Aylesbury St Mary's War Memorial Cross

Aylesbury St Mary’s War Memorial is located in the churchyard, to the south of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed) and adjacent to the South Gateway to St Mary’s Churchyard (Grade II-listed). Numerous listed buildings are adjacent, surrounding the church close on all sides. The c6m tall stone memorial takes the form of an elaborate Calvary cross.

The cross-head Calvary includes a hooded crucifixion scene with Mary and John standing either side of the cross. The flanking figures, carved in the round, are supported by bracketed pedestals at the top of the slender cross shaft, octagonal in section. The cross shaft rises from a pedestal, square on plan but with an octagonal moulded cap and shoulders cut back at the corners. The pedestal stands on a three-stepped base.

The dedication is carved in relief on the south face of the pedestal. It reads TO THE/ GLORY OF/ GOD/ AND TO THE HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF AYLESBURY WHO/ DID THEIR DUTY EVEN UNTO DEATH/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ TRUE LOVE BY LIFE TRUE LOVE BY DEATH IS TRIED/ LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND WE FOR ENGLAND DIED/ REQUIESCAT IN PACE.