War memorial at the Church of St John the Evangelist, City of Westminster, London

Entry Name: War memorial at the Church of St John the Evangelist

Listing Date: 23 November 2015

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1430999

ID on this website: 101430999

Location: Paddington, Westminster, London, W2

County: London

District: City of Westminster

Electoral Ward/Division: Hyde Park

Parish: Non Civil Parish

Built-Up Area: City of Westminster

Traditional County: Middlesex

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Greater London

Church of England Parish: St John Evan Hyde Park Crescent

Church of England Diocese: London

Tagged with: Celtic cross War memorial

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Summary

First World War memorial.

Description

The memorial stands outside the north aisle of the Church of St John the Evangelist (Grade II-listed), at the west end, within the churchyard. It comprises a tall granite wheel-head cross rising from a tapering, rectangular, shaft. That stands on a tapering stepped plinth, which is placed on a low, square, step. The memorial is approached by a narrow paved path leading from the main pavement.

Applied in metal letters to the foot of the cross shaft are the dates 1914 – 1919. Below, on the front face of the plinth, the principal dedication reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN WHO, BY GODS GRACE VICTORIOUS/ FOUGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND DIED/ THAT THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM AND RIGHT MIGHT TRIUMPH/ AND MORE PARTICULARLY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHOSE NAMES ARE INSCRIBED HEREUNDER./ (30 NAMES). The front of the low step bears the inscription DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 10 February 2017.

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. One such memorial was raised to commemorate those men of the parish of St John the Evangelist, Hyde Park, who had died or who went missing during the conflict. Thirty names are recorded on the memorial, arranged alphabetically in two columns.

Reasons for Listing

The war memorial situated beside the Church of St John the Evangelist, Hyde Park Crescent, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic Interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the church congregation, and the sacrifice it made in the First World War;
* Architectural interest: a simple, yet dignified, granite Celtic cross;
* Group Value: with the Grade II-listed Church of St John the Evangelist.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.