Statue

Westminster Abbey B - Manche Masemola

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 B - Manche Masemola

Subjects commemorated i

Manche Masemola

An Anglican catechumen from South Africa who was killed by her animist parent...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Westminster Abbey B - Manche Masemola

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 B - Manche Masemola

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

V&A façade - Millais

V&A façade - Millais

SW7, Cromwell Road

The sculptor is elsewhere logged as James Alexander Stevenson but the niche gives "Mirande", as best we can read. 2022: We were contacte...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Frieze of Parnassus - Trump

Frieze of Parnassus - Trump

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
Sir Keith Park

Sir Keith Park

SW1, Waterloo Place

A resin version of this statue was temporarily installed in Trafalgar Square on the 'fourth plinth' on 4 November 2009.

2 subjects commemorated, 4 creators
Frieze of Parnassus - Dante

Frieze of Parnassus - Dante

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
Thomas Cubitt statue

Thomas Cubitt statue

SW1, Denbigh Street and St George's Drive

The Harding tree is on the far left of our photo, and seems a goodly size for one not planted before 1985.

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators

Previously viewed

Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet

Saxophonist, clarinetist and composer. Born in New Orleans. He was an outstanding clarinetist in his teens and toured Europe with Will Marion Cook's Syncopated Orchestra. In London he was imprisone...

Person, Music / songs, France, USA

1 memorial
John Callcott Horsley

John Callcott Horsley

Painter. Born Brompton Row.  Designer of the first Christmas card.  His sister married I. K. Brunel.  A religious man, his objection to the prevalence of paintings of nudes caused 'Punch' to nickna...

Person, Art

1 memorial
John Denley

John Denley

Protestant martyr. He was believed to have been a Baptist, which was rather dangerous in the reign of Mary I. Whilst returning from a visit to Maidstone, he was stopped by Edmund Tyrell, a justice ...

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial
William Henry Barlow

William Henry Barlow

Engineer. Born Charlton. Best known for the St Pancras railway shed. Died at home, High Combe, 145 Charlton Road, SE7, not far from his place of birth.

Person, Engineering

2 memorials
Councillor H. Adams

Councillor H. Adams

Councillor and member of Housing Committee, Parmiter Street, and of the Bethnal Green Baths Committee in 1926.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial