Parkes Methodist Church First World War Roll of Honour

This roll of honour is a shield-shaped plaque, mounted on a timber board made of maple with an Oxford frame made of oak. The plaque is made of white marble and lists 49 members of the Parkes Methodist Church who served in the First World War. Their names are inscribed across two columns and highlighted in gold. Attached below the shield is a small plaque dedicated to two other members of the church community. 

The roll was unveiled on 9 September 1917. It replaced a previous honour roll made of white satin with painted names which was unveiled on 16 April 1916. The marble honour roll remains on site and is located on the left-hand side of the nave. Also inside the church is the Parkes Methodist Church Second World War Book of Remembrance.

The original satin honour roll was unveiled on 16 April 1916 in the Methodist Church at a service conducted by Rev. A Graham. The unveiling was performed by Mrs H Bowditch, who was connected for many years with the Sunday School attended by a number of those who served in the war (Western Champion, 20 April 1916).  

The new marble honour roll was unveiled on 9 September 1917 during the anniversary services of the church. Reverend A J Burt conducted the afternoon service where the marble plaque was unveiled by Mrs Joseph Nash Snr. The memorial was designed and manufactured by W G Dodd and the lettering was completed by Messrs Bigelow Bros. The memorial was presented to the church in memory of the Howard family to perpetuate the names of the young men from the congregation who had served in the war, replacing the previous satin honour roll (Western Champion, 13 September 1917).