Ebchester War Memorial

The sandstone memorial stands in the churchyard of the church of St Ebba (Grade II*). It takes the form of St Cuthbert’s cross. The cross head is highly ornamented and the front face of the top of the cross shaft is decorated with a carving of St George, mounted, slaying the dragon and encircled by a wreath. Below this the principal dedicatory inscription reads 1914-1918/ TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND TO THE/ HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE FOLLOWING/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR GOD/ HOME AND COUNTRY. Underneath is a small carving of the St Cuthbert cross followed by “GREATER LOVE/ HATH NO MAN/ THAN THIS.”

Reverend Gibson’s coat of arms is carved in relief on the rear face of the cross shaft, presented on a Star of David and wreathed about with a motto. The cross shaft rises from a tapered plinth, square on plan, that stands on a low step. Names are recorded on the front face of the plinth with “THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HANDS OF GOD” carved into the front face of the step below. To the rear of the plinth is inscribed LEST WE FORGET and 1921 JOHN GEORGE GIBSON/ RECTOR FROM 1885. The three Second World War names are carved into one side of the plinth.

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, 7 February 2017.