Lichfield Mercury - Friday 03 September 1920 (page 5) printed the following lengthy report, re the memorial's design/ creation/ dedication etc :
'NEW REREDOS AT ST. MARY'S, LICHFIELD. MEMORIAL TO THE LATE R. P. AND LADY COOPER. There was a large congregation at St. Mary's Church, Lichfield, on Wednesday evening, upon the occasion of the dedication by the Lord Bishop of Stafford (the Right Rev. L. P. Crawfurd, D.D.) of a handsome new reredos which has been presented ta the church by the family of the late Sir Richard Powell Cooper, Bart., and Lady Cooper, in memory of their deceased parents. The dedication service was preceded by a re-union of St. Mary's parishioners and congregation in the Palace Garden, by permission of the Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Mrs. Kempthorne, and at which a musical programme was contributed by the church choir and other friends. The reredos is of Staffordshire alabaster and is of ornate description. It has been admirably executed by Messrs. Robert Bridgeman and Sons, the well-known ecclesiastical sculptors, of Lichfield, and, together with a new altar, which has been erected in memory of the fifty-six parishioners who made the supreme sacrifice in the war, and of the late Vicar (the Rev. Prebendary C.N. Bolton), has been designed by Mr. C. E. Bateman, architect, of Birmingham. ARCHITECTS DESCRIPTION. The aim in the design of the altar and reredos has been to set forth the everlasting Truth of our Lord's life on earth, and His still Living Presence amongst us; thus supplementing the Crucifixion, pourtrayed [sic] in the east window. The Biblical history, drawing the colour of the whole must be taken together in reading the story. The "opus sictile" mosaic panels have been made by Messrs. Powells, of London. Painted on opaque glass, the 3 in the altar depict the Annunciation, Nativity and Presentation in the Temple. The lower panel in the reredos represents our Lord in the care of His mother; the upper one, the still Living Christ, as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, to rule and reign for ever. Of these 2 panels, the former subject was painted upon slate, and fixed in the arches above the old altar. But from its treatment, in the dark shadow, it was hardly discernible. The panels are being touched up and repaired, and are to be replaced at the north-west end of the Church. On the altar front are carved: (i.) The Lily, the emblem of purity, and of the Virgin Mother; ii.) The Rose, the emblem of our Lord; the Rose of Sharon; (iii.) The Pomegranate, typifying the Seed in the spread of the Gospel; (iv.) The Poppy, the mortality of man: (v)j The Vine, Eternal Life in Jesus Christ. The colours :—(i.) Blue is the prevailing colour, as associated with the Virgin Mother, the Church being dedicated to S. Mary ; (ii.) Red signifies the Precious Blood; (iii.) Green signifies the mortal, and (iv.) Gold signifies the eternal life. In the reredos, the rose is again used and given prominence in the enclosing band of ornament. A star will be noticed in the panel of the Nativity. It is eclipsed at the Crucifixion, re-appearing at the Resurrection with increased splendour. It is placed at the apex, with the sacred monogram in the centre, I.H.S. Mr. Joseph Bridgeman. has taken more than a passing interest in the working, and carving of the alabaster in the altar and reredos. He has been associated with the church all his life, and his father before him. The name of his eldest son is recorded on the tablet bearing the names of those who made the great sacrifice in the war. On the north wall of the chancel an alabaster tablet in a decorated frame (artistically gilded by Miss Margaret Bridgeman), bears the following inscription: "To the glory of God, and in loving memory of Richard Powell Cooper, First Baronet, of Shenstone Court, Lichfield, Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Stafford, who died 30th July, 19 13, and of Elizabeth Anne, his wife, who died January, 1915. the Reredos is dedicated by their children." The family and relatives of the late Sir Richard and Lady Cooper present at the service were Sir Richard Ashmole Cooper. Bart., M.P. for Walsall (son) and Lady Cooper; Mr. W. F. Cooper (son) and Mrs. Cooper, of Watford; Major-General R. M. Foot, C.B., C.M.G., D,S,O., and Mrs Foot (daughter), of White Hill, Berkamsted ; Colonel R E. Negus and Mrs. Negus (daughter), of Morville, Sherbourne. Warwick; Mr. George Ashmall (brother of the late Lady Cooper) and Mrs. Ashmall, of Lichfield ; and Captain H. H. W. Pulleine and Mrs. Pulleine (niece). Mr. K. S. Barker and Mrs. Barker (daughter), of Watchbury, Barford, Warwick, were unable to be present. THE DEDICATION SERVICE The service, which was by the Vicar (the Rev. Prebendary Arthur Paice R.D.), included the hymns "We love the place, O God," "Angel voices ever singing," " Once, only once, and once for all," and "Thou, who at thy first Eucharist didst pray." The special lesson, read by the Rev. Percival Howard (who attended the Bishop as chaplain) was taken from Hebrews 12c, 18 to 24v. The presentation of the reredos was made by Sir Richard Cooper "in pious memory our parents" and "for the religious use of the people of this parish." The gift was accepted by the Vicar, who handed it over to the care of the wardens (Messrs. T. Andrews an G. H. Bullock). The reredos was then solemnly dedicated by the Bishop who afterwards gave an address. Whenever any visitor or worshipper entered that church at the west door, said his lordship, his or her eye would at once travel straight up the east end and rest on those gifts - the reredos and altar. .What was the voice that was meant to come to that parish from the reredos and altar ? Surely it was the voice of welcome and the voice of love. Fittingly that reredos and that altar commemorated those who had departed this life in God's faith and fear. We were far too apt to forget and overlook them in the hurry and bustle of ordinary life. That was just the feeling in the minds of those who had given that reredos and that altar. The lives they commemorated were in their setting and circumstances strangely different, of course. The reredos was the gift of filial love in pious memory of parents who in the eventide of life and honoured old age fell asleep in Christ, and the altar was the loving gift of parishioners in memory of a man greatly beloved, their late Vicar, and in memory of that goodly band of bravest and best who gladly sprang forward in answer to their country's call and gave themselves for their King and country, for honour and freedom'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000379/19200903/028/0005 