Avalanche Memorial Church facts for kids
The Avalanche Memorial Church, also known as the Church of St Andrew, is a Church of England church. You can find it in Southwell, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. This church was built in 1879 and is still used today as part of the Portland Parish. Since 1978, the church and its surrounding wall have been a Grade II Listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
The church was designed by C.R. George Crickmay. He used an early English style for its look. Local builders, Lynham and Bayliss of Portland, constructed it. The church was finished in 1879. The Bishop of Salisbury officially opened it on July 3rd. It's important not to mix up this church with the much older St Andrew's Church. That one is a ruin from the 13th century.
Why Was the Avalanche Church Built?
The Avalanche Memorial Church was built to remember a sad event. In September 1877, two ships crashed into each other. This happened off Portland Bill during a big storm. The ships were called the SS Avalanche and the SS Forest.
The Avalanche was carrying 63 passengers. They were traveling all the way to their homes in New Zealand. The Forest had a crew of 22 people. Sadly, 106 people lost their lives in this terrible accident.
By the next morning, local fishermen from Chesil Cove bravely helped. They rescued the people who survived. Then they brought them safely to shore. This disaster became big news across the country. People started a special effort to help. They raised £2,000 in donations. This money was used to build a new church. It would serve as a memorial to those who died.
What Can You See Inside the Church?
The church has many special items inside. These items remember the people who drowned. They also honor the brave local fishermen. Some of the church's windows were paid for by families and friends of the victims. The lectern (a stand for reading) and the pulpit (where sermons are given) were also gifts.
You can see a picture of the Avalanche ship. There's also an artwork showing two local fishing boats. These boats are called lerrets. The picture shows them coming ashore after the rescue. A special paper called a testimonial is also on display. It was given to one of the brave rescuers, William Flann.
One of the most important items is a large anchor. This anchor belonged to the Avalanche ship. It was brought up from the sea in 1984. Then it was given to the church. There is also a brass tablet. It lists the names of the passengers and crew from the Avalanche.
Images for kids
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The Avalanche Memorial Church
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The Avalanche Memorial Church and its surroundings
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An old drawing of the ship collision in 1877
