'We're All Saints' In All Our Diversity
The first in a series of paintings depicting Loughborough Saints from around the globe has been unveiled at All Saints with Holy Trinity Church in Loughborough as part of its ‘We’re All Saints’ project.
Artist Eddy Aigbe, along with the youngest members of the church, revealed the beautiful painting of St Martha of Bethany during a lively, all-age, intercultural worship service.
The painting, which has been given the subtitle of ‘A Holy Welcome’, is rich with symbolism, reflecting the values of the church, and is a significant start to the project which seeks to reflect and welcome the church’s diverse congregation, parish, and town.
During the service, artist Eddy shared a little of his artistic and spiritual process with the congregation. He talked about how he’d been prayerfully thinking about Martha, digging deep into the Gospel and asking children and adults their opinions on how they felt about her.
He also said he drew on examples of other Marthas he knows, who are remarkably similar to the Saint.
The artwork will be displayed in the church for people to admire and interpret its symbolism.
On describing the painting, Eddy, who works as a project manager for Citizens UK as well as being an artist, said: “As a whole, there are bits of Martha, bits of us, bits of Loughborough - everything you can think of when it comes to the key areas of hospitality, servitude and faith that Martha represented.
“It’s heart wrenching to let go of, like leaving a piece of you… but I will come back to see it,” he added.
Since being on display, those who've had the opportunity to absorb the artwork have shared their thoughts, including:
"I really like the pose Eddy chose for her. It's prayerful but also regal. For me it captures the idea that serving is and should be a position of dignity."
"I'm struck by the last supper at Martha's left shoulder - a foretaste of the heavenly banquet."
"Love it. Many levels of appreciation but struck by our own ‘sock man’ looking outwards, the many types of feet coming from directions, the balance of the bread and wine and all 12 disciples! The pineapple is also a symbol of welcome and hospitality in many religions."
All Saints, who became an Intercultural Worshipping Community (IWC) in 2019, began its ‘We’re All Saints’ project in September last year, commissioning bespoke artwork for the church which has led to a collaborative project with local schools.
The schools’ project received funding from the diocese’s Intercultural Worshiping Communities’ Seed Fund and has been working with children from Loughborough Church of England Primary on a combined art and RE endeavour called ‘Inspirational People.’
Other schools within Loughborough and the wider Minster Community are lined up to join the project under the leadership of RE and spiritual art expert, Lat Blaylock.
Lat was at the service and preached on Martha - the sermon of which can be listened to on the link below.
Speaking about the ‘We’re All Saints’ project, Lat said: “It’s a great pleasure to be working with several schools in the Loughborough area on the project.
“The focus is on enabling children and young people to reflect at depth on the sources of inspiration in their own lives – I ask: if ‘We are All Saints’ then what kind of person has been a saint, or an inspiration, for you?”
So far, the project is working with more than 100 children and young people towards creating an art exhibition which will open in the summer term, with commentaries on the creative work by the young artists.
“The first dozen or so examples are wonderful, and there are many more in process,” said Lat.
“Pupils’ inspirations come from a wide range of people: parents, grandparents, friends and family feature, but also, we have some exciting work on Rosa Parkes, Dr Hany El Bana, the founder of Islamic Relief, Martin Luther King and Simone Biles who have set the children’s imaginations loose.
“It’s brilliant to see how this project is unlocking profound thinking about what it means to inspire and to be inspired. When the exhibition opens in June, don’t miss the chance to see through windows into these young minds - they are impressive!”
