St John's Anglican Church First World War Memorial Altar, Branxton

This war memorial is a timber altar, located inside St John's Anglican Church in Branxton, NSW. It is made of oak and features turned columns and carvings of Gothic-style arches. The front is decorated with carvings of the Christogram 'IHS' and the Greek symbols for Alpha and Omega. The base of the altar also includes decorations, with the word 'Holy' carved three times, separated by two Maltese crosses. All the carvings are done as reliefs. A small brass dedication plaque is attached to the right-hand side of the altar. 

The altar was a gift to the church from Mr and Mrs Joseph Hatcher in honour of their son, Private Alexander Roy Hatcher, who died of wounds in France on 23 October 1917. It was built by A. B. Wise and Company of West Maitland. The dedication ceremony took place on 13 January 1918. The event was covered in detail in the Maitland Daily Mercury on 16 January. The article quoted Reverend A. Killworth, who said:

How appropriate the gift of a Holy table in memory of [Private Hatcher] since it is used in that beautiful service of the church, in which we commemorate the life-giving death of the Saviour of Men! That sacrifice on Calvary gave life to the world, and the deeds and deaths of our heroes entered into the spirit of that sacrifice.

The Hatchers also dedicated the pulpit in the church in 1917, in memory of the other son they lost to the war. It is listed separately on the NSW War Memorials Register as the St John's Anglican Church European War Memorial Pulpit and Honor Roll, Branxton. The altar is of a matching style.

Read more about Private Alexander Roy Hatcher on the NSW War Memorials Register.