CHRIST CHURCH PARISHIONERS WW1

Typical lost and blistering paint on statue of St Andrew - Taken by Christ Church PCC 03 Nov 2017

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Typical lost and blistering paint on statue of St Patrick - Taken by Christ Church PCC 03 Nov 2017

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Worn lettering in places - here almost illegible - Taken by Christ Church PCC 03 Nov 2017

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Gilding on lower rail worn away back to the wood - Taken by Christ Church PCC 03 Nov 2017

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This small cleaning test to the gilding shows just how much ingrained dirt there is - Taken by Christ Church PCC 03 Nov 2017

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Paint losses on figure of St Patrick - Taken by Christ Church PCC 03 Nov 2017

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WW1 wall-mounted memorial at Christ Church in Oxton, Birkenhead - Taken by Christ Church Birkenhead Parochial Church Council 09 Nov 2017

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Inscriptions on War Memorial - Taken by Parochial Church Council of Christ Church Birkenhead 09 Nov 2017

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Context of memorial within church nave - Taken by Parochial Church Council of Christ Church Birkenhead 09 Nov 2017

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Close-up of the four patron saints of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland - Taken by Parochial Church Council of Christ Church Birkenhead 10 Nov 2017

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Memorial after cleaning/conservation work - Taken by Christ Church PCC 12 Sep 2018

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Memorial after cleaning/conservation work - Taken by Christ Church PCC 12 Sep 2018

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Memorial after cleaning/conservation work - Taken by Christ Church PCC 12 Sep 2018

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Memorial after cleaning/conservation work - Taken by Christ Church PCC 12 Sep 2018

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Memorial after cleaning/conservation work - Taken by Christ Church PCC 12 Sep 2018

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Memorial after cleaning/conservation work - Taken by Christ Church PCC 12 Sep 2018

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Reference WMO/171070

Address:

Christ Church

Bessborough Road

Oxton

Prenton

CH43 5SF

England

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In 2018, WMT gave a grant towards this war memorial. As it has been a number of years since the grant was given, we would like an up-to-date condition survey and photographs to be added to this war memorial record. Can you help?

Status: On original site

Type: Non freestanding

Location: Internal

Setting: Attached to a building/structure

Description: Other church fitting

Materials:

Timber Timber (any)

Lettering: Painted

About the memorial: An elaborate and large wooden wall mounted structure with carved and coloured figures of the four patron saints of the United Kingdom in alcoves separated by columns.Above them is an intrically carved borders and tops to the four parts of the structure. Below them are plaques containg the WW1 names and below them the dedication. All parts of the memorial are embellished in a golden colour.

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Condition Level:

Comments:

Given that a significant amount of paintwork is lost or unstable, and one inscription in particular has become almost illegible, in some respects the overall condition is "poor" rather than "fair" in terms of the WMT guidelines.  The memorial is certainly "poor" in terms of its current shabby appearance to the general observer.  No deterioration since November 2017 when the PCC obtained a detailed Conservation Report from a professional conservator.  The report was based on a close survey of the memorial from a scaffolding tower specially erected for the purpose.  This close inspection showed that the memorial was in a much worse condition than it appeared from a ground survey.  The four saint figures have lost a significant amount of paint due to blistering.  Although the cause of the blistering appears to stem from the way the paint was initially applied in 1920, there is an urgent need to consolidate the damaged paintwork before more is lost, and to replace the paintwork which has already been lost.  The paint and gilding has suffered from much ingrained dirt (smoke damage in 1925, major bomb damage to the church in WW2 and large-scale building work in the church in 1992) requiring specialist cleaning by a conservator.  The gilding on the lower rail has been worn almost completely off.  The PCC is particularly concerned that the inscriptions have become worn in places.  The church had a new roof in 1992 following long-term water ingress and rot problems throughout the building.  No damp or rot problems since then, so the environment is dry and stable.  The PCC are now very much hoping to have the memorial repaired and appropriately cleaned in 2018 so that it is a truly fitting tribute to the people commemorated on it, particularly in view of the many commemoration events planned at Christ Church in late 2018.

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Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.

Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.

If you believe your project is eligible for a grant you should complete the Pre-application enquiry form. You will need to be registered and logged in to complete this.

The Pre-application enquiry form is a series of questions to see if your project is eligible. If it is, you will need to provide further details and submit current colour photographs of the war memorial in either a png, gif, jpg or jpeg format.

You can save your Pre-application enquiry form as you go along. Once submitted War Memorials Trust will respond.

Please be aware that a summary of your enquiry, without your contact details, will appear on this page once submitted. This ensures others are aware that an enquiry has been made and can read the response to avoid duplicate enquiries. Information provided by you to us will be used for the purpose of managing the grant enquiry, for further details please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

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Inscription:

In memory of the men of Christ Church Claughton who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-18. Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory.

Names:

Samuel Acton, William Atkinson, Robert Baird, Harry Barlow, Herbert Barnett, J. Gordon Bean, James W. Beattie, Norman Bell, Frank Bunnell, Arthur Calvert, Percy C. Christian, John Cottam, Reginald A. Cotterell, Harold Crosby, T. Stanley Davies, Thomas Ernest Dobson, Charles Dunning, Harry Dutton, Robert Edwards, Percy Ellwood, John Thomas Evans, A. Rowland Eynott, Charles H. Fairlclough, Edward George, Harold W. Green, William Groom, William Holt, Albert Hughes, David Hughes, Douglas M. Hutchins, Bertram Jones, William Henry Jones, Walter Leadbetter, Charles A. Lewis, Leonard Malley, Robin Morland, George Ernest Oliver, John L. Y. Ottley, Donald Peers, Thomas Penney, W. Roy Pickthall, Walter Croker Poole, William C. Poole, Alexander S. Robinson, Thomas Seagrave, Ralph Seward, Ronald Simpson, John Smethurst, Frank Smith, Walter Smith, William Starkey, John Alex Threlfall, Charles Todd, John Topham, John Edgelow Wace, Frank Wilson, Frank Wolstenholme, George Wolstenholme, Thomas Youds, James Boote

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Listing grade:

Fixtures and Fittings

Listing URL:

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1217877

Unique listing reference number:

1217877

Conservation area:

Oxton Village Conservation Area

Local list / Historic environment record:

Information Required

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Custodian name:

Christ Church Birkenhead Parochial Church Council

Custodian website:

http://christchurchbirkenhead.net/