Memorial Chapel - St Nicholas - Cottesmore, Rutland - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

A chapel within a church aisle of St Nicholas' church, Cottesmore, with themed colours of blue and gold and a stained glass window with a badge of the RAF in the centre.

"IN THE WAR GRAVES CEMETERY on the outskirts of the village rest the bodies of some ninety officers and airmen. As well as from Gt Britain, they come from Australia, Canada, Chile, India, Ireland, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Rhodesia, South Africa and the USA. Others are buried in the churchyard.

This CHAPEL is a memorial to these men, and also to others of the British, Dominion and United States Air Forces who were stationed here at different times, and who gave their lives for the Allied cause in the Second World War. Their names are recorded in the Book of Remembrance, though some have no recorded resting place.

Thee CHAPEL was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the architect of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral; a pupil of Scott’s having lost his life while serving in the Royal Air Force at Cottesmore.

THE BADGES of the RAF and RAF Cottesmore decorate the windows overlooking the altar, which is in a distinctive blue/green stone. Originally, the altar was bare and without a frontal, the stone being enhanced by blue and silver brocade riddle hangings, silvered oak riddle posts surmounted by angels, and matching altar furnishings. The grouped ensigns of the RAF, the RAAF, the RCAF, the RNZAF, the South African Air Force and the USA added colour to the chapel.

THE HANDSOME WROUGHT IRON SCREEN was made by Mr Wigginton and his son of Whissendine, and the finely detailed model of a Mosquito was made and presented by De Havilland’s, manufacturers of this outstanding aeroplane. The model was collected personally from Hatfield by Group Captain Lucas, the then Station Commander, who flew it up in the back seat of his Harvard trainer and who then hung it in the chapel “at the height of three choir boys from the floor” on the explicit orders of the Rector; model aircraft such as this being valuable and attractive items at that time!

THE CHAPEL was dedicated on 8th September 1949 and the address was given by the Venerable Leslie Wright, Chaplain-in-Chief to the RAF. Among those present were the Air Officers Commanding in Chief of Bomber and Flying Training Commands, the American Air Attaché, the Attachés of the four Dominion Air Forces, and the MP for Rutland, Lord Willoughby de Eresby.

By 1986 time had taken its toll on the fabric and furnishings and the then Station Chaplain, the Reverend Robert Bailey, thought it appropriate to present the Rector and the parish with a renovated chapel. The original silver and blue colour theme, which reflected the working colours of the RAF, was replaced by a theme of gold and deeper blue, reflecting the dress colours of the Service. New ensigns of the six air forces’ were donated by the national defence Attachés and a frontal was commissioned for the altar.

THE FRONTAL is the work of Patricia Wright the craftsman/embroiderer of Bushby, Leicester. The design was suggested by the Rector, The Reverend Geoffrey Wise, and is based on the insignia of the RAF Chaplains’ Branch. The central circle of gold, having no beginning and no end, represents eternity, and within the circle is a symbolic compass face to focus attention on the far flung nature of air force duty. The Cross Pattee uses fabrics in the colours of the RAF roundel and the constituent fabric ‘feathers’ of the wings are positioned so as to give movement in changes of light or the onlooker’s position.

HE CHAPEL was re-dedicated on 25™ January 1987 at a service attended by the Venerable Glyn Renowden, Chaplain-in-Chief to the RAF. Also present were the New Zealand Defence Attaché, the Air Attachés from Australia, Canada South Africa and the United States of America, the Officer Commanding RAF Cottesmore, Group Captain Peter Squire, his senior staff and a representative contingent of officers and airmen.

RAF COTTESMORE closed in 2011 as an operational flying station, so much of the furnishings and memorials from St Mary’s Station Church were relocated here in the Air Forces Chapel. In particular, the moveable font and baptismal candle-stick were presented by the station to mark the years of common life and co-operation between the RAF Station and Cottesmore village. The oak memorials to the crews of both the V Force and TTTE who died in service since the end of the Second World War have been mounted on the wrought iron screen in the knowledge that they can be returned to the station chapel if later units based there deem it appropriate. As the riddle hangings were becoming dilapidated by age, they and the riddle posts were removed to expose the entire chapel east window and brighten the atmosphere. The chapel continues to be an appropriate place of remembrance and worship. Pray for those who serve.

PER ARDUA AD ASTRA"

The memorial plaque inscription reads:

THIS CHAPEL IS DEDICATED TO
THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS
AND MEN OF THE BRITISH AND
AMERICAN AIR FORCES STATIONED
AT COTTESMORE WHO GAVE THEIR
LIVES FOR FREEDOM
1939-1945
THE WAY OF LIFE GOETH UPWARD

Property Permission: Public Website for Waymark: [Web Link] Location of waymark: St Nicholas Main Street Cottesmore, Rutland England LE15 7DJ Commemoration: British and American air forces stationed at Cottesmore during WWII Date of Dedication: Not listed Access instructions: Not listed Access times: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Include a photo containing, at minimum, the monument and your GPSr. We'd prefer a photo containing YOU at the monument, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
Also include a bit about your visit here.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.