The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
Plymouth's Bombed Out St Andrew's Church
Civic and Church leaders gather for a special service in the shell of St Andrew's
From the collection of:
Overview
This film shows an important civic event and a church service. After the war, church services continued to be held in the shell of the bombed out St Andrew's Church in the heart of the city of Plymouth. The church was bombed in March 1941 during the Plymouth blitz. A headmistress nailed a wooden sign over the door with the Latin word Resurgam meaning I shall rise again.
There is now a permanent plaque stating Resurgam at the entrance to St Andrew's. The Church was reconsecrated on St Andrew's Day 30 November 1957. On a visit to the West Country on the 27 October 1949 a young princess unveiled a plaque: This tablet was set here by Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh to mark the beginning of the rebuilding of the City largely destroyed by enemy air raids in April-May 1942. This is part of Frank Leatherby's own home movie collection and shows him in 1949 as Lord Mayor in the red robes, tricorne hat and ceremonial chains.
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