Homeless Jesus sculptor: Don't edit Jesus out of London's landscape

The Homeless Jesus statue where it would have been placed outside Methodist Central Hall Westminster.

The 'Homeless Jesus' statue, planned for the pavement outside Methodist Central Hall Westminster but banned by Westminster City Council, is "a statement about what's happening in London", according to its sculptor Tim Schmalz.

The statue, a version of which has just been installed in the Vatican, depicts a life-sized figure sleeping on a park bench, covered with a blanket, his exposed feet bearing nail marks of crucifixion. Versions exist in the Vatican, Toronto, Washington DC and Madrid.

After St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square rejected it as inappropriate, the historic Methodist Central Hall asked the Council for permission but was turned down on the grounds that it would "fail to maintain or improve (preserve or enhance) the character or appearance of the Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square Conservation Area".

article,article,article,article Related

Schmalz told Christian Today that the number of homeless people in the Westminster area – there are an estimated 265 rough sleepers – made the statue a highly relevant addition to the building's frontage. He rejected the council's claim that the area was already saturated with monuments, saying: "It's a modest park bench against a wall and would not create a negative impression. Where we wanted to place it would merge into the church – it's something you would discover as you were walking by."

He said the council's decision was an attempt to "edit out of the visual landscape" an image that was based purely on Christian values.

A petition to get the council to change its mind has so far attracted more than 1,600 signatures.

The superintendent minister of the Central Hall, Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, told Christian Today that it would be appealing to the appropriate body. "Our appeal will be based on the fact that hundreds of people have signed our petition and that we believe the judgment of the council is wrong," he said, adding that "the figure of Jesus is welcomed by huge numbers of people, including those who do not own the name of Christian."

When the rejection of the application was announced Westminster City Council said: "We welcome public art and sculptures in Westminster. However, there are traditionally a large number of applications for monuments and memorials in Parliament Square and the surrounding area and it reached saturation point some years ago when the council introduced a policy of no further statues being allowed in this area." 

related articles
Lifelike Jesus statue has people calling the police

Lifelike Jesus statue has people calling the police

Controversial Jesus statue turned away by St Martin-in-the-Fields finds new home
Controversial Jesus statue turned away by St Martin-in-the-Fields finds new home

Controversial Jesus statue turned away by St Martin-in-the-Fields finds new home

\'Homeless Jesus\' continues to inspire
'Homeless Jesus' continues to inspire

'Homeless Jesus' continues to inspire

Westminster Council rejects church\'s bid for \'Homeless Jesus\' statue
Westminster Council rejects church's bid for 'Homeless Jesus' statue

Westminster Council rejects church's bid for 'Homeless Jesus' statue

News
What would the late Sir Ken Morrison have made of the 'Progress Pride' sign in his store?
What would the late Sir Ken Morrison have made of the 'Progress Pride' sign in his store?

I shudder to think what he would have made of Morrisons’ capitulation to a political ideology.

RE council recommends new framework to end historic neglect of the subject
RE council recommends new framework to end historic neglect of the subject

Many schools are flouting the requirement to teach RE to year 11s.

Women for Scotland criticise CoE diocese's 'LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy'
Women for Scotland criticise CoE diocese's 'LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy'

Oxford Diocese said it simply wished to provide pastoral care, not take sides in a debate

Justin Welby says resignation was 'loneliest' moment
Justin Welby says resignation was 'loneliest' moment

Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said his resignation last year was the correct decision, despite it being “one of the loneliest moments I’ve ever had”.