Memorial details

Memorial type
Chapel: Dedicated within church building
District
City Of Edinburgh
Town
Edinburgh
County
Lothian
Country
Scotland
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918)
Ceremony
  • Dedicated
    Date: 1921
    Attended by:
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
88948

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Current location

5
St Cuthbert's Church
Lothian Road
Edinburgh
City Of Edinburgh
Lothian
EH1 2EP
Scotland

OS Grid Ref: NT 24844 73612
Denomination: Church of Scotland

View location on Google Maps
Description
Chapel at the west end of the church, at a lower level than the Church, built in the vestibule of the old church which had been otherwise demolished in the 1890's. Arrangements for access need to be made as it is usually locked. The Chapel is used by the Ministers to prepare for Communion and for small ceremonies, including the wedding of the author, Agatha Christie. It has marble walls and floors and a gilded tile apse. The apse has a small communion table with a St Cuthbert's cross on the front panel and a stained glass window of the Crucifixion. On the south window is the life of St Cuthbert (both windows by Douglas Strachan). In the 4 corners of the chapel are marble representations of the four evangelists- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John- Matthew is an angel, Mark is a lion, Luke is an ox and John is an eagle. At each side of the chancel are two painted tiles- to the right is St George, to the left is an angel, probably the Archangel Gabriel. Other Tiles on the walls are a St Andrew's Cross and a Celtic Cross. There is a marble dedication tablet and a valedictory tablet below. There are 4 biblical quotation tablet on the walls each with a brass laurel wreath above. The names are on 19 smaller size and 12 larger size marble tablets, each with 5 names (the 1st and last of the large ones have 6 names)- 1 of which, Helena S Bennet, one of which is a woman- of the QAIMNS.
Inscription
Dedication- TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY/OF THE MEN OF ST CUTHBERT'S WHO/FELL IN THE WAR MCMXIV-MCMXVIII/THIS CHAPEL IS DEDICATED/GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS Valediction-THEIT BODIES ARE BURIED IN PEACE, BUT THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE Quote 1-THIS GOD IS OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER: /HE WILL BE OUR GUIDE EVEN UNTO DEATH Quote 2-THINE EYES SHALL SEE THE KING IN HIS BEAUTY:/THEY SHALL BEHOLD THE LAND THAT IS VERY FAR OFF Quote 3-WHETHER WE LIVE, THEREFORE, OR DIE/WE ARE THE LORD'S Quote 4-HE ASKED FOR LIFE OF THEE AND THOU GAVEST IT HIM,/EVEN LENGTH OF DAYS FOR EVER AND EVER
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Abernethy, William
Aitchison, T F
Aitken, W N
Alexander, James
Alexander, W L
Allan, David G
Allan, Robert C
Archman, Thomas
Arnott, Robert L I
Banks, Charles J
See details for all 152 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 157
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 157
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames
    Order of information: surname THEN forename
Components
  • Tablet
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble
  • Tablet
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble
  • Detail
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble
  • Detail
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble
  • Tablet
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Brass
  • Detail
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble
  • Plaques / Panels with names
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble
  • Plaques / Panels with names
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Gold
  • Lettering
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Lead
  • Lettering
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble
  • Altar
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble
  • Wall
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stained Glass
  • Window
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
  • Chapel
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Undefined
Condition
Costs

Memorial: About £3700

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Details: Instead of fundraising in the normal way where people contributed to a pot of money collected by a committee, the price of each item of the chapel was itemised and then everyone in the congregation could pay for something which they could afford. Each tile and letter of church architect Peter MacGregor Chamber’s design had a price. The lead lettering used in the names was 1s 6d per character for example. This way anyone from a rich or poor background could feel personally involved and when they visited the chapel they could see their contribution in front of them.
Reference

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-88948

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