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Jackie Sharp Sheflin
4/10/2012 7:27:39 AM | Can anyone tell me the history of the stain glass window at the church in Weldon that was done in memory of the 401st Bomb Group? What is the name of the church and the town as well.
Jackie
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Phoenix
4/29/2012 3:55:31 PM | Jackie,
Bear with me here but the town is err Weldon which actually is a village now swallowed up by Corby. The church I think is St. Peters but I'll get back to you on that. The stained glass window is from the base chapel and was presented to the church by chaplain Ward Fellows who was a friend of the local vicar on the closure of the base before evryone departed for the states. I think.
improvise, adapt, overcome
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Jackie Sharp Sheflin
4/30/2012 5:31:44 AM | I have always wondered where the window came from and the story behind it. It is interesting that I have never seen the window in a picture of Deenthorpe Base....
Thank you for giving me some of the information behind the beautiful stained glass window.
Jackie
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rick_kaufman
4/30/2012 10:03:36 PM | As a minimum, here is one link to a NARA image of the Window when it was still on post at Deenethorpe:
/public/Attachments/NARA-Informal/65586.jpg
There are LOTS of images on the 401st site, and it is worth browsing them at your leisure.
The church is St. Mary the Virgin Church (Weldon) -
Check out this website: http://www.weldoninthewoods.com/st%20marys.html
I will contact our friends in the UK to see if we can generate an article for the PFG that details the history of this window... No promises, just an idea!
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Jackie Sharp Sheflin
5/1/2012 6:01:33 AM | Rick,
Thank you for the links and I think the article on the window would be wonderful! I am now wondering who made it as well and I am sure there is a story behind that as well as how it came to be.
Jackie
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Paul Bellamy
5/1/2012 6:16:23 PM | The memorial window at Weldon:
The central panel of the memorial window:
And in it's original position in the base chapel:
Also in Weldon church is the flag presented to Peterborough Cathedral by the 401st:
Seen being carried folded on the right of this photo taken during the presentation ceremony:
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Jackie Sharp Sheflin
5/2/2012 9:06:00 AM | Paul,
Very interesting information Paul. I sure hope someone does write a complete story about the window and the flag. Was anything else presented by the 401st to Weldon?
Jackie
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win-win
5/2/2012 4:49:35 PM | Hi Jackie,
I don't know the whole story, but the 401st Association/Historical Society has contributed to St.Mary the Virgin Weldon's bell fund. I don't know the details or extent (bought the bells?; helped repair the bells?; helped re-install the bells?) but as you say:
...'there's a story there" to be told.
Win Bryson
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Paul Bellamy
11/29/2012 9:10:54 PM | Section on the Chaplains Department from the Group's "Report of Operational Year, Nov. 26, 1943 - Nov. 25, 1944", giving a little more background:
The first religious services after the 401st Bombardment Group reached the Station were held Sunday, 7 November, in what is now the Navigators' Room at Headquarters Site. A folding table with an RAF blanket over it was used for an altar, and messhall benches were set up for the congregations. Sharing the hut with S-2 and the theatre, the Chaplains used it until the chapel and gymnasium was used for the first time on Christmas Eve 1943.
Thanksgiving Day 1943 we participated in a Thanksgiving Day Service held in Peterborough Cathedral, and the 1944 service was held at Cransley, near Kettering, with two other stations taking part.
A beautiful hand-carved altar was constructed from bomb boxes by Italian prisoners. A few months later the RAF altar and organ arrived and were installed in the chancel, which both faiths use on Sunday. During the week the chancel is the Protestant chapel. Also, a lovely stained glass window was installed in the base chapel by the Protestants as a memorial to members of the Group killed in line of duty - a wonderful gesture and gift.
Both Chaplains were present at all operational briefings and held services for those who wished to attend, and when the ships come back they are on the line with the ambulances and medics, "sweating them in".
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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donaldbyers
11/29/2012 10:00:39 PM | Thanks for that additional information Paul, well done
Don
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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