"'From The East and West, Bluntisham'
Over seventy people, including children, attended the commissioning of the new way station in St Mary’s church in Bluntisham on Sunday 28th February following a lively Cafe Church breakfast in the church hall. Rt Revd David Thomson, Bishop suffragan of Huntingdon, blessed the new installation over the arch in the church porch.
After he had done so, he encouraged the congregation to join him in blessing the land to the north, south, east and west in line with their position on the Greenwich meridian. The artwork was inspired by Jesus’ words in Luke 13 which speaks of God’s great love for all mankind, and his desire that people of all sorts and from every place might find a welcome at his table. The words on the arch are of particular significance to the people of the parishes that form the Meridian benefice which is led by the Rector, Revd Sheila Anthony.
The figures on the artwork were made and painted largely by the people of Bluntisham-cum-Earith, Colne and Holywell-cum-Needingworth in Cambridgeshire. The young people who attended the “Intents” youth camp near Dereham, Norfolk last May also helped carve the figures. The rest of the artwork has been completed by a team from the “Turn Around” programme at Fincham’s Farm in Norfolk.
The artwork was based on an original design by Cecily Marshall of Earithand makes a link with Jacob’s vision of angels on a ladder and God’s promise to him, which resonates with these words of Jesus. (See Genesis 28 v 14)"
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"What is the Via Beata Project?
As this new millennium has unfolded, we have felt that God has been calling us to establish a major trail of Christian art-works that will communicate His love for people, and for the U.K. Gradually it has become clear that we should establish a sort of pilgrimage route across the U.K. from East to West at its widest point.
It was only when we came to set out this line from Lowestoft to St. David’s, that we discovered that it came right through our property here at Rowancroft, Banham, Norfolk. Consequently the first way-station was set up here in the Summer of 2009 and we have worked outwards to the East and to the West with the initial aim of establishing a way-station every ten miles or so and linking them with existing footpaths and rights-of-way.
The name ‘Via Beata’ means ‘a way of blessing’. As this project has developed, we have been constantly surprised by the ways in which this blessing has touched individuals, churches, groups and events. This has been far beyond our early expectations. Our initial thought was that we would be commissioning artists to create pieces to place along the route, but increasingly we are working with churches, group projects and Christian events to make them.
As we look to the future, we are confident that the blessing will continue and increase. Our prayer is that it will touch more and more people, communities and churches, and ultimately will be a blessing for our nation."
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