The Jubilee of Artists is from the 15th- 18th February.
In the spirit of celebrating creativity and sacred art in our Diocese, artists Colin Bentley and Teresa Maguire have contributed some inspiring words that illustrate the connection between faith, creativity, pilgrimage and charity.
Sister Benignus, who takes care of our Diocesan Archives, has also shared an insightful tribute to the work of sculptress Dame Elisabeth Frink.
Elisabeth created a grade 2 listed memorial of the Dorset martyrs, also known as the Chideock Martyrs, which now stands in Dorchester. In recognition of the martyrs, one of our Jubilee pilgrimage sites is The Holy Trinity church in Dorchester. Pilgrims are encouraged to view her sculpture as a part of a pilgrimage to this historically and spiritually significant place.
A Ring Of Prayer
By Teresa Maguire, artist and member of the Caritas Plymouth team.
‘In June 2023 I joined Russ Fairman as he sailed a Ring of Prayer around Great Britain to celebrate the Centenary of Stella Maris. I was fortunate enough to start from Milford Haven, sailing in one leg to St Ives, followed by Penzance, Falmouth, Plymouth and lastly Teignmouth. In the last three ports services were held in the churches, or for Teignmouth on the beach. It was here that I gave Russ the crucifix that I had made as a thank-you for an amazing trip.
In many ways it was a pilgrimage for us on board. During the trip Russ shared with us his dream of continuing the prayer journey after the voyage ended. He had a vision, a spiritual picture, which was confirmed for him later on the voyage that this needed to happen. He wanted the rosary to be shared in the ports we moored in. As a woodturner, I felt called to offer to turn a rosary and crown on the lathe. All the wood was sourced locally for the rosary, one piece came from a beach find near Falmouth, others from Dartmoor and Cerne Abbas,- the three counties of the Diocese. The crucifix was my late mothers. The woods used, are Oak, Walnut, Apple, Beech and my favourite Cherry.
Ring of Prayer will be in Plymouth Cathedral from 17th to 23rd February and in Teignmouth from 24th February to 2nd March
The Ring of Prayer is now on its last few weeks of this journey, finishing in Southampton.’
Follow the link below to access a prayer booklet created by Stella Maris.
https://stellamaris.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ring-of-Prayer-Prayer-booklet-online.pdf
Image courtesy of Teresa Maguire
HCPT Pilgrims Portraiture Project
By Colin Bentley, artist and HCPT volunteer.
‘I’ve always thought of myself as being very lucky having a career that I love.
Walking into my studio each day fills me with joy and excitement. For one week each year, I close my studio down, regardless of deadlines or work pressures, for my other passion in life – the charity, HCPT.
For years, I’ve wanted to do something that combines my day job as an artist, and my time volunteering with the charity. However, as the charity is so deeply important to me, I’ve kept them separate until I could find a truly meaningful way of bringing them together. In the project, Pilgrimage – A Portrait of HCPT, I’m exploring the work of the charity through a collection of portraits. These paintings will show the joy, hope, care, compassion and faith that are experienced on a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
HCPT takes disabled and disadvantaged children and adults to Lourdes in the south of France at Easter, and throughout the summer. The benefits the trip brings is always staggering – be it in terms of their independence, self-esteem or simply, the little but important achievements that they attain during the week. It also, in many cases, provides much needed respite for the parents and carers back home. Put simply, the week gives people hope, independence, joy and friendship.
This collection of portraits will eventually build into a large exhibition that will give the viewer a glimpse into the care, love and hope that is so abundant in Lourdes. It’s also a great opportunity to portray disability in a positive way, with portraits that are full of joy.
It’s such a privilege to work on a project that is so meaningful.’
Image courtesy of Colin Bentley.
Elisabeth Frink and The Dorset Martyrs
By Sister Benignus from the Diocesan Archives.
‘During this Jubilee of the celebration of the arts, and in connection with one of our delegated places of pilgrimage, I am immediately drawn to the work of a famous sculptress Dame Elisabeth Jean Frink, who created the memorial sculpture at Dorchester, situated on the corner of Icen Way and South Walks Road. (see picture)
The memorial to the Dorset Martyrs, also known as the Chideock Martyrs, was the inspiration of Sister Augustine, FDLC, who taught art and Religious Studies at St Genevieve’s Convent School at South Walks Road, Dorchester. It began with a project she was leading with the school students. During their researches it became obvious that Gallows Hill, situated opposite the School, was the place of the Martyrs’ death, and she sorely regretted that there was no visible sign or recognition of this as a sacred place. So began, in 1977, her tireless work to get at least a plaque in honour of the martyrs. She made contact with the office of the Vice-Postulation, Secretary of the Catholic Record Society, the local John Stark & Partners, architects, and the local parish priest, Fr David Rossiter, and many other relevant parties.
On 30th May 1978, an inaugural meeting was held of the “Dorset Martyrs Memorial Fund”, attended by Sr Augustine, Fr David, Col Sir Joseph Weld, Antony Jaggard and John Organ, to consider a proposal by Sr A to erect a memorial to the Dorset Martyrs at Gallows Hill, Dorchester. This should take the form of a full-sized bronze figure (or figures). Many more hoops had to be overcome, in convincing and getting permission from authorities, not to mention the tireless task of raising the required funds.
By 1981, Elisabeth Frink, was living in Blandford Forum, Dorset, and had been contacted to commission the Martyrs’ sculpture. Elisabeth was born on 14th April 1930 at Great Thurlow in Suffolk and brought up in a Catholic family. During the war she, her mother and her brother were evacuated to Exmouth where she attended The Convent of the Holy Family School. On leaving school she attended art Schools & Colleges and became well known as an English sculptor and printmaker. Sadly, she died from cancer on 18th April 1993, aged 62.
In March 1983, Elisabeth went to see the site before embarking on the full-sized figures, having previously worked a small sculpture for approval. In 1994, the Memorial to the martyrs was appropriately unveiled on the 400th anniversary of the Chideock/Dorchester Martyrs who died on 4th July 1594.
God bless Dame Elisabeth Frink and all who worked tirelessly to create a fitting memorial to the men and women who refused to denounce their faith.’
A painting of the sculpture by Aritst Robin King features in the collage, image courtesy of Sister Benignus.