September 2023 marked 100 years since the unveiling of the Gatty memorial statue for the township of Church and corresponding bronze tablet  which records names of the fallen. The unique  Portland stone statue commissioned  from locally born artist Walter Marsden stands as a reminder to those lost during the first World War and also acts as a focus of Remembrance for later conflicts.

Walter Marsden was a local lad, born in Church-Kirk, who  started his career in the local terracotta brick works design office before moving on to become a talented sculptor of his day. Walter had served his country during the war and was awarded the Military Cross and Bar for bravery. It was intended that the Gatty memorial represented  'Peace' rather than war. The bronze tablet  now situated inside Elmfield Hall, lists the names of those brave local lads from Church who made the ultimate sacrifice during WW1.

The sculptor Walter Marsden also worked on many other Lancashire war memorials including Bolton, Lytham St Anne's, Heywood and Tottington. Newspaper reports 100 years ago state the unveiling ceremony, led by Lieutenant Colonel G.C.H. Bolton MC, was before a crowd  of three to four thousand people.  

In addition to many local dignitaries Church and Oswaldtwistle Royal British Legion took part in the  procession and ceremony. Royal British Legion Church and Oswaldtwistle Branch is still continuing its valuable work today supporting the armed forces community and raising much needed funds for the Poppy Appeal. The memorial will be rededicated on Remembrance Sunday 2023. 

Oswaldtwistle War Memorial was unveiled on 14th January 1922 by Major General Shoubridge C.O. of the 42nd East Lancashire Division. The memorial is a fine example of the work of sculptor Louis Frederick Roslyn RBS.