Chelmsford Chronicle Friday 13/6/1919 reported:
'CHURCH MEMORIALS AT CHIGNAL. Handsome Gifts from the Hall. On Friday evening there were presented and dedicated at a special service handsome gifts of a memorial window, altar, and reredos to St. James's Church, Chignal. The gifts are :— (1) A very beautiful east-end window representing St. George and St, Michael, and inscribed "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Harry W. Mann, A.R.I.B.A., Lieutenant, 178th Brigade, R.F.A., Killed in action 30th March, 1918, and buried in the Military Cemetery at Bellacourt on Easter-Day. This window is placed by his father-in-law, Austin Matthews, of Chignal Hall." 2) A carved oak reredos, with screen and wings, covering the wall at the sides and back of the altar and coming round to meet the south and north windows, and inscribed :"In proud and loving memory of Harry William Mann, A.R.I.B.A., Lieutenant, 178th Brigade. R.F.A. Killed in action. This memorial is erected by his widow "All he had hoped for - all that he had, he gave.' " (3) A very fine altar of carved oak, with medallions let in the front depicting biblical subjects, and with the vine and fruit carved along the edges. Inscription on the altar: "To the dear and honoured memory of Leon Francois Asnong, 4e Carabiniers, Armee Belge, the well-beloved protege of Austin and Florence Matthews. Chignal Hall, who fell in the Great War, 9th Sept. 1918. He lies in St. Sixte Convent Cemetery, Crombeke, Belgium. Also in grateful appreciation of the Boys from this parish who have nobly laid down their lives for King and England. P. Sewell, A. Perrin, S. Collins, E. May, A. May, C. Perry, J. Collins. This memorial is erected by Florence Matthews." TRAVELLED 26,000 MILES. It should be explained that Mrs. Austin Matthews has performed most valuable service for the V.A.D. She has done special electrical work in London and Chelmsford (managing entirely at Bellefield, Chelmsford, for six months), and has travelled 26,000 miles in the performance of those duties in 4 1/2 years. She adopted for the time of the war sixteen Belgians, whom she nursed in 1914, and Asnong was the only one of these killed. There was an overflowing congregation for the service, and many people were accommodated with seats in the churchyard, while others stood. Seats within were reserved for the relatives of the fallen. The service of presentation and dedication was taken by the Rev. Lester Blower, patron and rector of Chignal St. James, and Mrs. Adolphus Matthews was at the organ. The hymns sung were "Fight the good fight," "We love the place, O God," "For all the saints," and "Abide with me." Mr. Stanley Langman, rector's warden, asked the Rector to dedicate the gifts, and Mr. Campen, the people's warden, produced the Chancellor's faculty. In an address the Rector said that church had stood for over a thousand years, and was the right place in which to put memorials for such great causes. He referred to the noble services of those from the parish whose memory they were to perpetuate. BELGIAN ARMY REPRESENTED. S. M. Karel Bal, G.BP., represented the Belgian Army. Rev. A.W.O. Murray was also present, and the congregation were Mr. and Mrs. Austin Matthews, Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Mann sen., Mr. and Mrs. Bert Wakelin (Freebournes, Witham, sister and brother-in-law of Mr. Harry Mann), Mr. Bertie Mann (brother of the late Mr. Mann), Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus Matthews, Mrs. Gerald Christy, Mrs. Reginald Christy, Mr. Henry Oliver and Miss Oliver, Mrs. and Miss Smith (Good Easter), Mr. and Mrs. J. Brittain Pash, Mr. and Mrs. S. Langman, Miss A. Matthews, Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Matthews and son, and the near relatives of the soldiers of the village. The offerings, nearly £6, were for the Church Improvement Fund. The rest of the church is to restored and renovated, and the churchyard levelled, etc. Mr. Austin Matthews has lived at Chignal Hall for 44 years. He is now retiring from farming and going to live at Yew Lodge, Springfield, Chelmsford'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000322/19190613/025/0003