LE St.AmbScreen

Memorials - Leyland - St.Ambrose C.E. WW1 Reredos

St. Ambrose C.E. Church, Moss Lane, Leyland PR25 4XA
Ordnance Survey Grid Reference - SD 54994 22645
IWM War Memorials Register - 42645
War Memorials Online - Not on site

The memorial takes the form of an ornate painted triptych reredos. The reredos depicts Jesus as the shepherd in the centre panel, a wounded soldier attended by two angels in the left panel and a praying child attended by an angel in the right panel.

Two niches, one either side of the reredos contain carved wooden figures. Ornate wooden carving painted in gilt along the top border of the screen. There are carved borders around each image, painted in gilt. The whole is in excellent condition and is well cared for. It was dedicated by local clergy (see newspaper reports) on the 26th April 1917.

The panels that make up the main part of this memorial were painted by a Belgian refugee, Monsieur Janssen in about 1917. The Leyland and surrounding areas were home to many Belgian families and individuals who had escaped the German invasion of 1914.

The Manchester City Council website describes the Belgian refugee situation:

The start of the war saw an influx of refugees from Belgium to Britain. In September 1914 the British government offered "victims of war the hospitality of the British nation." The British Government accepted the responsibility for the reception, maintenance and registration of Belgian refugees, while at the same time sought out assistance in housing the refugees with local authorities. The Belgian refugees remained in Britain until after the end of the First World War, when most returned to Belgium.

Chorley Guardian, Saturday 28 April 1917

Memorial Unveiled: On Thursday evening the Rev. R. W. Gordon, Vicar of Blackrod, unveiled three tablets in the reredos of St. Ambrose church, Leyland. The tablets had been painted by a Belgian refugee in honour of the fallen. Members of the Carnarvon Lodge of Freemasons attended the ceremony as a tribute to the memory of the late Colonel Fallows.

Lancashire Daily Post, Friday 27 April 1917

The unveiling of three pictorial tablets in the reredos of St. Ambrose Church, Leyland, the painting of which had been executed by a Belgian refugee, M(onsieur) Janssen, as a thanks offering and in honour of the fallen, took place last evening.

Charles O'Donnell
Please email the project with any amendments or corrections
Edited 26 May 2018

With thanks to Reverend Duncan Clarke and the Curate Louisa McFarlane for access to St.Ambrose. Please also see the Belgian Refugees page on this site for more information.