Summary

First World War memorial, 1920.

Description

The memorial cross is located in the grounds of the Church of St Anne (Grade II), Sale Moor, Manchester. The freestanding memorial is situated within a grassy rose garden to the north-east side of the church.

The stone cross is c 4m in height and is made of Aberdeen granite. A carved wreath of laurel leaves is suspended over the head of the cross and in the centre of the wreath, palms are displayed. The cross stands on an octagonal plinth, raised on a two-stepped octagonal base. The foot of the cross shaft is detailed with four scrolled feet.

The plinth’s side and rear panels are inscribed with the names of the fallen and the front three faces bear the inscription OUR/ FALLEN/ HEROES/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED IN LOVING MEMORY/ OF THE MEMBERS OF ST ANNE'S CHURCH, SALE/ WHOSE NAMES ARE INSCRIBED HEREON WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES TO DEFEND THE BRITISH EMPIRE IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-1919/ “THEY COUNTED NOT THEIR LIVES DEAR UNTO THEMSELVES.”

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, 30 January 2017.

History

Dedicated to those 68 parishioners who fell in the First World War, the memorial cross at the Church of St Anne was unveiled on 19 June 1920 by the Bishop of Chester. The memorial was designed, free of charge, by Herbert Harold Brown FRIBA of Manchester. It cost c £300 to make. In his address, the vicar, Reverend N V Scorer, explained the architect’s intention for the cross to stand out as the emblem of sacrifice, with the laurel wreath and palms as a “permanent offering of gratitude to the dear ones who fought and gave their lives in the Great War”.

Herbert Brown FRIBA (b 1876) was articled to John Macnamara of Altrincham in 1889. He studied at Manchester School of Art and went into private practice in 1905.

Reasons for Listing

The war memorial cross at the Church of St Anne, which stands in the churchyard, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the First World War;
* Architectural interest: for the unusual combination of symbols in a well-proportioned memorial;
* Group value: with the Church of St Anne (Grade II-listed).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677953

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.

Recommended Books

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  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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