The Scout’s Memorial window in St. Andrew’s Church shows St. George, the Patron Saint of Scouting and has three Fleur-de-lis in the background.
The Memorial is made of mahogany and was made by the then Assistant Scoutmaster George Emmerson Smith MM. The Memorial is to the right of the Window.
Extract from the Minute Books of St. Andrew’s Parochial Church Council
Meeting held at the Hall 10th April 1924
With regard to the memorial windows, the Vicar stated they were well in hand and proposed the unveiling of the Neveitt window be on Low Sunday in the afternoon and the Scout window on St. George’s Day at night.
This was seconded by Mr. J Stevenson and carried unanimously.
The Vicar proposed Mr. Ronald Copeland be asked to unveil the Scout Window and also asked Mr. E Gleaves who was the first Scout Master.
The Neveitt window the Vicar proposed Miss Hall who was also providing the musical service. Both met with full approval of the meeting.
The Vicar stated the plates were in hand. The mahogany tablet for the Scout window, Mr. T Taylor had kindly given the wood, Mr. George Smith was preparing it and Mr. Lawton had promised to do the lettering.
The Window and Scout Memorial were dedicated on 28th April 1924.
The Staffordshire Sentinel, Wednesday, 30th April, 1924
Memorial to Porthill Scouts
Window Unveiled at St. Andrew’s Church
Following the ceremonies on Sunday at Porthill Church, a third window was unveiled on Monday evening to the memory of the twelve Scouts of the Porthill Troop who sacrificed their lives in the War. There was a large congregation, including several Troops of Boy Scouts.
The window, containing the figure of St. George, was unveiled by Mr. Ernest Gleaves, the first Scoutmaster of the 1st, Porthill Troop, and dedicated by the Vicar (the Rev. J. A. Nash). At the organ was Assistant Scoutmaster G. Smith, who has been with the Troop since its formation. The Vicar was accompanied by his curate (the Rev. H. H. Fox), and the Rev. R. W. Wardle (curate of Wolstanton).
At the side of the window are the names of the twelve Scouts – Frederick W. Cleveland, C.F., M.C. (who was curate at Porthill and Chaplain to the Troop), Reginald L. Showan, Charles J. Tlisley, F. Clarence Cork, Harold Bailey, Ebenezer Brough, Colin Jackson, Tom Lewis, Joseph Furnival, Charles E. Dryhurst, John Tomlinson and Joseph W. Simpson. Above the names are the words “remember before God our gallant dead; 1st Porthill Scouts, 1914 – 1918. Jesu mercy.”
After responses a procession walked from the chancel down to the window. Heading the procession was the bearer of the crucifix, followed by the thurifer and the candle bearers, the curates and the Vicar. A number of Scouts also approached from the centre aisle and stood near, led by one carrying a flag. During the procession the hymn, “Let saints on earth” was sung.
After the unveiling and dedication ceremony the Last Post was sounded by Patrol Leaders W. Simpson, D. Cartridge and E. Farr, jun. The hymn, “On the Resurrection Morning” was afterwards sung.
The Vicar’s Tribute
In a brief address the Vicar said the leaders of the Scout Movement were proud that, though so young, it was old enough to have sent forth those who had rendered such heroic service in the War. He wished to emphasise the fact that the lads commemorated by the window, almost without exception, went into the Army before they need have done – in some cases enlisting before their proper age. The oldest of the lads at death was only 22. The Scouts who remained must make good the loss of those lads. They would if they had the same vision and the same sense of duty and loyalty that St. George had, and took their Scouting seriously.
At the Vicar’s request the Scouts rose and repeated the Scouts’ Promise after him at the salute.
The hymn, “Onward, Christian Soldiers” and Benediction brought the service to a close.
The various troops afterwards marched to the Church Hall, where refreshments were served. Here, also, Mr. Thornton and Mr. Jones were presented by the Vicar with the Wood badge.
The Troops attending the service were as follows: – 1st Burslem (St. Andrew’s, Porthill under A.S.M. E. Farr, W. Bird and G. Smith, M.M.); 2nd Burslem (Smallthorne, under D.S.M. W. Thornton, A.S.M. W. Jones and A.S.M. J. Cartwright); 3rd Burslem (St. Paul’s Burslem under P.L. G. Brindley); 4th Burslem (Bethel Burslem under A.S.M. G. Stockley and A.S.M. T. Goodwin); 6th Burslem (Hill Top, Burslem, under S.M. E. Jones); 8th Burslem (Congregational Church, Burslem under S.M. G. Adams, A.S.M. J. Cartwright and A.S.M. J. H. Robinson); 1st St. Margaret’s (Wolstanton, under S.M. A. E. Aldersea); and 1st Basford (Basford Church, under P. L. Kemp).
