A church substituted Jesus on a migrant boat for a stained glass display depicting slave owner Edward Colston.
After the bronze monument honouring the 17th-century trader was demolished in Bristol on June 7, 2020, and subsequently thrown in the harbour by BLM in the height of their demonstrations, St. Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol made the choice.
The church encouraged members of the public to submit brand-new ideas for a competition while the window was temporarily replaced with plain panels.
Additionally, the Good Samaritan tale, from which slave trader Colston had drawn inspiration, used to be shown at the foot of the North Transept window.
According to the Telegraph, the church placed plain panels and put out a call for local artists to create the part. Ealish Swift’s work was ultimately chosen.
The resident physician’s painting “portrays the present refugee situation, and Jesus as a young refugee escaping to Egypt,” according to her artist statement.
The city’s anti-racism Bristol Bus Boycott, which aimed to protest Bristol Omnibus’ decision to not hire BAME crews in 1963, will also be shown on another panel.
The Race Relations Act of 1965 was made possible by the boycott, according to Bristol resident Ms. Swift, who described Jesus as a radical and fellow protester.
She went on to say that her piece “references a vital component of the character of Christ” and “depicts an essential aspect of our common Bristolian past as neighbours.”
Running water runs between the panels to centre the designs on Bristol, a maritime city, while Jesus is shown as many races to oppose the Anglo-centric story of “white Jesus.”
Even though Ms. Swift was undergoing surgery at the time of the announcement and was unable to attend, she expressed her gratitude for winning.
The competition, according to a church spokeswoman, was started “as part of an ongoing process of contemplation and action to ensure that today’s church building mirrors St Mary Redcliffe’s proclaimed ideals and is inviting to everyone.”
The winning design is strong and creative, able to connect with current themes while yet being timeless, said parish priest Dan Tyndall to South West News Service.
“Ealish’s proposal will fit nicely inside the present Victorian window,” the church’s visitors said of his design.