The Rushen Parish War Memorial is the Lychgate to Kirk Christ. On entering the Lychgate from Church Road the WWI memorial stone is on the righthand side of the gate and is inscribed as follows:
THIS LYCHGATE AND TABLET IN THE CHURCH
WERE ERECTED BY THE PARISHONERS OF
RUSHEN
IN MEMORY OF
THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH
WHO LOS THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-18
C.H. LEECE, R.D.
VICAR
On the lefthand side of the Lychgate is the WWII memorial stone which bears the inscription:
ALSO IN MEMORY OF
THE MEN
AND WOMEN
FROM THIS PARISH WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
IN THE
SECOND WORLD WAR
1939-45
J.D.GELLING , M.A.
VICAR
The War Memorials Online website shows the following information:
Status:On original site
Type:Freestanding
Location:External
Setting:Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace
Description:Lychgate
Materials:
Stone Stone (any)
Lettering:Inscribed on a plaque
Conflicts:
First World War (1914-1918)
Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial:The Lychgate has an interior dimension of 2.89m by 2.59m. The walls are of local rubble stone, cemented and rough cast, with an alcove on either side containing oak seat; and on each wall is a marble tablet inscribed. The floor is paved with local stone slabs, and the roof covered with Manx Barrule slates. All the woodwork:, uprights, beams purlins, rafters and gates are made out of Manx-grown oak. The memorial was unveiled 21 April 1921 by the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, Sir William Fry, accompanied by Lady Fry and Mr Leigh Goldie-Taubman, H.K. It was dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Mann. The clergy and ministers present were the Lord Bishop, Rev Canon Leece , R.D. (Vicar), Rev Wm. R. Cannell (curate) who carried the Pastoral Staff, Rev E. C. Botwood (curate), Rev Robt. Ferguson (a former curate of Rushen), Rev W. J. Hannam (Superintendent Wesleyan minister), Rev J. W. Haswell (Wesleyan) and the Rev John Graham (Superintendent Primitive minister). The memorial was sponsored by public subscription. Itl was initiated and materialised at the instance of the members of the Parochial Church Council (with the Vicar chairman), who formed themselves into a Memorials Committee, after previous unsuccesful attempts had been made in other directions. The memorial was designed by Mr T. H, Royston of Douglas. The woodwork was executed by Mr Herbert Moore, joiner and builder, Athol-street, Port St. Mary. The masonry by Mr Joseph Hudgeon, of Gansey-under the supervision of Mr Royston. The cost of the Tablet and Lychgate, together with the alterations to the entrance of the Churchyard, was approximately £400. Information provided by the Isle of Man Government Preservation of War Memorials Committee. Isle of Man National Inventory of War Memorials
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