A 19th CENTURY church has become the first in Wales to host a striking and stirring silhouette installation which is being hosted to commemorate First World War casualties buried in the church grounds

Ten silhouettes, made of Perspex and two life-size Tommy figures, have been put in place at St Margaret’s Church in Bodelwyddan - also known as the Marble Church - as part of the campaign - There But Not There.

St Margaret’s has a strong connection with the war; more than 100 servicemen, including more than 80 Canadian troops, were buried in its grounds.

Canon Ian Day, vicar of St Margaret’s Church, said: “Our church’s links with the First World War are renowned. As we commemorate those who fell one 100 years ago, There But Not There provides a truly touching medium for people to reflect on the sacrifice that was made.

“We hope that other community groups and places of worship follow in our footsteps, and that people visit St Margaret’s throughout the year to see our silhouettes.”

The silhouettes are available to other churches, community groups and organisations.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has made £2million available in micro grants for groups to purchase 10 silhouettes each. St Margaret’s is one of the pilot locations for the grant. Other groups wishing to follow suit will be able to apply between the June 1 and 30.

The installation will be running and open to the public until November.

Dino Bossi, trustee of There But Not There and former commanding officer of the Welsh Guards, said: “The money made available by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust will be an enormous help in getting more communities involved in the campaign. For those that might not be able to afford these striking silhouettes, the help is now available to ensure that as many people as possible can remember those local men who never returned a century ago.”

The silhouettes have been designed by conceptual photographer and installation artist Martin Barraud, who first created the Perspex men representing the Fallen in Penshurst Church in Kent two years ago.

Anyone interested in holding their own installation, can visit: www.therebutnotthere.org.uk