At the beginning of last week I was in London for some meetings. Just before leaving I went for a walk to Westminster Abbey. I suddenly realised how easily one might miss some details. I never went in. Above the "exit" door (for those who visit the place) there is a group of 10 statues. Never thought I would find "familiar faces".
"The ten statutes are of individual martyrs; but they are intended to represent all those others who have died (and continue to die) in similar circumstances of oppression and persecution. They are drawn from every continent and many Christian denominations. The statutes were unveiled by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presences of H.M. The Queen, H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh and church leaders and representatives from many parts of the world on 9 July 1998."
https://www.westminster-abbey.org
https://www.westminster-abbey.org
Sixth from the left is Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero declared Saint by Pope Francis on Sunday 14th October 2018 and whose canonisation I was able to attend as president of Caritas Swaziland.
Just outside the west door of Westminster Abbey is a memorial to Innocent Victims of war and oppression. It can also be missed unless one looks down! It is a large circular slate memorial, on a slightly raised stone base, by Irish sculptor Ken Thompson. The memorial is to remember civilians, men, women and children, who have suffered death, torture and oppression throughout the world. The central inscription reads:
ALL
INNOCENT
VICTIMS OF
Remember
OPPRESSION
VIOLENCE
WAR
In the outer circle is a quote from Lamentations chapter 1, verse 12: Is it nothing to you all you who pass by?
