Saint George's Memorial Church, Ypres

Saint George's Memorial Church in Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium

Saint George's Memorial Church, Ypres (Ieper), Belgium, was built to commemorate over 500,000 British and Commonwealth troops, who had died in the three battles fought for the Ypres Salient, during World War I. It was completed in 1929.[1]

The church was built following an appeal led by The Ypres League and its President Field Marshal Sir John French, Earl of Ypres, for a British memorial church to be built. Land was given by the town, and the foundation stone was laid by Field Marshal Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Fulham on 24 March 1929. The architect was Sir Reginald Blomfield whose work included the Menin Gate (1922) and other war memorials.[citation needed]

The church is part of the Diocese in Europe of the Church of England and is also a Belgian national monument. The church is open every day from 9:30 am until dusk (4 pm in winter).

The church has many plaques and memorials to regiments, associations and individuals.

  1. ^ "St. George's Memorial Church, Ieper (Ypres)". The Great War 1914-18. Retrieved 31 October 2017.