Abide With Me, East Window

Submit a new image

Reference WMO/299987

Address:

St Margaret's Church,

Church Path

Lower Halstow

Swale BC

Sittingbourne

ME9 7PN

England

Open large map
Edit memorial name, location & address
Status: On original site
Type: Non freestanding
Location: Internal
Setting: Inside a building - public/private
Description: Stained glass window
Materials:
  • Glass Stained Glass
Lettering: Painted
Conflicts:
  • First World War (1914-1918)
About the memorial: The window is called Abide With Me and is based on a painting of that name by Pio Ximenes. The image was commissioned by Brigadier General Roland Boys Bradford VC, MC (the youngest to achieve that rank) for his battalion as a leaving card, upon his promotion in November 1917. Sadly, Roland was killed just 20 days into his new role on the 30th November 1917. During 1919, when the nation was finding ways of marking the memory of the fallen, after much discussion, the village of Lower Halstow decided to use the image in the East Window alongside an alabaster wall plaque to honour their fallen. ‘Boys’ Bradford was an inspirational leader and a natural soldier, respected and admired by his men. He was also deeply religious and every evening and before going into action, at his request and without their hesitation, the men all sang the first verse of Abide With Me. Roland had been ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ in 1914, was awarded the Military Cross in 1915 and the Victoria Cross in 1916. His mother, Mrs Bradford spent the war years living with her sister and brother-in-law, Rev and Mrs Olive, at The Vicarage of Lower Halstow. The East Window was dedicated at a solemn service by the Dean of Rochester on the 10th October 1920. Mrs Bradford lost three of her four sons during WWI, and was the only mother in England to have two sons who were recipients of the Victoria Cross. The village also wished to remember a generous benefactor of the church, Mr Harry Greensted, who died in 1914. For these extraordinary reasons, we consider this window to be historically significant as a war memorial.
Edit memorial details

Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.

Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.

If you believe your project is eligible for a grant you should complete the Pre-application enquiry form. You will need to be registered and logged in to complete this.

The Pre-application enquiry form is a series of questions to see if your project is eligible. If it is, you will need to provide further details and submit current colour photographs of the war memorial in either a png, gif, jpg or jpeg format.

You can save your Pre-application enquiry form as you go along. Once submitted War Memorials Trust will respond.

Please be aware that a summary of your enquiry, without your contact details, will appear on this page once submitted. This ensures others are aware that an enquiry has been made and can read the response to avoid duplicate enquiries. Information provided by you to us will be used for the purpose of managing the grant enquiry, for further details please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

As a charity, War Memorials Trust relies on voluntary donations and every contribution, no matter how large or small, makes a really big difference to our work. Your donation will help protect and conserve war memorials for future generations so please support War Memorials Trust’s work.

To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Harry Greensted B.A. and of the men from this Parish who fell in the Great War 1914-1918.

Harry Greensted

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required

Information Required