War Memorial at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church

First World War memorial, 1922, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: The war memorial at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Hinckley, is located to the north-west of the church. It stands over the former vault of the now demolished 1950s church, and within an area of hard and soft landscaping facing, the main access road to the current church.

The memorial is of Portland stone and takes the form of a tall Calvary cross; a Latin cross with a large sculptural depiction of the Crucifixion to the north face. The figure of Christ is carved in detail with a halo surrounding his head. Above this, on the vertical arm of the cross, is a scroll, carved in relief, containing the monogram INRI. The cross rises from a square plinth with moulded upper corners, which surmounts a two-stepped, square base. The plinth carries the inscriptions and names in incised lettering, painted black.

The principal inscription is to the north face of the plinth and reads, PRAY FOR THE REPOSE/ OF THESE MEMBERS OF/ ST PETER'S CONGREGATION HINCKLEY/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ 1914 - FOR GOD AND THEIR COUNTRY - 1918/ (36 NAMES)/ REQUIESCANT IN PACE.

To the east face of the plinth is the Second World War dedication, PRAY FOR THE REPOSE/ OF THESE MEMBERS OF/ ST PETER'S CONGREGATION HINCKLEY/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ 1939 - FOR GOD AND THEIR COUNTRY - 1945/ (11 NAMES)/ REQUIESCANT IN PACE/ (1 NAME).