Poppies at St Mary's, Warwick

I recently became aware via Twitter that there were displays of thousands of poppies at St Mary's Warwick. This is a church I have longed to return to as my one and only visit a few years ago only lasted about half an hour as we arrived about 30 minutes before closing. There is so much of interest to see including the Dudley and Beauchamp tombs so last Saturday D and I went to Warwick for the day.

St Mary's

Warwick Poppies

Two years ago the winner of the St Mary's Christmas Tree festival was a tree decorated with knitted poppies commemorating the Battle of the Somme by the Warwickshire Federation of Women's Institutes. St Mary's wished to commemorate in 2018 the end of World War One in 1918 by highlighting the roles that Warwickshire residents played especially as the church has a long association with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The idea developed of a special exhibition using knitted, crocheted or hand-crafted poppies made by local people.

The campaign to make and collect the poppies was launched in September 2017. Many local organisations, people, schools etc. became involved with the campaign which was publicised in the local press and on social media. "Poppy Drop Stations" were set up in local businesses. Every poppy donated represents a life lost or a life dramatically changed by horrific events during the Great War.

The Story of the Poppy

During World War One (1914-1918) fighting took place over the countryside of Western Europe and the landscape turned to fields of mud where plants failed to grow. However, one flower the Flanders poppy (Pappaver rhoeas) proved to be an exception and thousands flourished despite the destruction. In May 1915 a Canadian doctor Lt. Colonel John McCrae who had recently lost a friend at Ypres was so inspired by the poppies that he wrote the following poem:

"In Flanders Fields


In Flanders' fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders' fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders' Fields"

by John McCrae


An American academic Moira Michael read the above poem and decided to make and sell red silk poppies. Some of these arrived in England brought by a French lady, Anna Guerin.

The Royal British Legion formed in 1921 ordered 9 million of the poppies and sold them on 11th November. This first "Poppy Appeal" raised £106,000+ which was used to help World War One veterans.

Today a poppy factory and the British Legion Warehouse in Aylesford make millions of poppies each year. As few poppies were reaching Scotland Earl Haig's wife established "The Lady Haig Poppy Factory" in Edinburgh in 1926 to make poppies for Scotland. These are still made and sold today.

The poppy is a symbol of Remembrance and hope and is red because of the colour of wild field poppies. It is not a symbol of death, or a sign of support for war or linked to politics or religion.

Information provided by the Royal British Legion for the guide to "Warwick Poppies 2018"

The poppy displays were very beautiful and covered many areas of the church.

I should have got Timothy to pose with the Teddies.

The Regimental Chapel

Chancel and

Nave

The Chancel

Warwickshire Guild of Bell Ringers Remembrance Bell

The Beauchamp Chapel

The Nave

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the photos of the very beautiful and moving displays.


As you can see I have taken a lot of photos! and because the church is so interesting I have decided to split the visit into three posts. In the second part I will cover the history of the church, the stained glass, tombs and views from the tower and in the third post will show you a few pictures of Warwick.


All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330


Reference: Guide to "St Mary's - Warwick Poppies 2018"