Bishop Brian Blesses the New Peace Pole at St Ninian’s Church

Posted Tuesday 30 June 2009

On Tuesday 23rd June the Rt Rev’d Brian Smith, Bishop of Edinburgh blessed the peace pole in a short service. He was be joined by children from Flora Stevenson School who had written their own prayers and poems for the ceremony. Residents from the sheltered housing association, Carlyle Court, and employees of local businesses, including from the Bank of Scotland and Waitrose, also joined this collective moment to remember the need for peace around the world and in our own community. The service thereby brought together the desire for peace in all generations. At the end of the service everybody was given a folded paper crane to take away with them. Fifty years ago a young Japanese child made such a bird, believing it would help her recover from the effects of the Hiroshima bomb. Although she died soon after, such cranes have become a symbol of peace and healing throughout the world.

A Peace Pole acts as a silent prayer and message for peace on Earth. In common with many around the world, this one is 8ft high, with its base (first 2ft) firmly ‘planted’ in the ground. There are thousands of Peace Poles all round the world, and the newly planted garden in the grounds of St Ninian’s has been created to provide a suitable home for this pole. The garden has been planted with the help of children from Flora Stevenson School who will enjoy watching the plants develop over the months and years. On each side of the pole is the message May Peace Prevail on Earth, written not only in English but also in Mandarin, Japanese and Polish – languages spoken by children at the school.

The garden at St Ninian’s has been created to provide a place to sit, reflect and pause in this busy world, and remember those places of conflict and the need for peace. It is a quiet spot for staff from nearby Waitrose and Bank of Scotland to eat their lunch and parents and families use the spot for a time of relaxation.

The Rt Rev’d Brian Smith said:
“I am delighted that there is another peace pole planted in the soil of Edinburgh. It is my prayer that many people from Comely Bank will find their own peace in the garden which St Ninian’s have planted to house this pole, and together we will continue to work with people of all religions and nationalities to establish peace in our troubled world, be that on the international or on the individual level.”

Attached is a collage of photographs taken of the event by Mr Eric Bower