Friesthorpe Church, Lincolnshire
Commissioned, designed, made and installed 2015, dedicated 5th March 2016
The Beechey Brothers Memorial Window,
The following information has been taken from a leaflet available to visitors to the church, written by Michael Walsh, who also wrote the book : 'Brothers in war'.
Friesthorpe and the Church of St Peter are now for ever linked with one family who suffered more than any other in the First World War. One hundred years on, a new stained-glass window commemorates the Beechey brothers, five of whom were killed in 1914-18, while a sixth was left partly paralysed by a sniper’s bullet. When Amy Beechey was presented to King George and Queen Mary as “the mother who gave five sons” and thanked for her sacrifice, she informed Her Majesty: “It was no sacrifice, Ma’am, for I did not give them willingly”. The widow Beechey’s stalwart dignity amid unimaginable grief lives on in this memorial window, where blood-red poppies represent her doomed sons : Barnard, or Bar, of the Lincolnshire Regiment, who charged to his death at the battle of Loos in 1915 and has no known grave, Frank, a signalling officer with the East Yorks, blown up trying to thread a line across No Man’s Land in 1916 after all his men had been killed or wounded, Harold, who fought with the Australians and was struck down by dysentery at Gallipoli and by shrapnel on the Somme, only to be patched up and sent back to die on the Western Front, where he, too, has no known final resting place. |
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Charles, or Char, a nature-loving Royal Fusilier, who wrote home of the glori ous flora and fauna in East Africa before a machine-gun bullet claimed his life. Leonard, of the London Irish Rifles, gassed and wounded at Cambrai, who died fro m the agonising effects of tetanus in a French military hospital, far from his devoted, inconsolable wife. Five lost Beechey boys. Christopher, badly wounded while serving alongside Harold at Gallipoli, was invalided to the warmth of Western Australia – a sixth son Amy would never see again. He lived with the crippling scars of war to the age of 85. Eric Beechey, an army dentist, touchingly wrote to his mother: “You will have one of us come back to you.” He survived, along with Samuel, youngest of the eight Beechey brothers, who was still a teenager when he was sent out to face the guns for the last three weeks of war. The boys had six sisters, the youngest of whom, Edie, kept their hundreds of letters from the trenches, which are now held in Lincolnshire Archives as a poignant and remarkable testimony of one family’s loss. They are the inspiration for Michael Walsh’s book on the Beechey tragedy, ‘Brothers in War’, and for two community plays, ‘Leaving Home’ – which was performed here in Friesthorpe – and ‘The Last Post’, staged in Lincoln to mark the 1914 centenary. Edie, the last surviving Beechey child, died in 1992. Her ashes are interred in this churchyard. Her name was added to the headstone commemorating her father, the Rev. Prince William Thomas Beechey, one-time rector of Friesthorpe with Snarford, who died in 1912 and was spared seeing so many of his fine sons lay down their lives for King and country. |
“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”
The new stained glass window was commissioned by the Great Nephew and Niece of the Beechey Brothers, Philip Mucklow and Joey Warren. Philip has kindly given the following comments about the window commission:
I have recently and for the very first time commissioned the design, making and installing of a stained glass window. It is a memorial to five brothers who lost their lives in the Great War.
I was pleased to find Andrew Seddon who was compatible with my ideas and gave discerning thought to his proposal. With diverse relatives, parishioners and church officials to satisfy, Andrew stoically amended the design many times during a long period of deliberation.
Finally and promptly upon eventual agreement he produced and installed a magnificent window of beauty and high meaning which has been greatly admired.
And his sister Joey said:
Everyone was delighted with the window, the vibrant colours, the 8 soldier figures so clear, starting out on the road to ........., Nana's words. Thank you for the design and for creating the window for the Beechey family.
I have recently and for the very first time commissioned the design, making and installing of a stained glass window. It is a memorial to five brothers who lost their lives in the Great War.
I was pleased to find Andrew Seddon who was compatible with my ideas and gave discerning thought to his proposal. With diverse relatives, parishioners and church officials to satisfy, Andrew stoically amended the design many times during a long period of deliberation.
Finally and promptly upon eventual agreement he produced and installed a magnificent window of beauty and high meaning which has been greatly admired.
And his sister Joey said:
Everyone was delighted with the window, the vibrant colours, the 8 soldier figures so clear, starting out on the road to ........., Nana's words. Thank you for the design and for creating the window for the Beechey family.
The window was dedicated by The Venerable Mark Steadman, Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey in a service on 5th March 2016 who has kindly shared his moving address from the dedication.