On the ledge in front of the window, is kept the Church’s Book of Remembrance, which not only commemorates the Scouts, but all the men of the Parish killed in WW1 and WW2.
Extract from the Minute Books of St. Andrew’s Parochial Church Council
Meeting held in the Vestry Tuesday 9th June 1926
Mention was made of the Book of Remembrance that was made by Rev. A A Cox (curate) in his own time.
It was suggested that it be put in a wooden display case which would cost £6/-.
You can download a copy of the Book of Remembrance here – this is the full book.
Alongside the Scout’s Memorial Window are 2 others that were put in place in the Church at the same time. One is in tribute to a local man who died due to his injuries sustained in the Great War and the other is the Church’s organist.
Staffordshire Sentinel, Monday, April 28, 1924
Memorial Windows At Porthill
Two Unveiling CeremoniesOf the three memorial windows just placed in St. Andrews Church, Porthill, two were unveiled on Sunday with appropriate and impressive ceremonial. Before the Solemn Eucharist in the morning, the double Before the Solemn Eucharist in the morning, the double-light window given by Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Jennings, of Parkfield, Porthill, in memory of their son, Jack, whose death last September was the outcome of his service in the Great War, was unveiled by Mrs. Parker, godmother to Mr. Jack Jennings, and an old friend of the family. The figures depicted in the window are those of St. Alban, the soldier martyr, and St. Michael, the warrior angel. Features of the service were the singing of the 43rd Psalm and the hymn “On The Resurrection Morning.”
Sympathetic tribute to the memory of the one in whose honour the window had been given was made by the Vicar (the Rev. J. A. Nash).
A reminder of the place of music in divine worship was the unveiling in the afternoon of the two-light window in memory of the late Mr. David William Nevitt, L.T.C.L., formally organist at St. Andrew’s. The window represents King David, psalmist and musician, and St. Cecilia, patron saint of church music. Miss Lucy Hall, of Burslem, as representing Mr. Nevitt’s musical friends, performed the unveiling ceremony, and also arranged a suitable musical programme for the occasion.
Before the service Mr. A. R. Vickers, F.R.C.O., organist of Shelton Church, played as organ voluntaries “Ave Maria” (Bach-Gounod) and “Sursum Corda” (Elgar). The unaccompanied quartet ”Yea, though I walk” (Sullivan) was sung by Miss Dora Vodrey, Miss Betty Stevenson, Mr. Tom P. Cameron and Mr. Arthur Llewellyn, and there were three vocal solos – Schubert’s “Litany,” sung by Mr. Arthur Llewellyn: “God shall wipe away all Tears” (Sullivan), Miss Betty Stevenson: and “I know that my Redeemer liveth” (from Handel’s “Messiah”), Miss Dora Vodrey. The anthem by the choir was “The Strife is o’er” (Rathbone). The 84th Psalm was sung, and the hymn “On the Resurrection Morning” was repeated.
The Vicar, in a short address, said the first thought in their minds was the one they had at the unveiling ceremony that morning – that although the occasion had a deep note of sorrow, it also had a note of joy. He had known few to whom he would more gladly do honour than to David William Nevitt. He came to them quite unknown, and on his own merits, both personal and professional, they grew to appreciate and to love him. Many of them, perhaps, knew him purely as a musician, and were able to estimate his gifts in that direction. If he had been spared there would, no doubt, have been a successful future for him in the musical world. He (the Vicar) knew him as a spiritual son, and as such learned to reverence him for his humility of mind and his desire to glorify God in that talent which God had given him. He had a real sense of vocation, and he refused offers of monetary advancement because he loved that church, its services and its life. The commended him to Almighty God, and prayed that those he left behind might have, in the trying and difficult years that lay before them, that consolation, hope and joy that came from their religion. They hoped that the memorial window would stand as an inspiration to many to value their talent as something God given, and to use it, not for purely personal ends, but to the glory of God.
As the concluding voluntary Mr. Vickers played Gullvani’s March on a Theme of Handel.
This Monday (evening) a window, with a figure of St. George, will be unveiled in memory of the twelve Scouts of the Porthill Troop who gave their lives in the War.