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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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.

Read More

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. For information on wh...

Read More

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

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

Read More

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

6 Burlington Gardens - Goethe

6 Burlington Gardens - Goethe

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
Frieze of Parnassus - Bushnell

Frieze of Parnassus - Bushnell

SW7, Kensington Road

The monument, officially titled the Prince Consort National Memorial, celebrates Victorian achievement and Prince Albert's passions and i...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Black Bull Inn, W6

Black Bull Inn, W6

W6, King Street, 257

This is a much travelled bull. It was sculpted by Obadiah Pulham at Woodbridge in Suffolk, during the early 19th century. Transported to ...

3 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Colonial Office - S07 - Robinson

Colonial Office - S07 - Robinson

SW1, Whitehall, Foreign Office

Statues Hither and Thither has been invaluable in identifying some of the busts and most of the statues. The statues are not labelled and...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Burlington House - Reynolds

Burlington House - Reynolds

W1, Piccadilly, Royal Academy

This building is commonly known as the Royal Academy (of Arts). The wings of the building are occupied by a number of learned societies, ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Sir Alec Guinness - Elstree and Borehamwood Station

Sir Alec Guinness - Elstree and Borehamwood Station

WD6, Allum Lane, Station forecourt

The plaques are around the station forecourt, either on frames or laid into the pavement. The gold lettering on the marble effect on the ...

1 subject commemorated
Royal Regiment of Artillery - replacement plaque

Royal Regiment of Artillery - replacement plaque

SE18, Artillery Square, Academy Performing Arts

Sometime 2011-17 the rather nice yellow plaque was replaced with the bronze rectangle which doesn't look new nor designed for an exterior...

4 subjects commemorated