Memorial Title

Matlock United Methodist Church - WW1

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a WW1 war memorial tablet for the United Methodist Church at Matlock, Derbyshire.

Images

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.
Further images may be available on request.

Locations

Last known location: Matlock Methodist and United Reformed Church 1 Oak Rd Matlock Bank Derbyshire	Nearest postcode: DE4 3FJ NGR: SK 30116 60426 (From online digital mapping.) (Map opens in new window.)	Location details: The church is on the south side of Oak Rd at the junction with Bank Rd. The tablet is not mounted but is inside, in the Worship Centre. It was placed on the window cill for photography.

Previous location: Former Matlock United Methodist Church Imperial Rd Matlock Bank Derbyshire	Nearest postcode: DE4 3NL NGR: SK 29846 60358 (From online digital mapping.) (Map opens in new window.)	Location details: The church building is on the northern side of Imperial Road but is now a community centre. The location of the memorial is not known.

Type

Overall type: Tablet

Overall condition: Fair. The inscription is legible and the tablet is cared for.

Description:

A nowy-headed white marble tablet. It has rounded corners and a rebated border and bears an incised inscription in different styles of lettering infilled in black.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Tablet	Marble	455	505	20	Fair
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

In Loving Memory

PTE. FREDERICK CROFT,

OF THE 17TH. BATTN NOTTS & DERBYS RGT

WHO FELL IN FRANCE ON SEPT. 3RD. 1916.

ALSO OF PTE. WALTER ALLEN,

OF THE 11TH. BATTN NOTTS & DERBYS RGT

WHO FELL IN FRANCE ON APRIL 28. 1917.

AGED 20 YEARS.

"THEY COUNTED NOT THEIR LIVES DEAR

UNTO THEM THAT THEY MIGHT SHEILD OTHER

LIVES."

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	First World War (1914-1918)	Totals
Action or event	Not stated
Number died	2	2
Number served and returned	0	0
Total names	2	2

Administration

Custodian: Presumed to be the administrators of the Matlock Methodist and United Reformed Church

Local authorities:
From WW1: Matlock Parish Council; Matlock Urban District Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1974: Matlock Town Council; Derbyshire Dales District Council; Derbyshire County Council.

History and Conservation

Unknown date c1920: The tablet was installed in Matlock United Methodist Church, presumably wall mounted.

c1966: The United Methodist church closed and the tablet was salvaged. The damage to the upper corners may have ocurred at that time.

Unknown date: The tablet was placed in the Trinity Methodist Church.

August 1986: The Matlock Bank Conservation Area was first designated. The Matlock Methodist and United Reformed Church lies within it.

1990: Trinity Methodist Church combined with the United Methodist Church and was renamed the Matlock Methodist and United Reformed Church.

9th February, 2020: The memorial was surveyed by Roy Branson. It was in fair condition and cared for. There were, however, some areas of damage: the top left corner had been chipped; the top right corner was broken off; the letter L in the first line had been defaced by drilling and the black colouring was lost; small patches of black infill were missing from several areas of the lettering.

References

Piper, Alan; Pers Comm; 27th December 2019: email providing information on the memorial.

Website: Matlock Methodist and United Reformed Church http://www.mmurc.org.uk/Prayer%20&%20Community.htm consulted in February 2020.

Website: The Andrews Pages regarding Matlock Methodist and United Reformed Church https://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/mi/mi_meth_unref.htm consulted in February 2020.

Website: The Andrews Pages regarding Matlock United Methodist Church https://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/churches.htm#umc consulted in February 2020.

Comments

The Andrews Pages (referenced above) state that the memorial was relocated by Ken Lescure.

Thanks to Michael Haynes who facilitated access to the church and assisted with the recording of the memorial.

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