THE CHURCH WAS CLOSED. FATE OF THE STATUE IS UNKNOWN

Posts : 3055 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi All

Can anyone shed any light on this statue. I have not heard of it before.

ST MICHAEL AND ST SEBASTIAN RC CHURCH (REDUNDANT),Aldershot,Rushmoor,Hampshire,England
OS Grid Ref.: SU 869 513, Denomination: Roman Catholic.

Description - FIGURE
.

Inscription

TO THE HONOR (SIC) OF GOD AND THE GLORY OF MARY/ IMMACULATE THIS STATUE WAS GIVEN BY THE/ CATHOLICS OF THE 1ST BATT. SOUTH WALES BORDERERS/ IN MEMROY OF THEIR COMRADES OF THE 24TH REGT./ WHO FELL GLORIOUSLY AT ISANDHLWANA 22ND JANAURY/ 1879. ON THE SOULS SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY./ MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, PRAY FOR THEM./ XMAS 1892.

Any information welcome.

Posts : 2881 Join date : 2010-06-02

The church was one of the original three built for Aldershot camp in 1854. The following comes from the listed building description, but I suspect it has now been demolished. It may be that the memorials were transferred to the current garrison RC Cathedral (St Michael and St George). I will take a look - if it is open (rare).

HOPE GRANTS ROAD
1.
5238
Aldershot
St Michael and St Sebastian
(formerly listed as
Former Roman Catholic
Church under Aldershot
Camp, Knolly's Road)
SU 85 SE 2/39 20.8.79
II
2.
1856. Formerly the Roman Catholic Garrison Church (now moved to St Michael
and St George), now returned to MOD and used as a store. The survivor of the
three first camp churches, of similar appearance (one in the North Camp,
demolished 1969 ; the other South Camp church was known as the Iron Church,
last occupying the present site of St Andrews, Queens Avenue, and of similar
design to this building.

Simple structure of 9 bays, with a low-pitched roof covering the nave and
aisles. The fabric roof is surmounted centrally by a timber turret, having
a pyramid roof, brackets at eaves, and vertical board cladding. Each external
bay is marked by a vertical, enclosing horizontal lap-boarding with a projecting
cill band. Triple windows have round heads, diagonal leaded lights contain
multi-coloured glass. The east end is plain, with blank framing at ends of
aisles and nave. The west end has a central group of 5 windows (rising in
the centre) and triple windows on each side. There are three plain arched
doorways, the centre projecting as a porch. The interior has a light timber
framing archbraced, with some cast iron brackets.

Steve

Posts : 3055 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Steve

Many thanks for the information. Hopefully it is still around (I hope).

If you ever do get to see it, please update me.

Many thanks

Salute

Posts : 221 Join date : 2011-10-18

Hello 1879Graves,

The brass plaque which was attached to the statue still survives - I understand that it is on display in the Aldershot Military Museum (for a clear photo, just google 'Aldershot Military Museum Isandhlwhana' & it should be top of the list).

Regards,

Tim

Posts : 3055 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Tim

You are a Star, Thanks for the link.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
(Sherlock Holmes Society of London)
(photo by Roger Johnson)

We just need a picture of the Statue now.

Salute