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

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Margaret MacDonald

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1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
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Street Cat Bob

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In 2007, as a homeless person living in supported housing, James Bowen was befriended by ginger cat Bob, who needed Bowen's help. Bowen w...

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Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon

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Frieze of Parnassus - da Vinci

Frieze of Parnassus - da Vinci

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1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Myddelton statue - EC3

Myddelton statue - EC3

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Statue on the left.  Ornamental Passions has some information.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator