15 JUNE 1951, Page 5

The Princess Pocohontas is one of the picturesque figures of

history. certainly of Anglo-American history, for by her marriage with John Rolfe, one of the very earliest British colonists. she —daughter of a Red Indian chief—forged what was probably the first , bond of union between America and Britain. She is believed, moreover, to be the first American to be buried in this country—in St. George's Church, Gravesend, where her remains still lie. A year ago they were in peril, for the church was marked down for demolition. An idea, emanating from Sir Evelyn Wrench, whose concern for Anglo-American friendship is so well-known, appears to have saved it. It was, that a building which has symbolised since 1617, in the,tomb of Pocohontas, a union of spirit between America and Britain should be utilised to symbolise the growing spirit of unity between Christians of all creeds in both countries, becoming in effect the first Chapel of Unity for all bodies represented in the World Council of Churches. The idea has still to be worked out in detail, but the adoption of the proposal is, I gather, assured. Its further development will be watched with peculiar interest.