The Memorial Tablet

The Story

This coppered-bronze Memorial Tablet is now mounted in St. George’s Chapel, in the alcove to the right of the nave pulpit. It measures 30(w) x 28(h) inches. It was originally installed on the wooden Shrine which still (c.2016) stands at the Church Street entrance to the churchyard. The Tablet was moved into the Church in 1993, as the Shrine was falling into disrepair. Sixty-nine men of the war dead of the parish and congregation are recorded upon it. Biographical details are given via tab below. The idea of a war memorial Shrine had been announced at the Annual Parish Vestry Meeting of 12th April 1917. The Vicar (The Rev. Canon P.F. Tindall) reported that he had been approached by the Mayor Sir Stephen Penfold and other townsmen about the erection of a Shrine to the memory of those men of the parish who had fallen in the war. Sir Stephen’s son Lieutenant Jeffrey Penfold had been killed on 28th January 1916. The Vicar had already received several designs by the meeting date, none of which had suited him. But a “London man” had sent a design “much more in accordance with what [the Vicar] thought it ought to be”, and it was submitted to the meeting for approval. Its estimated cost was £73 to £75, which was met by subscription. The Mayor and Rev.
Tindall each subscribed 5 guineas.