Fourth Plinth - One and Other

The deep theological question about whether Holy Communion is art was posed in Trafalgar Square this morning when a Methodist minister from Somerset stood on the Fourth Plinth and led a worship celebration of Communion. Ken Chalmers from Castle Cary was one of 2,400 people appearing on the Fourth Plinth between 6 July and 14 October 2009, picked from more than 28,000 applicants for sculptor Antony Gormley’s One and Other project.

It is an art project and the participants are known as the plinthers. So, is Holy Communion art and did Ken’s appearance on the Plinth answer the question? Ken told me he hadn’t:

“No, and I don’t think that can ever be answered,” he said. “I don’t think we ever wanted to show Holy Communion as art. Antony Gormley said that one of his aims was to explore the connection between people and, for me, worship is a connection. So, that is what we were using – the opportunity to connect with each other, with the wider community through our prayers and with God. Is Communion art? No. Is it right to do it in this way? I don’t know, but I feel deeply that it should be.”

Here is Ken on the plinth:

The great thing about the Methodist tradition is that you don’t have to be christened, baptised or confirmed to receive Communion, as you do in some other Christian denominations. This means people like me can receive it with no questions asked and no more commitment made other than commitment to the moment of sharing Communion. You don’t have to give your name or be declared “special”; everyone is equal in receiving Communion.

Here is glimpse of the crowd of onlookers:

Here they are again, lost in reflection:

And another kind of contemplation (spotted by photographer Anna Drew taking pics on behalf of Copyright Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes!):

Check out One and Other website here: http://www.oneandother.co.uk/

Solidarity With Israel Protest For Peace

A couple of my friends told me to watch out when I said I would be attending the Solidarity With Israel call for peace today in Trafalgar Square. But I said I was sure that this crowd would not have a violent mob at its head and would be calling for peace by acting peacefully. And that is precisely how the thousands of protesters behaved this morning - with civility, respect and a genuine compassion for peace and an end to death and suffering for the civilians of Gaza and Israel.

The speakers called for an end to the violence and suffering endured by Gazans and Israelis, an end to Hamas terror and a peaceful existence for Palestinians and Israelis living side by side. I couldn't make out what the lone counter-protester with his own loud-hailer was shouting at Chief Rabbi Dr Sir Jonathan Sacks, but it was gesticulated with rage. I wonder if the young man could hear what Rabbi Sacks was saying? Thousands of us were echoing Rabbi Sacks' words: "Yes to Peace". It saddened me that the young man with the loud-hailer couldn't hear what we were all saying to him.

I was particularly pleased that there were Christian messages of support, such as the one expressed by the Bishop of Manchester which was read out to the reported 35,000 of us in Trafalgar Square, and that there were words of support from Sikh and Hindu representatives. It would have been great if there had been a message of peace for Isrealis and Palestinians from a Muslim representative at a rally that was not calling for peace by advocating the destruction of Israel. I wonder why that didn't happen?