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Peace garden setting for forgotten plaque
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Church memorial plans spark
plea to victims’ relatives
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Church peace and justice group members, from left, Valerie
Flessati, Justine Lukszewicz, Bruce Kent, Justine Lukszewicz,
Margaret Troy and Brendan Lyons
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A FORGOTTEN war memorial is to become the centrepiece of a
stunning peace garden.
St Mellitus Church in Finsbury Park is appealing to families of
those who died in World War II to come forward so that their sacrifice
can be honoured at a memorial service on Remembrance Sunday.
Members of the church’s peace and justice group, including
CND founder Bruce Kent, have ambitious plans for the under-used
piece of church land surrounding the memorial plaque.
Murals, flowers and a white dove are all being considered for
the peace garden, which it is hoped could be completed for a service
on Remembrance Sunday at the Catholic church in Tollington Park.
Father David Ardagh, who has been at the church for five years,
said: “The best way to honour those who died in war is to
plan for a world without war. We’ve got to get our act together.
Children from neighbouring Christ the King Primary School have
already been drafted in to paint peace stones for the garden,
which will commemorate victims of wars all over the world.
The church is searching for older residents who can provide valued
memories and attend the memorial service and peace garden opening
on November 13.
Mr Kent, who attended a peace garden workshop on Sunday, said:
“We would very much like people who have families or friends
who were killed or wounded in World War II to contact us so we
can read out their names on Remembrance Sunday.”
He added that the church, which has between 30 and 40 nationalities
among its worshippers, was hoping people affected by wars since
1945 would also become involved.
Group member Valerie Flessati added: “We would like to make
contact with people who were associated with the church when it
was a Congregationalist church, which would have been at the time
when the plaque was put up.
“Some people who lived locally might remember this or may
have had relations who died in the war and who were remembered
by that plaque.”
Anyone who would like to volunteer to help out or who can help with
wartime memories should contact the church on 0207 272 3415. |
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