Kirk Merrington War Memorial

The tall granite memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St John the Evangelist (Grade II*-listed). It takes the form of a small Latin cross rising from a tall obelisk, square on plan. The obelisk stands on the pedimented top of the pedestal. The pedestal’s moulded base stands on a base of two steps. The whole is enclosed by railings carried on a stone kerb.

The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the pedestal reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN UNDYING MEMORY OF/ THE MEN/ OF MERRINGTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918./ AND THE WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945. Below, on the front face of the pedestal’s base, is inscribed “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.”

The First World War names are listed on one face of the pedestal with below on the base REQUIESCAT IN PACE. On the opposing face, below the dates 1939 – 1945 inscribed on the pedestal’s pediment, the seven Second World War names are listed. Under these, on the pedestal’s base, is inscribed “THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.”

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 23 November 2017.