Aldermanbury Garden Rededication – Saturday, 26 October 2024
In connection with the 2024 Churchill Conference in London, a special ceremony took place at what was once the site of the Church of St Mary Aldermanbury in the City of London. The gardens on which the church once stood were rededicated in the presence of representatives of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where the restored church was relocated in 1969. This gargantuan move and restoration honoured Winston Churchill’s The Sinews of Peace address, commonly known as the “Iron Curtain” speech, at Westminster College on 5 March 1946.
Randolph Churchill, President of the International Churchill Society opened the redidication, and I followed with the remarks reproduced below. After that Timothy Riley, Churchill Fellow, America’s National Churchill Museum (Sandra L and Monroe E Trout Director and Chief Curator) addressed on the the topic of “An Imaginative Concept”. This was followed by a Benediction from Reverend Paul Kennedy, Rector, St Vedast-alias-Foster. Then we all proceeded to a glorious evensong and reception in St Vedast’s magical, ‘secret’ garden.
The programme note included this delightful aside – “St Vedast is the mother parish of the Aldermanbury Church, and it was Canon Mortlock of St Vedast who agreed to the ultimate transfer of the Aldermanbury Church to Westminster College – over a glass of sherry, of course!” So it’s not just us academics who can be bought off so lightly.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As the 695th Lord Mayor of London, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the City of London – and may I offer a particularly warm welcome to the Churchillians, alumni, and officials of Westminster College who join us here today.
Sir Winston Churchill once said: “One always measures friendships by how they show up in bad weather”…and judging by the grey, dank skies above us, ours is a friendship full of sunshine!
Though I must admit to feeling sightly concerned. Beautiful St Mary Aldermanbury is now located in Fulton, Missouri. Last week, I met Cal Sheehy, the Mayor of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where London Bridge now resides. And on Thursday, I bumped into Kevin Richardson, the Mayor of Lake Barrington, Illinois. So I can’t help but wonder what he has his eye on…
As the first US-born Lord Mayor, I have a unique perspective on the peculiarities of both our great nations – to an Englishman, 100 miles is a long way away. To an American, 100 years is a long time ago. Which puts into context the rich and wonderful history of St Mary Aldermanbury through its various incarnations over the last 850 years – destroyed twice by fire and war, but lovingly given a new lease of life on the other side of the Atlantic.
As a child, I visited Westminster College to hear Harry Truman speak. Fast forward to today, and I know I speak for the entire City of London Corporation when I say how delighted we are that our two cities share this bond. One that continues the history of St Mary Aldermanbury, remembers the legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, and celebrates the values of peace, friendship, and democracy that he spoke of in that famous ‘Iron Curtain’ speech of 1946.
As Churchill said: “A nation that forgets its past has no future.”
Through this newly renovated garden, for which we’re incredibly grateful for your support, we commit to not forgetting our pasts and look forward to our even deepen bonds of friendship in the future.
Thank you.
