A fitting place for Rolls of Honour

When a church is deconsecrated, along with the inevitable feeling of loss, there is a lot of work to do. One of those tasks is finding a new home for so much that’s accumulated over the decades. 

One highly valued item in many New Brunswick churches is the Roll of Honour — the framed list of parishioners who answered the call to go to war.

Such pieces of history have been a part of churches for decades or even a century or more.

Now, the New Brunswick Military History Museum has a special place for them. They are developing a quiet room as part of their expansion, and welcome Rolls of Honour from New Brunswick churches.

It already has one Anglican Roll of Honour from St. James in Saint John, and it would like to have more.  

NEW BRUNSWICK MILITARY HISTORY MUSEUM
You can find the New Brunswick Military History Museum at CFB Gagetown in the town of Oromocto. It is more than 50 years old and houses an impressive collection that tells the story of the province’s military history — from the 1600s up to the present day.

“The Timeline Gallery traces the military history of New Brunswick from the Wabanaki Confederacy all the way to New Brunswickers who’ve gone to fight in Ukraine,” said Mike Larose, the museum’s administrative clerk.
Mike served for 35 years as an infantry officer before retirement, and now spends his days at the museum.

QUIET ROOM
The NBMHM is in the midst of expanding its collection to the second floor, where, in about six month’s time, visitors will see the Honour Staircase, which will feature the five New Brunswickers who were awarded the Victoria Cross.

This area will also house the donated medals of many soldiers, and two showcase rooms.  

But the gem will be the Quiet Room. Already there is a church pew in place, with subdued lighting in the works, because it will be designed for visitors to take a moment to meditate, say a prayer and reflect on what they’ve seen in the museum.

“You’re seeing version zero,” said Mike. “But that’s where the vision is going. In this reflection room, you will look around and see the names of New Brunswickers who’ve gone to fight in the wars. 

“It has a chapel feel. You can just sit down and take it in.”

Mike is hoping any churches looking for a suitable place for their Rolls of Honour will contact him. 

“If you don’t know what to do with them, maybe this room could be a fantastic resting place,” he said.

REACHING OUT
The Rev. Peter Gillies, an avid student of history, found out about the plans for a Quiet Room during a visit last fall.

“I was at the museum for a reception and Mike took me aside and showed me the still-developing quiet room the museum had started,” said Peter.

“I was taken with the small collection of the Rolls of Honour they had mounted on the walls. After some discussion, I agreed to pursue reaching out to churches, so here we are.”

Peter sees the Quiet Room and its eventual contents as the perfect solution to the quandary of where to send items when a church is closing.

“Ecclesiastical things might be a bit easier to pass on, but things like memorials must truly be a problem and a concern,” he said. 

“This project of the Military Museum strikes me as a solution for the Rolls of Honour. There may even be parishes with some military memorabilia that the museum might be interested in preserving.”

The New Brunswick Military History Museum has been described as a hidden gem, but there’s no need to keep it hidden. It’s open to the public Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee, though donations are welcome. 

You will find it at 119 Walnut Street, Building A-5. Pass through what was the gate, turn left onto Champlain, then left again onto Walnut, and left into the parking area. 

For Rolls of Honour information, you may contact Peter (jpetergillies@gmail.com) or Mike (nbmhm.mhmnb@gmail.com / 506-422-2000 Ext 6201).

PHOTO CAPTIONS:
1. Mike Larose, the museum’s administrative clerk, at the entrance to the Timeline Gallery at the New Brunswick Military History Museum in Base Gagetown.
2. The quiet room in the museum will allow visitors to pause and remember New Brunswickers who went to war on their behalf. It should be ready for visitors in the fall.
3. Rolls of Honour, like this one from St. James Anglican Church in Saint John, can find a home in the museum's quiet room. 
4. The New Brunswick Military History Museum welcomes visitors Monday to Friday. 
McKnight photos