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Memorial Chapel, looking East

Chapel East Window Chapel Altar

The Memorial Chapel is a quiet place and suitable for private prayer.

Its altar has similar features to the Chancel one but on a smaller scale. Its East Window contains three main sections. The top part shows Jesus teaching in the home of Mary and Martha, with the text ego sum resurrection et vita ("I am the resurrection and the life", quoting John 11:25); the lower left hand one shows the words spoken from heaven when Jesus was baptised hic est filius meus dilectus ("this is my beloved son", quoting Luke 3:22) and the lower right-hand one shows Jesus blessing communion bread and wine, with the text cognoverunt eum in fract. panis ("known of them in the breaking of bread", quoting Luke 24:30–35). The bottom part of the window tells us that it was donated in memory of Catharine Dunkin on the feast of All Saints, 1894.

Below the window is a smaller version of the High Altar, with the same features. Behind the altar is a picture by Miss E K Martyn of Jesus receiving the worship of angels in the colours of the nations defeated in the First World War, flanked by attendants wearing the cross of St George; it is seen as representing reconciliation.

The reredos was designed by Arthur Bartlett, brother of the then vicar, Canon Bartlett, and the woodwork was carved between 1909 and 1911 by the Cheltenham firm of H H Martyn & Co. A panel in it says “This chapel is dedicated to the glory of God and in memory of the men from this parish and congregation who gave their lives in the Great War 1915 – 1918” with a quotation “their name liveth for evermore” (quoting Ecclesiasticus 44:14). There are alcoves in the woodwork at the sides for statues, but St George was stolen in 1973, so nowadays they usually contain vases of flowers. The other statue, of St Michael, was given on indefinite loan to the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Lower Sydenham.