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St. George's Memorial Church was built as a memorial to the thousands of men who died in the three battles of the Ypres Salient.
Field Marshal Sir John French, appealed for a British memorial church to be built here. Land was allocated and planning permission was given by the town of Ieper.
In July 1927, the foundation stone of the church was laid. The church was dedicated for worship in March 1929. It is one of the 13 Anglican churches in Belgium.
Remarkable are the memorial brass plaques dedicated to the memory of regiments, battalions (1000 men in WW I) and individuals.
My photo (pic 2) shows 3 such plaques; one dedicated to a private, an Australian driver, another to a 2nd Lieutenant of the Middlesex regiment and a third to the Coldstream Guards. Many of these memorials plaques were carefully removed during the World War II and replaced afterwards.
Some regimental banners are hanging in the church such as the one of the Queens Westminster Riffles (pic 1). There is also a large window dedicated to the Guards Division (pic 4). The embroidered kneelers on each chair add colour to the church. The chairs have also plaques.
I have always been surprised by the names of British regiments; they are linked to shires, counties, towns, royals. For example on pic 3 "Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry", "Seaforth Highlanders".
This was not the case with names of regiments from France or Belgium. In these allied armies regiments had just a number followed by the type of arm.
For example 60e RI (régiment d'infanterie), 16e RAC (régiment d'artillerie de campagne), for the cavalry the number was followed by Dragons, Hussards, Chasseurs à Cheval.
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 St. George's Memorial
Church interior - Ieper by pieter_jan_v,
1 more photos
Since the end of World War II the Church has also been a memorial to the troops who passed through Ieper in the retreat to Dunkirk.
The church is packed with signs and banners of many regiments. Leave a Comment
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A Pilgrim's Hall and a Vicarage - the second condition to rebuilt the city is fullfilled
More than 100.000 visitors/year will visit/revisited this church
The history of regiments and individual soldiers who died in the Ypres Salient is reflected in the Windows and Memorial Plaques in the Church
The kneelers, also known as "Hassocks" created by donors and families. They make a beautifull scene.
The church is open to visitors every day from 9.30am untill 20.00 Leave a Comment
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THE MORALITY OF WAR : Tribute to the many; too many soldiers who suffered, died or even survived, but without leaving a scare
Sir Winston Churchill - the indomitable Statesman fought in the salient in 1916 and had a big influence on the decision to rebuilt the city of Ypres after the grand war.
I quote " I should like us to acquire the whole of the ruins of Ypres.. a more sacred place for the British race does not exist in the world. - Speech of WC, minister of war, Jan1919" Leave a Comment
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With all the remembrance plates which cover the walls of the St George, this looks very different then any other church.
Another remarkable thing, are the embroided cushions on the seets the so called Kneelers also named "Hassocks", which are a project of the friends of St.-Georges. Every seat is covered with a colourful kneeler with the signs of different historical regiment on them.
These kneelers result in a very colourful sight in this St George memorial church.
And as this whole church is based on donations, they already have more different kneelers then they have seats. Leave a Comment
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St George memorial Church is only a few steps away from St Martin's cathedral. It is just around the corner in a matter of saying.
This Anglican Church dates from 1929. Everything in this church is collected by donations of British associations, regiments and individual persons.
Do not forget to enter this small church, it is open daily.
There are many remembrance plates, regiment banners, a beautiful baptismal font and of course the very colourful kneelers on the chairs. Leave a Comment
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I'm not one for visiting churches but St George's Chapel should be visited when you are in Ypres. Inside the walls are covered with brass plaques remembering individual soldiers, battalions and regiments. A number of regimental banners hang around the chapel whilst the kneeling cushions have wonderful beadwork regimental badges. Many of the chairs also have dedications on them. The stained glass windows are memorials in themselves and let plenty of light into the chapel. Entrance is free but please remember to put a few coins in the charity box as a token of your respect. As well as being a place of worship the chapel is a history lesson in its own right.
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 St George's Memorial
Church,Ieper,Belgium. by Greggor58, 4 more photos
EVERY little available spot within this church is some type or other a Memorial to a loved one...from the stain glass windows...to brass plaques on the backs of the chairs..the cushions that are on the chairs,Regimental flags,placards,banners and even a bust of French himself [read below]....YOU name it...Its all done VERY tastefully though but I was really taken a back...
This Anglican Church was built as a result of an appeal by Lord French of Ypres [the first Commander-in-Chief of the British Army during the First World War] after the hostilities stopped.
French and others wanted to see an English church, where the people visiting the battlefields, the grieving relatives of those who had fallen as well as brother soldiers who survived the slaughter could come for prayer and remembrance.
Long story short... on June the 24th, 1929, the Bishop of Fulham consecrated the Church.
I came across something that made me wonder a little...if we're friends Ill share a little story with you in more detail....but you need to ask.....what it was that made me almost drop dead in my tracks was a brass plaque honoring the ranks of The Canadian Princess Patricia's Light Infantry unit that was originally privately funded and raised from men and now women of Eastern Ontario region where my family has lived for more than two hundred years...The Memorial also specifically mentions the founder, Brigadier A. Hamilton Gault who curiously died on the very day that I was born...
This is a must see place....sit and listen for a while...
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