The memorial in the Central Methodist Mission, whose premises were known as the Albert Hall, was dedicated on Sunday, 18 September 1921. The memorial was unveiled by Mrs H Gifford Oyston, the wife of the minister, Rev Gifford Oyston.
At one point in the War over 1,300 men and women from the Mission were serving in the armed forces and the Mission compiled Rolls of Honour of members of the congregation who were serving or who had died as a result of their service. The Mission’s annual report of 1915-16 noted that, “every Sunday evening, at an appropriate part of the service, when nearly three thousand people are assembled, the roll of honour, comprising the names of the men and the branches of the service to which they are attached, is read over, together with the names of those who have fallen, and then the congregation stands bowed a while in silent intercession. A suitable hymn is then sung and the people are encouraged to mingle national aspiration with individual sacrifice.”
The Mission’s fourteenth annual report of 1916-1917 recorded a list of those who had died in the War, the roll showing the rank, name and regiment or ship in which the men had served. (Source: 'The Evolution of the Nottingham Central Methodist Mission', Ian Caulfield Grant, Morley’s Print and Publishing. ISBN 0 9519651 2 3).
See also Nottinghamshire Archives, Acc 7978, Location T007D, miscellaneous papers, Rev H Gifford Oyston, Methodist Mission.
The Methodist Mission transferred in the 1980s to Lower Parliament Street Methodist Church and the Albert Hall was sold. It is now the Albert Hall Conference Centre but the memorial has been kept in its original location in the foyer to the auditorium.
