ST MATTHEWS CHURCH, DUDDESTON - 27th May 2008

St Matthews Church has many associations with my ancestors and I thought it was about time I had a peek around inside, with the kind permission of one of the ministers.
This was originally the rear aspect of the church, the main entrance was at the other end below the tower, but the front part of the original building is now occupied by the Matthews Centre leaving the rear of the building for worship. To the left is the more recently built Church Hall.

There are two plaques inside, one bearing the names of those of the church who served in World War I and the other dedicated to those who perished in the war. I will add the names to the photographs shortly.

The nave, showing the lectern, altar and a very attractive stained-glass window.

The altar.

Unless you have actually been inside the church, you would be surprised that this stained-glass window exists. From the outside the window is obscured by a metal grill.. a sad reflection of the times we live in.

The north-east corner viewed from the rear of the church.

The entrance in the south-east corner viewed from the rear.

The north-west corner of the church.

The rear of the church, viewed along the aisle.

The south-west corner.

Part of the ceiling.

There are two panels laying against the wall to the right of the nave. The one giving the names of those who fell in WW1, the other the names of those who served...

1914 TO 1919
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS CHURCH WHO
FELL IN THE GREAT WAR

ANSELL H. ANSELL L. BISSELL W. BISSELL J. BRICKLAND C.H.
BRADLEY G.H. BOTT C.H. DEELEY H. EDLEY J.H. EDLEY F.
EVERALL W. GREEN W.H. GODRIDGE T. HEATON F.C.
JEROME ?. PAIN C. PLUMMER P.H. PLUMMER A. ROSE F.B.
REED ?. H. SPEARS G.A. SUMMERS W. STAITE A.W.
TYRRELL G.R.

'GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS'

(Some initials to be verified)

1914 1918

ROLL OF HONOUR
TO COMMEMORATE THE SERVICES
OF THE MEN OF THIS CHURCH
WHO SERVED IN THE GREAT WAR

BROWN C.G. BISSELL S. BRICKLAND J. BOCK A.B.
BOUGHTON E. BROWN A.C. BROWN G.H. BAINES W.G.
COTTOM A.G. DAVIES J.T. DAVIES J.W. DAVIES J.S.M.
DOCKER F.R. DEELEY J.A. EVANS G.H. EDLEY W.
FOSTER C.H. FOSTER S.A. FOSTER R.H. GODSALL S.A. M.C.
HARBER A. HARBER ?. HALE W. HEATON R.J. HEATON C.J.
JONES H. MEADOWS A. MEADOWS J. MAYCOCK G.H.
PEACOCK F. PEACOCK F.J. PEARSON W. PEARSON H.
PAIN W. PAIN V. PETFORD W. PALMER E. PALMER H.
ROSE S.T. SHAW W.H. STRINGER C.E. WALTON V.
DAVIES D.W.

ERECTED IN THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN