Statue

Westminster Abbey A - Maximilian Kolbe

Westminster Abbey - 20th century martyrs 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

Isabella

Isabella

W1, St George Street, 6-7, Sotheby's

This identification of the statues on front of this building is only tentative, suggested by Ornamental Passions.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Derby statue

Derby statue

SW1, Parliament Square

The relief panels, by Montford, on the four sides of the plinth show scenes from Derby's life and are entitled: House of Commons 1833, Ch...

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Robert Milligan statue

Robert Milligan statue

E14, West India Quay

This statue used to be at the main gate but was removed in 1943, presumably to avoid bomb damage. Reinstated here in 1997 by the Dockland...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
John Fox Burgoyne

John Fox Burgoyne

SW1, Waterloo Place

The quote is from Shakespeare's play Coriolanus.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Frieze of Parnassus - Michelangelo - painter

Frieze of Parnassus - Michelangelo - painter

SW7, Kensington Road

The monument, commissioned by Queen Victoria and designed by George Gilbert Scott, was built 1864-72, and the statue of Albert was instal...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator