Memorial Details
What type of memorial is it?
Window
How would you describe the memorial and its ornamentation?
Stained glass window, whose tracery included a multifoil window depicting God as king, and a smaller light on each side, depicting the Greek letters “Alpha” (on the left) and “Omega” (on the right).
The window's main section of five vertical lights was dominated by an angel in the centre light, whose wings and outstretched arms (with broken shackles hanging from his wrists) extended across the adjoining lights; above the angel's head, the centre light was topped by a depiction of the Crucifixion.
At the top of the 1st light was a pale-blue-robed angel, beneath whose feet was a scroll inscribed "The Lord is my strength"; the section beneath depicted St George in armour.
The 2nd and 4th lights were each topped by an angel, who supported a scroll inscribed “There shall be no more death”.
The lower section of the 2nd light depicted an artist, a fisherman and a scholar, each of whom was gazing up at the dominant central angel; the background featured a fishing boat and buildings.
The lower section of the 4th light depicted a king and a child gazing up at the central angel, and the blue-robed figure of the Virgin Mary, with her head bowed.
The 5th light was topped by an angel, beneath whose feet was a banner inscribed "Thine O Lord is the Victory"; the lower section of the light depicted a bare-headed soldier in armour.
Across the foot of the window, the dedication and names spanned all 5 lights.

[N.B. This record relates to the stained glass window Trinity Church installed in 1922, and was destroyed in an enemy air-raid in August 1940.
Our separate record WMR/34448 relates to the separate memorial, installed in St John's Church c1949, comprising the artist's vidimus/ drawing from which Trinity Church's window was originally constructed, and a casket containing fragments of its glass that were salvaged from the wreckage].
Location
Has this memorial been lost?
Yes
Location
Location
Is this the memorial's current location?
No
Building Name
Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church
Street
Whitley Road, Cullercoats
Town
Whitley Bay
District
North Tyneside
County
Tyne and Wear
Country
England
Postcode
NE26 2NA
OS map ref
NZ 35885 72002
Other Details
In the north transept
If the memorial has been moved, please indicate why
(The window was destroyed when the Church was bombed during an enemy air raid, shortly before midnight on Thursday 29th August 1940)

Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church parishioners (WW1 window) LOST Location