St Peter's Friesthorpe - Dedication of Stained Glass Window in memory of the Beechey Brothers
5th March 2016
The Venerable Mark Steadman, Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey
John Chapter 15
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The story that this window tells is both tragic and poignant. It represents the very best of the
human spirit in the face of the worst humans are capable of. It tells of duty, service and love, of
violence, conflict and grief.
Worse than that it reminds us, in these centenary years of the anniversary of the Great War - a
paradoxical title if ever there was one, that the shockwaves of that conflict were felt in every
community, very town, city, village and hamlet of this land. Throughout this county in every village,
no matter how small, one finds a memorial to the dead of that war. Often containing two or three
names bearing the same surname. It is rare to find an example of a family being so devastated as
that of the Revd and Mrs Beechey, but behind each memorial, as behind the memorial we dedicate
today stands personal, real stories, of real people. People seeking to serve and do their duty,
people whose lives are torn apart on the field of battle, people who see loved ones no longer.
People for whom the world must have been a very dark place.
And it is in the quote of the mother of those five lads, so beautifully depicted in the window before
us, that the tragedy and poignancy and horror of war is encapsulated. 'I did not give them willingly'.
Words spoken from the heart, to Queen Mary, which capture the raw emotion that underpins a
sacrifice nevertheless made.
In this window we see not only the story of one family, but of this community and countless others
like it. It is both personal and in its own way intimate, yet also tragically is the story of of many
families and many places. The Father of those five boys was the rector of this church, it is a place
all of them would have known well and a proper place to recall their memory, to commemorate
their sacrifice and to be put in remembrance of the costliness of war.
The words we heard from the 15th chapter of John's gospel have been read at occasions such as
this throughout the ages. It is natural to read Jesus' words of hope when seeking to commemorate
those who have given their lives in the service of their country and of freedom. 'No one has
greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.' It is right that we see the offering of
oneself in the service of others as the greatest example of love. Even if that service costs life. For
that is precisely the example of Jesus Christ himself. Who for love of humanity offered his life on
the cross, to the defeat of evil and salvation of all. And so after the pattern and calling of the Lord
many have, for love of their fellow man given their lives in the service of freedom and defeat of evil.
Seeing their sacrifice alongside Jesus' sacrifice, seeing their love, mirroring Jesus' love brings
each of us a degree of comfort.
Yet comfort is not where we need to remain. For Jesus has more to say in that reading 'And I
appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last,'. For the challenge is that in our loving, in our
service, in our sacrifice - whatever that might be - the Lord asks us to bear fruit, fruit that will last.
For without fruit, without something new being produced, or something changing then sacrifice is in
vain. With the Lord's death on the cross our relationship with God and our relationship with one
another changes. And so to with those who offer their lives in conflict and war. They do that,
willingly or unwillingly, as our window so powerfully reminds us, in order that the world might be
changed. For love, love of our neighbour, our country, our world, means we seek peace, justice
and reconciliation. And so the sacrifice of the Beechey brothers is only truly honoured by us if we
seek to build that world they died for. Our responsibility as those who benefit from the freedom they
died for is to ensure their sacrifice was not in vain.
And so this window does something very much more than commemorate the deaths of five young
men and a mother's grief. For the sacrifice it speaks of calls to us today to seek to live in the love
and peace of Jesus Christ. It asks us to work for the fruit of God's kingdom where violence is past
and grief no more. That is a task that belongs to each of us. This window reminds us of that task, it
is a visible prompt to ask us how we live, how we love, how we serve. And even more than that as
we gaze on it we gaze through it and see where we are each led, into the beauty, majesty and
wonder of God.
Heavenly Father,
We give you thanks and praise for the gift of this window.
In it we see the skill of artist and glassmaker,
the generosity of those who have caused it to be made
the sacrifice of those commemorated by it.
May all who gaze upon it be drawn closer to you
and through the sacrifice of the Beechey family
be inspired to work for peace with justice,
reconciliation and hope.
That war may be known no more and your perfect reign of love may be manifested in the lives of
all your servants.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Father, that as we dedicate this window to the memory of the Beechey brothers who lost their lives
in the service of their country, we pray you will accept this offering for the adornment of this church
and the inspiration of your people. And we pray that you will now Bless this window to your praise
and glory.
Through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit belong all power
and glory, wisdom and might now and for ever. Amen
and he said in his email:
Dear Andrew
I greatly enjoyed the service last Saturday and I'm delighted with the quality of the window that has gone in to St Peter's. It is a very fine piece of work and a real adornment to the church for generations to come.
With all good wishes
Mark
The Venerable Mark Steadman, Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey
St Peter's Friesthorpe - Dedication of Stained Glass Window in memory of the Beechey Brothers
5th March 2016
The Venerable Mark Steadman, Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey
John Chapter 15
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The story that this window tells is both tragic and poignant. It represents the very best of the
human spirit in the face of the worst humans are capable of. It tells of duty, service and love, of
violence, conflict and grief.
