St Michael's Parishioners' War Memorial

St Michael's Parishioners War Memorial, Shrewsbury, Former church of St Michael's, Crewe Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2HQ

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Overview

A churchyard war memorial, dating from July 1921, of limestone. The monument takes the form of a sculpted Calvary set in a Gothic arch with a rectangular base and plinth. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452332
Date first listed:: 08-Dec-2017
List Entry Name:: St Michael's Parishioners' War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Michael's Parishioners War Memorial, Shrewsbury, Former church of St Michael's, Crewe Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2HQ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452332
Date first listed:: 08-Dec-2017
List Entry Name:: St Michael's Parishioners' War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Michael's Parishioners War Memorial, Shrewsbury, Former church of St Michael's, Crewe Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2HQ

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: St Michael's Parishioners War Memorial, Shrewsbury, Former church of St Michael's, Crewe Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2HQ

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Shropshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Shrewsbury
National Grid Reference:: SJ4971013618

Summary

A churchyard war memorial, dating from July 1921, of limestone. The monument takes the form of a sculpted Calvary set in a Gothic arch with a rectangular base and plinth.

Reasons for Designation

The St Michael's Parishioners' War Memorial, Shrewsbury War Memorial, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial, which takes the form of a Calvary.

Group value:

* with the former Church of St Michael, Shrewsbury (Grade II).

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. The memorial was erected, in the words of the parish priest, ‘not to benefit the dead, but to benefit the living throughout many generations’. The monument was unveiled on 24 July 1921 by Brigadier General AHO Lloyd, and the dedication was performed by Archdeacon HAS Lambart.

Details

A churchyard war memorial, dating from July 1921.

MATERIALS: of limestone.

DESCRIPTION: the monument takes the form of a sculpted Calvary set in a Gothic arch with a rectangular base and plinth.

The monument faces south-east. The Calvary has a gabled head with projecting moulded coping. Set within this gable is a pointed Gothic arch which holds the sculpted Crucifixion. A steeply raking chamfer below this is inscribed with the words ‘LEAVING US / AN / EXAMPLE’. At the top of the cross is a carved scroll with the initials ‘INRI’. Below the arch is inscribed ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF THESE / CONNECTED WITH THIS PARISH / WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1919 / FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS HAVE CAUSED THIS TO BE ERECTED’.

The base has a steeply sloping top, on which are sculpted representations of a soldier’s helmet and a rifle. Below this the names of the fallen are inscribed on the front and flanks of the base, with the initials ‘RIP’ inscribed at the centre at the bottom. The rectangular plinth forms an apron in front of the monument.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 11 January 2018.

Sources

Websites
IWM war memorial register, accessed 08/11/2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/14009
War Memorials Online, accessed 11 January 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/109802

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.