Memorial Churches
correspondents to The Times for combining the tasks of church fkn interesting suggestion has come from a group of distinguished restoration with the provision of fitting memorials to Britain s dead. Where .a church—or, indeed, any other historical building of architectural merit—has been demolished beyond repair, its restora- tion would result in a sham structure with little historical or emotional value. Lady Allen of Hurtwood, Sir Kenneth Clark and others propose that wherever convenient such ruins should be leh as ruins, with only minimum precautions to preserve them free further decay, and made into war memorials aptly commemoratint: the ordeal and sacrifices of our people during the blitzes. Surrounded by lawns and flower-beds, they could be used both as pleasant havens of rest in our big cities, and as places for open-air worshl" It is the purpose of a war-memorial not only to be an historical monument to past achievements, but also to serve as a reminder of spiritual values which have an ever-present significance. To many war-memorials after 108 failed to keep alive the spirit of the men whose sacrifice they were supposed to symbolise ; they laded emotional appeal and meaning for a later generation. The spy with which battlefields are restored to life and the scars obliterated is amazing and admirable ; but it would be fitting that a few at lei of the scars which remain on our city battle grounds, retail:A the historical associations of our ancient churches, and something 'I least of their ancient beauty, 'should be kept 'before the eyes generations to. come.
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