Two For One Special

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Look at that photo. That’s a two-for-one special. I don’t have a passport; in fact, I’ve never had one. But today I got to see some European history up close: pieces of the Berlin Wall AND a church that was destroyed during the Blitz on London in World War II. And, as I told my brother, the only “water” I had to cross to see it was the Mississippi River. The quick history: in March, 1946, Winston Churchill came to Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri and delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech (also known as the “Sinews of Peace” speech). In 1961, Westminster officials teamed up with others to plant the seeds of a museum of tribute to Churchill in America. (You may not know this, but Churchill is one of only two people who have ever been declared honorary citizens of the United States in their lifetimes, the other being Mother Teresa.) Amid the planning, it was noted that a number of old churches that had been heavily damaged during the Blitz in World War II were slated for demolition. Many of these churches were designed/refurbished by the legendary architect Sir Christopher Wren (who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral, among many others) following the Great Fire of 1666. One of the dilapidated ruins was St. Mary the Virgin, Aldamanbury. Rather than have the church destroyed, the various groups involved in honoring Churchill in America decided to take the walls (all that was left of the church) to the US and make it part of the monument. Churchill died in 1965, so he didn’t get to see the finished project; however, he was aware of the fact that the plans were underway (his letter of appreciation to the college was dated November 22, 1963). The church was restored and is a remarkable part of what is known as America’s National Churchill Museum. Ah, but there’s more. Another monumental event in world history occurred on November 9, 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell. One year later, Edwina Sandys, the granddaughter of Sir Winston, presented the art piece Breakthrough, which was made from eight sections of the Berlin Wall. That’s on display on the grounds next to the church. Wow, what a great day of exploring European history…right in the heart of the United States! The photo is the Berlin Wall in the foreground, and the restored St. Mary the Virgin, Aldamanbury in the background.