Commemoration
What words are inscribed on the memorial?
IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE SONS OF THIS CHURCH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918/ (16 names)
War
How many names are listed in total?
16
Which war or group does the memorial commemorate?
First World War (1914-1918)
Is the total an exact count?
Yes
Of the names listed, how many served and returned?
0
Of the names listed, how many died?
16
What information is listed for those commemorated?
Forenames, surnames
How is this information ordered?
Mostly alphabetically by surname, reading downwards at the foot of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th lightslight.
Condition
What is the memorial's maintenance history?
Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church was bombed during an enemy air raid, shortly before midnight on Wednesday 28th August 1940, resulting in the destruction of the Church and window. (When the derelict Church was demolished in 1947, fragments of its WW1 window were salvaged. A casket containing those fragments, and the artist's drawing of the window, were later installed in St John's Methodist Church, Monkseaton c1949, details of which are in our separate record WMR/34448).
Components
Component Details
Which memorial component are you recording?
Window
What condition is this component in?
Lost
What materials has this component been constructed from?
Stained Glass
Listing Information
Does it have listed status?
No
War Memorials Online Reference number
281495
History
Maker
Maker
Ceremony
Ceremony
Ceremony
What was the purpose of the ceremony?
Unveiled
When did it take place?
7 May 1922
Who was present?
Mrs. Alfred Robson unveiled the window
References
References
Newcastle Daily Chronicle, Monday 8th May 1922 (page 2) reported:
'WESLEYAN WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED AT WHITLEY BAY.
"For us and for the world their death is full of a promise of a better day," said the Rev. R. E. Overton, at Trinity Wesleyan Church. Whitley Bay, yesterday afternoon, on the occasion of the unveiling of a war memorial window to the memory of 16 sons of the church who fell in the war. The inspiration of such sacrifice could not, said the rev. gentleman, be without lasting effect. How could we ever forget such a sacrifice on our behalf, and how could we better maintain our country's honour and the world's peace than by living as we believed they died, loyal to duty and to God?
The unveiling ceremony was performed by Mrs. Alfred Robson, special music being sung. The names of the fallen, which are inscribed on the window, are:
Robert Norman Bell, John C. Box, George R. Brown, Frederick Noel Coates, Frederick Gibbon, Arthur C. Kent, Aynsley Little, William E. Little, John T. Newton, Frank M Rea, Frederick A. Richardson, Charles H. Robson, Ernest A. Robson, Pattison R. Ridley, Ellis Thompson, and George W. Wearmouth.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001634/19220508/043/0002
Newcastle Evening Chronicle - Thursday 29 August 1940 (page 1) reported:
NAZIS' MASS FIRE BOMB NIGHT RAIDS FAIL.
Woman Killed in N.E. Hit-and-Run Attack.
TWO CHURCHES AND HALL WRECKED.
HITLER, fire-raiser number one of Reichstag memory, launched his most venemous [sic] attack against Britain during the night when he sent his raiders to scatter incendiaries and explosive bombs indiscriminately in widespread areas.
In a "hit and run" raid on a North-East-coast town there was no attempt at finding military objectives with explosive bombs. Property was damaged and there were a number of casualties—one woman being killed when her house was demolished by a direct hit. Only three bombs were dropped but they damaged two churches and a church hall and school. The victim was Miss Doris Bums (24). Among the other casualties a man and woman required hospital treatment. The machine had apparently approached the coast with its engines throttled back. It was not clearly heard until its engines suddenly roared directly above the town. A chapel was also destroyed when it suffered a direct hit and took fire. The flames were quickly subdued. At another North-East town bombs dropped on the outskirts, fell in fields and caused neither injury nor damage...'
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000726/19400829/001/0001
Newcastle Journal - Tuesday 05 November 1940 (page 3) reported:
Bombed Church Needs £1,000.
NOW carrying on in borrowed premises, parishioners of St. Peter’s Church, Monkseaton, have opened a £1,000 fund to repair bomb damage to their church caused during a two-minute tip-and-run raid some time ago. With two bombs the raider demolished the old mission church and adjoining Boy Scouts’ headquarters, blew ail the windows out of the vicarage and wrecked the vestries at the South-East corner the parish church and at the same time seriously impairing the strength of the main structure at that point.
Despite wide-spread damage, the ordinary religious activities of the parish were carried on without interruption, the Vicar, the Rev. H. S. S. Jackson, told a "Journal and North Mail" representative yesterday. This had been made possible by the praiseworthy efforts of voluntary helpers, largely A.R.P. personnel.
A DIRECT HIT.
“They worked like Trojans clearing up the glass and debris in the church, boarding up the windows and covering the holes in the vestries.” he said. "Then our neighbours, the Presbyterians, very kindly gave us the use of their hall and class rooms for social purposes, and we have been able to carry on with some of our organisations there.”
The appeal for subscriptions for the re-building fund has been sympathetically commended to other parishes in the Diocese by the Bishop of Newcastle. The parishioners themselves are organising money raising efforts. Mr. G. N. Dixon, of 44, Holywell Avenue. Monkseaton, is treasurer of the re-building fund.
The same night a raider also wrecked the Trinity Methodist Church at Whitley Bay, scoring a direct hit upon it with a heavy calibre bomb. Trustees of the church are awaiting architect’s report on the condition of the structure.
Principal activities of the church are being continued. Sunday services are being conducted by the minister, the Rev. E. H. Lawrence, in the Livingstone Hall, made available by the trustees of the Congregational Church, and the Sunday School scholars have been temporarily transferred to other Methodist churches locally'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001547/19401105/083/0003
Shields Daily News - Saturday 27 December 1947 (page 7) reported:
'Coins, Papers Under Whitley Bay Church?
Workers busy with the demolition of the Methodist Trinity Church in Whitley Road, Whitley Bay, which was bombed in August, 1940, are expected to make an interesting find. It is hoped they will unearth old coins and some papers which were buried beneath the foundations of the church when it was built in 1889.
The finds will be put in the hands of Mr J. Patterson and other trustees of the church.
Mr Patterson told The Evening News today that it was not known exactly what coins were buried there or what type of container they were in.
The demolition of the church follows a great deal of correspondence between the trustees and the War Damage Commission, and other interested parties.
During the war the site was turned into a static water tank and damage was caused to the building by children. A stained glass window in the north transept was damaged. The window contained the names of 16 young men of the church killed in the 1914- 18 war'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002077/19471227/119/0007
[ibid, Monday 05 January 1948 (page 1) reported:
'Foundation Relics Of Whitley Church.
A jar which was buried under a foundation stone of the Methodist (Trinity) Church, Whitley Road, Whitley Bay, has been unearthed by workmen busy demolishing the church.
The jar contains coins and papers of the period in which the church was built. The church was built in 1889 and Was bombed in 1940'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002077/19480105/002/0001]
Whitley Bay Guardian - Thursday 06 December 1990 (page 26) reported as follows:
'Church memory will live on...
THE Methodist Recorder has published a reminder that it was 50 ago that a stray bomb destroyed Trinity Methodist Church in Whitley Road, Whitley Bay.
The bomb dropped just after the canteen, serving hot drinks and sandwiches to members of the armed forces, had closed down for the night. After the war what remained of the building was pulled down. The site is now occupied by the Whitley Bay health centre.
The memory of Trinity is kept alive at St John’s Church, Ilfracombe Gardens, where relics from the bombed building and a picture of one of the stained glass windows are housed.
The relics, explained superintendent minister the Rev Arthur Temple, consist of pieces of charred wood and nails rescued from the rubble. “Trinity was quite a flourishing church,” he said. “St John’s was the minister’s second charge.”
A letter has been received from the daughter of a former minister, the Methodist Recorder having prompted memories of Trinity Methodist Church.
This will be published in the newsletter from St John’s, a further reminder of the bombed Whitley Road church'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005364/19901206/192/0026
North East War Memorials Project website; their ref W84-28 relates to the actual stained glass window. (Their ref M15-06 relates to the memorial later installed in St John's Church, i.e. the artist's design for the window, and salvaged fragments of its glass)
https://www.newmp.org.uk/memorial/stained-glass-window-1914-18-trinity-wesleyan-methodist-w84-28/
https://www.newmp.org.uk/memorial/cartoon-for-stained-glass-window-1914-18-trinity-methodist-m15-06/