Marble Memorials
Around the Church can be found a number of memorials
erected to
various worthies by their friends and families. These are often rather
ornate and would have been expensive in their time. Some exhibit, what
today would be considered as, Victorian sentimentality or over-statement.
Others are the simple words of a grieving family.
* *
*
John
William Grier
He was
the first Incumbent of the Parish from 1842 until 1866 when he
died suddenly just after taking divine service on January 28th, 1866. He
was then
just 56 years old. The memorial tablet was erected by the Parish
in
recognition of some 23 years service to the Church in Amblecote.
William King
This simple memorial was erected to William King by his widow in
sincere affection in 1850. William lived at Amblecote Hall and was
presumably part of the firm of J. & W. King who were the brick-
makers who supplied the fire-clay bricks of which Holy Trinity
is constructed at cost price. William died on the 16th March,
1850 aged 50 years
William King was affectionately know as "King Billie" and
King William Street is named after him.
.
James
Batson
This tablet was erected on April 4th, 1850 to the memory of a man
who died in 1820, well before the Church was built, by the overseers
of his estate. He left the sum of £100 the interest from which was for
the use of the poor in the parishes of Amblecote and Kingswinford
for ever.
(In 1820 £100 would have been a considerable sum of money).
Anna
Eleanora Amery
This cenotaph (or empty tomb) was erected by John and Anna
Dorothea
Amery to the memory of their eldest daughter who died
after
a short illness on August 10th, 1844, aged 16.
Anna Eleanora is buried
in Chelsea in London.
The wording reads 'Erected by her bereaved parents not as those
who have no hope.'
'The less of this cold world the more of heaven.'
'The briefer life the earlier immortality.'
Joseph, Mary Ann & Joseph Pitman
This memorial was erected by three daughters to the
memory of their parents who died in 1870 and 1871
and their brother Joseph who died in 1853 of a fever in
Zante (one of the Greek islands) at the age of 23 years.
The wording mentions the daughters grateful love and
esteem and in remembrance of their parents 'unremitting
kindness to the poor of the hamlet' (presumably Amblecote).
Ensign Lyndon John
Grier
This memorial is hidden behind the organ and is sadly
impossible to photograph properly.
It is in memory of Lyndon John Grier, the son of John
William Grier the first incumbent of Amblecote, and
'erected by his sorrowing father'.
Lyndon was wounded at Cawnpore on 28th November,
1857 during the Indian Mutiny (1857-59) and died of
his wounds. He was an ensign in 34th Foot, 1st Border
Regiment and was just 19 years of age.
[Ensign
was the lowest rank of commissioned officer in
infantry regiments of the British Army (except fusilier
regiments, which always used Second Lieutenant). It was
the duty of officers of this rank to carry the colours
of the regiment.]
Brass Memorials
In the
Sanctuary there are to be found a number of brass
and wooden
memorial plaques.
James
Foster
The most elaborate of these brasses is that dedicated to the
Iron
Master James Foster who was one of the largest
contributors
to the building fund for Holy Trinity. He also gave the cast iron
railings which surround the
Churchyard and were valued in
their day at £500.
This plaque points to the elaborate East
Window which was given by his employees and a few
private subscribers after his death on 23rd April, 1853.
The Twelve Boys
The large crucifix that hangs over the front altar is the
memorial to twelve young men associated with Holy Trinity
who died in the Great War. Their names are displayed on the
brass directly below that dedicated to James Foster.
The Choristers:
Charles Dean, Cyril Attwood, Samuel Morris, William Morris,
Howard Edwards, Colin Brindley and Charles Davies.
The Servers:
Sidney Elcock, Clarence Starling, Percy Baker
and Edward Lowe.
Sunday School:
Roy Coombes
All of these names - with the exception of Samuel & William
Morris - are commemorated on the Lych-gate Memorial.
Henry
Ridley
This wooden tablet commemorates the gift of the
altar in memory of Henry Ridley who was Vicar's
Warden from 1889-1923. It also refers to his
wife Esther.
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