Worse than that it reminds us, in these centenary years of the anniversary of the Great War - a
paradoxical title if ever there was one, that the shockwaves of that conflict were felt in every
community, very town, city, village and hamlet of this land. Throughout this county in every village,
no matter how small, one finds a memorial to the dead of that war. Often containing two or three
names bearing the same surname. It is rare to find an example of a family being so devastated as
that of the Revd and Mrs Beechey, but behind each memorial, as behind the memorial we dedicate
today stands personal, real stories, of real people. People seeking to serve and do their duty,
people whose lives are torn apart on the field of battle, people who see loved ones no longer.
People for whom the world must have been a very dark place.
And it is in the quote of the mother of those five lads, so beautifully depicted in the window before
us, that the tragedy and poignancy and horror of war is encapsulated. 'I did not give them willingly'.
Words spoken from the heart, to Queen Mary, which capture the raw emotion that underpins a
sacrifice nevertheless made.
In this window we see not only the story of one family, but of this community and countless others
like it. It is both personal and in its own way intimate, yet also tragically is the story of of many
families and many places. The Father of those five boys was the rector of this church, it is a place
all of them would have known well and a proper place to recall their memory, to commemorate
their sacrifice and to be put in remembrance of the costliness of war.
The words we heard from the 15th chapter of John's gospel have been read at occasions such as
this throughout the ages. It is natural to read Jesus' words of hope when seeking to commemorate
those who have given their lives in the service of their country and of freedom. 'No one has
greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.' It is right that we see the offering of
oneself in the service of others as the greatest example of love. Even if that service costs life. For
that is precisely the example of Jesus Christ himself. Who for love of humanity offered his life on
the cross, to the defeat of evil and salvation of all. And so after the pattern and calling of the Lord
many have, for love of their fellow man given their lives in the service of freedom and defeat of evil.
Seeing their sacrifice alongside Jesus' sacrifice, seeing their love, mirroring Jesus' love brings
each of us a degree of comfort.
Yet comfort is not where we need to remain. For Jesus has more to say in that reading 'And I
appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last,'. For the challenge is that in our loving, in our
service, in our sacrifice - whatever that might be - the Lord asks us to bear fruit, fruit that will last.
For without fruit, without something new being produced, or something changing then sacrifice is in
vain. With the Lord's death on the cross our relationship with God and our relationship with one
another changes. And so to with those who offer their lives in conflict and war. They do that,
willingly or unwillingly, as our window so powerfully reminds us, in order that the world might be
changed. For love, love of our neighbour, our country, our world, means we seek peace, justice
and reconciliation. And so the sacrifice of the Beechey brothers is only truly honoured by us if we
seek to build that world they died for. Our responsibility as those who benefit from the freedom they
died for is to ensure their sacrifice was not in vain.
And so this window does something very much more than commemorate the deaths of five young
men and a mother's grief. For the sacrifice it speaks of calls to us today to seek to live in the love
and peace of Jesus Christ. It asks us to work for the fruit of God's kingdom where violence is past
and grief no more. That is a task that belongs to each of us. This window reminds us of that task, it
is a visible prompt to ask us how we live, how we love, how we serve. And even more than that as
we gaze on it we gaze through it and see where we are each led, into the beauty, majesty and
wonder of God.
Heavenly Father,
We give you thanks and praise for the gift of this window.
In it we see the skill of artist and glassmaker,
the generosity of those who have caused it to be made
the sacrifice of those commemorated by it.
May all who gaze upon it be drawn closer to you
and through the sacrifice of the Beechey family
be inspired to work for peace with justice,
reconciliation and hope.
That war may be known no more and your perfect reign of love may be manifested in the lives of
all your servants.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Father, that as we dedicate this window to the memory of the Beechey brothers who lost their lives
in the service of their country, we pray you will accept this offering for the adornment of this church
and the inspiration of your people. And we pray that you will now Bless this window to your praise
and glory.
Through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit belong all power
and glory, wisdom and might now and for ever. Amen
and he said in his email:
Dear Andrew
I greatly enjoyed the service last Saturday and I'm delighted with the quality of the window that has gone in to St Peter's. It is a very fine piece of work and a real adornment to the church for generations to come.
With all good wishes
Mark
The Venerable Mark Steadman, Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey
'Brothers in War' by Michael Walsh Daily Telegraph news article Link BBC news article and video To listen to our feature on BBC Radio 4: From Our Home Correspondent, click here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000gm8x - our segment starts at 10:45. Read about more Church stained glass windows by Andrew Seddon Contact Andrew Seddon at The Stained Leaded Glass Company To see another Church Stained Glass project, click here. |