Cenotaph to Matthew Henry facts for kids

The Cenotaph to Matthew Henry is a special monument in Chester, Cheshire, England. You can find it on a roundabout right across from the entrance to Chester Castle. This monument has a cool bronze picture, called a medallion, made by an artist named Matthew Noble. It's also a very important building, listed as Grade II on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a building of national importance and special interest.

History of the Matthew Henry Memorial

Who Was Matthew Henry?

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) was a famous Presbyterian minister. A minister is like a religious leader. He was also a great preacher and writer. Matthew Henry started the Presbyterian Chapel on Trinity Street in Chester.

Why a Memorial Was Built

In 1858, people in Chester wanted to honor Matthew Henry. They held a public meeting, led by the Mayor of Chester. They wanted to raise money to build a memorial for him. The first ideas were to build a statue near Chester Castle. They also wanted to print a cheaper version of his Bible explanations, called a commentary. Another idea was to create a special scholarship in his name at Oxford University.

However, there was a small problem. After Matthew Henry died, his chapel became a Unitarian church around 1750. Unitarians have different beliefs. It was decided that the Unitarians should not help raise money for the memorial. Because of this, donations came in very slowly.

Building the Obelisk

Since not enough money was raised for a statue, they decided to build an obelisk instead. An obelisk is a tall, thin, four-sided monument that tapers to a pyramid shape at its top. This obelisk was going to be placed in the churchyard of St Bridget's Church. The church leader offered the spot for free.

The architect, Thomas Harrison, and the sculptor, Matthew Noble, both worked for free. The stone worker was A. McDonald from Aberdeen. The total cost was about £267, which was a lot of money back then! The obelisk was officially revealed on August 22, 1860.

Where It Stands Today

St Bridget's Church was taken down in 1892. But the obelisk stayed in its churchyard. In the 1960s, a new road was built around Chester. The obelisk was then moved to its current spot. Now, it stands on a roundabout across from Chester Castle.

What the Cenotaph Looks Like

Size and Materials

The Cenotaph to Matthew Henry is made from shiny granite. It stands about 5.8 meters (about 19 feet) tall. The bronze medallion, which is a portrait of Matthew Henry, is about 5 meters (about 16 feet) high. It has the artist's name and the year it was made: "M.NOBLE SC 1860". The tall obelisk sits on a square base with three sandstone steps.

The Special Inscription

There is an important message carved into the obelisk. It says:

MATTHEW HENRY VDM BORN 18TH OCTOBER 1662 DIED 22ND JUNE 1714

INTERRED IN TRINITY CHURCH IN THIS CITY

This tells us when Matthew Henry was born and when he died. It also says he was buried in Trinity Church in Chester.

Its Importance as a Building

This monument was officially named a Grade II listed building on August 6, 1998. Being Grade II means it is a building of national importance. It has special historical or architectural interest.