Devonshire Street Congregational Church War Memorial
This memorial is considered ‘lost’ by the Imperial War Museum. However, they only know what they have been told from information which probably originated here in Keighley. We think this memorial is one of those stored with Cliffe Castle Museum and it is the one pictured here, which was photographed by our Project Director Ian Walkden in 2010.
Currently it is listed as an ‘unknown’ with Cliffe Castle Museum but we can now confidently say it is from Devonshire Street Church.
The inscription:
IN MEMORIAM
To the men of this church who served their country and in proud and grateful memory of the following who gave their lives in the Great War.
| Clifford H. Abbott Norman Barber Herbert Booth Edgar Chapman Asa Craven John Dixon |
William Driver Benjamin Graham Herbert Keighley Herbert F. Maltby Kenneth Ogston George Woollard |
1914 – 1918
Unveiling ceremony:
This took place on Sunday 23rd January 1921 and the write up was featured in the next issue of the local newspaper:
Keighley News, 29th January 1921:
A KEIGHLEY WAR MEMORIAL.
TABLET UNVEILED AT DEVONSHIRE STREET CHURCH.
An impressive ceremony took place at the Devonshire Street Congregational Church on Sunday evening after the evening service, when Mr. W. A. Brigg veiled a tablet placed in the church in memory of those who fell in the war and those who served in the war. On the tablet, which is of Austrian oak, are inscribed the names of the following twelve who lost their lives in the war: Clifford H. Abbott, Norman Barber, Herbert Booth, Edgar Chapman, Asa Craven, John Dixon, William Driver, Benjamin Graham, Herbert Keighley, Herbert F. Maltby, Kenneth Ogston, and George Woollard. The memorial is emblematic of war and peace, the names being inscribed in the centre. It has been designed by Mr. Ernest Gill, formerly of Keighley.
THE GARLAND OF IMMORTALITY.
There was a good congregation, including a number of soldiers relatives. In opening the proceedings the Rev. J. Vivian Davies said that when they thought of those who went out with such noble sacrifice and perished in the trenches and were far away in nameless graves, it was a mistake to say “They will never return.” They never really left, pointed out the pastor, for their bright spirits remained and still tenanted the hearts of those who loved them. “In fact, they remained with us, he added, from the day we bade them farewell in all the fervent glory of their young manhood.” Age could not wrinkle their brows, nor mar the youthful gladness of their faces. You saw them as they left. Sickness could not despoil them; they lived imperishable, and were crowned with the garland of immortality” When one looked around, scars, the result of war, could be seen left upon the nation. Men suffered from all kinds of injuries. Every father and mother who had lost a son, every wife who had lost a husband, ever girl who had lost a lover – in them England was wounded – the wounds that were hardest to bear. They (his hearers) sympathised when these things had happened, but they felt that at every home rejoiced and kept on rejoicing in the safe return of the soldier boys, their agony and suffering must have been indescribable at times. For those, one sympathised. However, it was said with a great deal of truth that time worked wonders, and men would soon be in their places who would scarcely remember, the horrors, the agonies, and the suffering and sacrifices of the war. That time was not yet, however, and “our wisdom is to commemorate the services of those whose lives have been spared, and the noble sacrifice of those who have fallen,” proceeded Mr. Davies.
“In spite of all these services and these sacrifices, we still have our sins – wicked wastefulness, wicked luxuries, and for these our best prayer is that self-indulgence, and wicked ese our best prayer is that God will punish us and give us grace to bear it.” But people had still their Christian ideals. “The voice from the immortal speaks to us tonight” in tones loud, clear, and penetrating; they come to the very heart and into the soul of us,” concluded the pastor.
UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD.
Mr. W. A. Brigg in unveiling the tablet, said it had a two-fold character. It was in commemoration of the of the Devonshire Street Congregation who took part in the Great War, and it also served as a memorial for those who gave their lives. The war, in which they took part, was one which was forced upon the nation. It was not of our seeking, and when it broke out we could do no other but take our part. The youth of the country nobly responded to the call, and those whose lives had been spared knew what it meant. It would be idle and impertinent on my part” said the speaker, “to enlarge upon what your experiences have been. You will remember them long as you live, and we shall remember your services as long as we live.
Mr. Brigg read the names of those who had fallen, and proceeding said, “We can only thank them for their bright youth, for their former presence here, for their services, and we shall miss them from among us. They would be thought of in the future with feelings of deep sorrow and regret and to their families they (his hearers) could extend their heartfelt sympathy. What of those bright visions of universal peace and universal brotherhood we nourished at the beginning of the war? he asked. It was for us to search our hearts to see whether we were worthy or whether we should prove worthy of that great sacrifice which all that glorious, immortal band of youth made for this country and for civilisation.
Mr. E. T. Dewhirst, on behalf of the returned men, also spoke.
Note:
William Anderton Brigg had been Mayor of Keighley, serving continuously for three of the war years.
This memorial is stored with Cliffe Castle Museum and is the Devonshire Street Congregational Church memorial.
Imperial War Museum -information:
The church building was demolished in 1964. Fate of memorial unknown.
Physical description:
Austrian Oak board, First World War (1914-1918)
Names on memorial: Died 12.
The church was demolished in 1964 and the fate of the memorial is unknown
Ceremonies – Date: C. 29TH JANUARY 1921. Unveiling role performed by
Local clergy and dignitaries
Craftsmen: Mr Ernest Gill, designer.
Comments: REF: KEIGHLEY NEWS, 29-JAN-1921.
© WMR-28945
Photograph by Ian Walkden
Transcription of newspaper account by Andy Wade.
