Christ Church War Memorial, Reading

Outside Christ Church, Christchurch Road, Reading, RG2 7AR

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial, erected in 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1453033
Date first listed:: 26-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Christ Church War Memorial, Reading
Statutory Address:: Outside Christ Church, Christchurch Road, Reading, RG2 7AR

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1453033
Date first listed:: 26-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Christ Church War Memorial, Reading
Statutory Address 1:: Outside Christ Church, Christchurch Road, Reading, RG2 7AR

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:: Outside Christ Church, Christchurch Road, Reading, RG2 7AR

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

District:: Reading (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: SU7220572194

Summary

First World War memorial, erected in 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Christ Church War Memorial, erected in 1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the First World War.

Group value:

* with the adjacent Grade II*-listed Christ Church, Reading.

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Christ Church, Reading, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was erected in 1920 and was paid for by public subscription.

Details

First World War memorial erected in 1920.

MATERIALS: granite.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a cross, which stands upon a large plinth with a plaque fixed to the front face, which reads TO THE HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919. There is an associated plaque inside the church, on the wall of the south aisle, which lists the names of the Fallen.

Sources

Websites
The Imperial War Museum’s War Memorials Register, accessed 7 December 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/65740

Legal

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