Statue

Westminster Abbey A - Maximilian Kolbe

Erection date: /7/1998

Site: Westminster Abbey - 20th century martyrs (11 memorials)

SW1, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey - west porch

Fourteen niches on the West Front remained empty since the Abbey was built until 1998 when they were filled. The lower four are filled with allegorical figures representing mercy, truth, justice and peace, the traditional virtues for which the martyrs occupying the ten upper niches might be said to have died. Their new occupants are carved from French Richemont limestone and each weighs almost a ton. It was decided that martyrs of the 20th century would be the subjects and sadly the election panel were spoilt for choice. The final selection is intended to be representative of the different areas of oppression around the world. Tim Crawley led the team of sculptors.
We have listed the statues in the sequence, left to right, of the niches they occupy.

The plaque is on the ground to the left, inside the railings.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Westminster Abbey A - Maximilian Kolbe

Subjects commemorated i

Maximilian Kolbe

Saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Franciscan killed by the Nazis in 1941.

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Westminster Abbey A - Maximilian Kolbe

Created by i

Queen Elizabeth II

Born 17 Bruton Street, to the Duke and Duchess of York. When she was 10 her f...

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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Born at the villa 'Mon Repos', the summer retreat of the Greek royal family, ...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Westminster Abbey A - Maximilian Kolbe

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Nell Gwynn statue

Nell Gwynn statue

SW3, Sloane Avenue, Nell Gwynn House

We have failed to garner any information on this statue and the relief panels. The nearest connection we can find with Nell is a traditi...

1 subject commemorated
St Botolph’s - charity boy

St Botolph’s - charity boy

EC2, St Botolph’s Church Hall, Bishopsgate

This building was originally the School House, begun in 1821 by Sir William Rawlins. From Spitalfields Life 2014 we learn that: Many lay...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
V&A façade - Chippendale

V&A façade - Chippendale

SW7, Cromwell Road

Not sure whether the statue represents junior or senior.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
6 Burlington Gardens - Newton

6 Burlington Gardens - Newton

W1, Burlington Gardens, 6

There are 22 statues on the façade of this building. Each is labelled with his (always 'his') surname. There are 12 at the top up against...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
George Orwell statue

George Orwell statue

W1, Hallam Street, o/s BBC

At 6' 2" Orwell was a tall man, but this statue is 2.5 metres (over 8'). He struggled with ill-health most of his life and died of tuberc...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator