St John The Evangelist Church Sidcup

THE MEMORIAL CHAPEL

We have now reached the (War) Memorial Chapel on our journey down the north side of the church. The Chapel was designed by George F. Fellowes-Piynne, F. R. I. B. A., the architect who had previously designed other parts of the present church. The cost of the Chapel was £1,005 10s.2d. (in old money). It was in place by All Saints' Day, 1920. The altar, with adjoining panels bearing the names of those to be commemorated, was dedicated on Sunday, 23rd January, 1921, by the Bishop of Rochester, Bishop Harmer, in the presence of what was described in the parish magazine as "one of the largest congregations St. John's has ever known . . .”

The names of ninety members of the armed forces who lost their lives in the First World War and nineteen names from the Second World War are inscribed on the wooden panels. The figures of the archangels St. Michael and St. Gabriel are carved on each side of the altar.

Electric light was first used in the Chapel for the Remembrance Service on 14th November, 1926.

All the oak pews, except two, were given in memory of former members of St. John's and, although given at different times, were made to the same design.

An oak bench, in keeping with the pews, given by an anonymous donor in memory of two sisters, Annie and Alice Purser, is used as a kneeler at the altar.

The stained glass windows merit mention. The first window is dedicated to the memory of his family by the bequest of Harry Griffin, who died on 3rd April, 1944, and who was "a very devoted member of the church". The window, which was dedicated on 12th October, 1969, portrays John the Baptist as a boy, with his parents, the intention being to remind us of family life. Musical instruments of the same period are shown around the border of the window because of Mr. Griffin's interest in music.

The second window depicts St. John, both as an Apostle and as an Evangelist, and was given by Miss Purser in memory of her sisters, Jessie and Beatrice Purser. It was dedicated on Rogation Sunday, 6th May, 1947, the Patronal Festival.

The third window, which is the work of Sir Ninian Comper (who also designed the East Window and Lady Chapel Window) was dedicated on Remembrance Sunday, 1954. It depicts St. Alban, the first English Martyr. It is of painted, not stained, glass and was given by an anonymous donor in memory of those who fell in the 1939 - 1945 war, and whose names are listed on the memorial panels on top of the oak screen in the Chapel.

The Old Contemptibles' Memorial Tablet in the Chapel was unveiled on Sunday, 8th April, 1951, in the presence of members of the Council, neighbouring branches of the Old Contemptibles' Association and local Ex-Service Associations. The service, with the Trumpeters of the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery in attendance, must have been quite impressive. The Sidcup Branch of the Old Contemptibles was disbanded in 1990 and their Colour is one of those laid up in the Chapel.