Remembrance Sunday

The Church of St. Michael and All Angels at Berwick in East Sussex is famous for the extensive 20th Century murals which cover the nave walls, chancel arch, screen and pulpit. These were painted during the Second World War by the Bloomsbury artists, Duncan Grant, Vanessa and Quentin Bell. The largest of these murals is 'Christ in Majesty' by Duncan Grant which covers the wall above and around the chancel arch. This photograph shows part of the left hand side of the arch. Here, three local men are kneeling, against a backdrop of the South Downs, and look across the arch towards the Rev. George Mitchell, the Rector of Berwick at the time and Bishop Bell of Chichester who had the murals commissioned. The men are from each of the three forces: a sailor (Mr Weller), an airman (Mr Humphry) and a soldier (Mr Hemming). Beneath them is a meadow of poppies. The murals were unveiled at a ceremony in October 1943. Douglas Hemming was killed at Caen in 1944. It is a unique war memorial.