More Than a Memorial Online Talk

Description

Downside Abbey church is, in part, itself a war memorial. The nave, completed in 1925, was built as a memorial to those Old Gregorians of Downside School who gave their lives during the Great War. On the west end wall of the nave is a plaque with the names of 107 men who were killed between 1914-1919, commemorating the huge loss of life suffered by Downside. 

This talk, part of Downside’s St Gregory’s Lecture Series, will look into the lives of some of those named on this memorial and bring the chiselled stone list to life. Through research of the men’s school files, and using images from the newly catalogued photographic archives, it will be possible to remember those names on the memorial in a new way. 

The speaker for this event is Steven Parsons who is the Abbey Outreach Officer, and has worked at Downside for eight years. He works within the monastery archives and library and has done much research, alongside some of the abbey’s volunteers, on the impact of both World Wars on Downside and its community. He has co-authored a book, Monks in the Military, which is available to purchase from our online shop. 

This talk forms part of a wider programme of events to mark Remembrance Day this year. We are also running a special Downside and the War Abbey Church tour, details of which can be found here. There will be an exhibition of material in the abbey church as well, running from the 10th to the 19th November which relates to the role of Downside in both World Wars. 

Tickets must be obtained through our Eventbrite page by clicking here. While there is no set charge for the talk, a donation of the purchaser’s choice is required to obtain your ticket. Once you have your ticket you will receive a link to the talk on Zoom.