Avalanche Memorial Church facts for kids
The Avalanche Memorial Church, also known as the Church of St Andrew, is a Church of England church located in Southwell, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It was built in 1879 and is still an active church today, serving the local community as part of the Portland Parish. This church, along with its surrounding wall, is considered a Grade II Listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
The church was designed by an architect named C.R. George Crickmay. He used an "early English style" for its design, which means it looks similar to churches built many centuries ago in England. Local builders, Lynham and Bayliss of Portland, constructed the church. It was finished in 1879 and officially opened on July 3rd by the Bishop of Salisbury. It's important not to mix up this church with the much older ruins of Portland's first parish church, the 13th-century St Andrew's Church.
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A Tragic Shipwreck and a Special Memorial
The Avalanche Memorial Church was built to remember a very sad event that happened in September 1877. Two ships, the SS Avalanche and the SS Forest, crashed into each other near Portland Bill. This happened during a big storm.
The Collision of Two Ships
The SS Avalanche was carrying 63 passengers who were traveling all the way to their homes in New Zealand. The SS Forest had a crew of 22 people. Sadly, 106 people lost their lives in this terrible accident.
Heroic Rescues and a National Effort
When morning came, brave local fishermen from Chesil Cove went out to help. They rescued the survivors and brought them safely to shore. News of this disaster spread across the country. People were very moved by the tragedy. A national campaign was started to raise money for a new church. People donated £2,000 to build this church as a special memorial.
Remembering Those Lost
Inside the Avalanche Memorial Church, you can find many things that remember those who died. There are also tributes to the brave local fishermen who helped. Some of the church's windows, the lectern (where readings are given), and the pulpit (where sermons are delivered) were paid for by the families and friends of those who drowned.
You can also see a picture of the SS Avalanche ship. There's an artist's drawing showing two local Portland fishing boats, called lerrets, coming ashore after the rescue. A framed copy of a special award given to one of the rescuers, William Flann, is also on display.
One very important item is a brass tablet. It lists the names of the passengers and crew from the SS Avalanche. It also includes what they did, if known. The most famous item in the church is a large anchor from the SS Avalanche. This anchor was brought up from the sea and given to the church in 1984. It's a powerful reminder of the ship and the people it carried.
