Stained Glass Mermorial will remain in the community

Multi-denominational Christian maritime charity Sailors’ Society, owners of Armyn House in Bar Road, Falmouth, the former Seafarers’ Club and Hostel, has made arrangements under its collaboration with Church of England charity The Mission to Seafarers, to transfer its trusteeship of the magnificent stained glass memorial window commemorating the work of the late Reverend David Roberts MBE into the ongoing care of The Mission to Seafarers Trust. This will ensure that the memorial window may be preserved when the site and property are sold.

Memory of Padre David Roberts lives on Multi-denominational Christian maritime charity Sailors’ Society, owners of Armyn House in Bar Road, Falmouth, the former Seafarers’ Club and Hostel, has made arrangements under its collaboration with Church of England charity The Mission to Seafarers, to transfer its trusteeship of the magnificent stained glass memorial window commemorating the work of the late Reverend David Roberts MBE into the ongoing care of The Mission to Seafarers Trust. This will ensure that the memorial window may be preserved when the site and property are sold. The window will soon be moved from its present location in the chapel at Armyn House to be put on display in the new chapel for seafarers being prepared within the Falmouth shipyard by members of the local branch of The Mission to Seafarers. Revd Roberts MBE, an Anglican priest and a former Freeman of Falmouth, served as the local Port Chaplain for 37 years. He ministered to seafarers of all nationalities and many different faiths, both on ships in the harbour and also among those seafarers visiting and living at Armyn House, where he worked as an Honorary Chaplain to the Sailors’ Society during his time in Falmouth. Revd James MacDonald, former Principal Chaplain to the Sailors’ Society, recalling his close association with David noted, ‘I knew Revd Roberts personally. It is a very unusual clergyman who is so natural and free in the ‘marketplace’. Padre Roberts was a very much loved port minister, as comfortable chatting to a complete stranger in our seafarers’ club as he was in the vestry of a church. He had a unique ability to carry out his ministry no matter what the surroundings or the challenge confronting him. Padre Roberts used our chapel at Armyn House for worship on many occasions and the people of Falmouth loved him dearly for it’. Although the chapel constructed in 1936 fell into disrepair due to a serious lack of funds for its upkeep, it was faithfully refurbished in 2001 with funds from a Restoration Appeal. This was led by presiding Falmouth Town Mayor, Councillor Geoffrey Evans, who was very keen to see the memorial window saved and relocated as soon as the proposed sale of Armyn House was announced. Commenting on the arrangement Robert Adams, Chief Executive Officer of the Sailors’ Society said, ‘The beautiful blue stained glass window with its centrepiece depicting our Society emblem of the Dove of Peace bearing an olive branch under the guiding star of hope in the heavens above, surrounded by the inscription “Dedicated to the memory of Padre David Roberts 1908 to 1999”, was generously given into the trust of our Society by Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and was installed in our chapel in memory of Padre Roberts to commemorate his dedicated work in Falmouth after he died at the age of 91, exactly ten years ago this month. As we contemplate disposal of the property it is now very fitting that our Trustees are able to entrust this memorial to the care of The Mission to Seafarers. We work in close collaboration with The Mission to Seafarers, supporting merchant mariners in many ports around Britain under our ecumenical ‘Partnership in Mission’ with them and The Apostleship of the Sea. We sincerely hope and pray, that being displayed in the chapel created in the shipyard next to the ‘drop-in’ cabin for seafarers there, the depiction will inspire all those who may spend time gazing at it and that it will remain as an abiding memorial to the devotion that Padre Roberts gave to providing comfort and spiritual support to so many of their predecessors. His work was so admired by all in the Sailors’ Society who knew him’. Penny Phillips, committee Chair of the local branch of The Missions to Seafarers said, ‘We were absolutely delighted with the news. The memorial window is too tall to install in our cabin chapel as a proper window, so we intend to put the stained glass creation in a backlit display frame so that it can be seen in the best way. The Sailors’ Society has also generously donated its altar, chairs, communion ware, organ and other fittings from its own chapel at Armyn and we are so very grateful. This will help equip our new chapel in good time for it to be dedicated by the Bishop of Truro on 7th January next year.’ The bench donated in Padre Roberts name, that residents of Armyn House regularly relaxed upon, will also be relocated outside the new chapel in the shipyard. Armyn House is expected to be sold to a private bidder for a sum above its asking price and the two remaining occupants will be re-housed. The Sailors’ Society intends to use the proceeds of sale to fund its ministry to seafarers in the ports of Brazil and Indonesia, where there is presently sparse welfare support to meet the acute needs of merchant seafarers isolated from home and loved ones for months on end. The Society asks that people fortunately celebrating with their own families spare a thought for those merchant seafarers away at sea at this particular time of year and consider making a donation to the Society to sustain this work.

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