work: Restoration
Grant scheme: Small Grants Scheme
Year: 2013
UKNIWM reference number: 000000
This memorial consists of a glass roll of honour which lists the rank, name and force of the members of the Bethesda congregation who were killed whilst serving during World War I. The lettering has been reverse painted in gold leaf onto the glass and overlaid onto a black background. The memorial was framed in a slim timber frame and was located in the vestry above the door of the chapel. Bethesda Chapel closed in 1985, and it was during this time that the war memorial was destroyed by trespassers in the church.
In 2012, War Memorials Trust offered a grant of £447 towards the re-creation of the destroyed memorial. Unfortunately, as large pieces of the memorial were missing it was not possible to re-create it using the remaining fragments so a replica was made through the use of historic photographs and the retained pieces which ensured the correct size of the lettering and scale of the memorial plaque. From this the contractor was able to accurately reproduce the gilt lettering and the patterns on the glass. The fragments of the original memorial have been retained and displayed in the chapel alongside the new memorial for reference.
The memorial was created in 1919, along with two Rolls of Honour, which were put up next to the memorial within the chapel. At this time, a stained glass window was also created within the chapel, which is named “Dawn of Peace” and depicts an Angel heralding in the dawn of peace and the triumph of righteousness. It also shows a kneeling armoured figure holding a shield of peace and sword of victory. The money for the memorials and roll of honour were from left over funding from comfort parcels which were being sent to the serving soldiers by the residents of Bethesda during the war.
Further information
War Memorials Trust reference WM5897
UK National Inventory of War Memorials:
War Memorials Online: WMO129273
If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org