The Eric Liddell Peace Garden
The design of the garden has taken its lead from Eric himself, to tell his story in botanical form. Each area is distinct in telling this story.
One of the most prominent features is the “Gold Medal” bed, which focuses on flora with golden flowers or foliage. Most plants are perennial and wildlife friendly. These include: Eryngium x zabelii 'Neptune's Gold', Hypericum olympicum 'Sulphureum', Potentilla ‘Gold Star’ and Hebe ‘Golden Pixie’.
Beside this is our herb bed, which all feature in the Bible, thus reflecting Eric’s Christian beliefs. It is hoped that they can be used to create food, thus as in John 11 “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
Behind these areas are Briza maxima, which will sway and rattle to mimic Eric’s running and cheer of the crowd be it in athletics or rugby. The fence they stand beside, like the wall around the garden are not boundaries, but protection, enabling peace and reflection.
We also have a ‘be still corner’, which features Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' with a small pond and bird bath. This area reflects Eric’s favourite hymn - “Be still my soul”.
A small bed reflects Eric’s Scottish heritage with native Scottish plants including heathers (his daughter’s name). Not only did he attend Edinburgh University, but his family church was here at Morningside United, making it a special place for him. He also played international rugby for Scotland.
A large bed reflects not only China but reconciliation with Japan and The Cross of Nails. Thus, tell of his birth and life as a teacher in China. Although, a prisoner of war, the importance of peace and reconciliation feature heavily in the plants, from acers to Japanese anemones. Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”.
The final bed is the family bed with plants important to Eric and his family, either directly such as carnations he had in his wedding bouquet to Mondrian ‘Cambridge Scarlet’ as lived on Cambridge Street in China. Eric let his wife and children go to Canada while he remained in China.
This final bed will feature a mural painted by local children to tell of not just Eric’s life as a teacher, but fitting with the Eric Liddell 100 campaign of educating people who Eric was and how we can use his legacy to what his values and beliefs are today. Just as we are all God’s children.
In the middle will be a sundial as a way to reflect the light Eric gave to the world to those that seek peace and quiet today.
The peace garden has now become the first Scottish member of the Community of the Cross of Nails. CCN is a network of Churches and Christian organisations who, inspired by the story of Coventry Cathedral, share a common commitment to work and pray for peace, justice and reconciliation.
The design of the garden has taken its lead from Eric himself, to tell his story in botanical form. Each area is distinct in telling this story.
One of the most prominent features is the “Gold Medal” bed, which focuses on flora with golden flowers or foliage. Most plants are perennial and wildlife friendly. These include: Eryngium x zabelii 'Neptune's Gold', Hypericum olympicum 'Sulphureum', Potentilla ‘Gold Star’ and Hebe ‘Golden Pixie’.
Beside this is our herb bed, which all feature in the Bible, thus reflecting Eric’s Christian beliefs. It is hoped that they can be used to create food, thus as in John 11 “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
Behind these areas are Briza maxima, which will sway and rattle to mimic Eric’s running and cheer of the crowd be it in athletics or rugby. The fence they stand beside, like the wall around the garden are not boundaries, but protection, enabling peace and reflection.
We also have a ‘be still corner’, which features Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' with a small pond and bird bath. This area reflects Eric’s favourite hymn - “Be still my soul”.
A small bed reflects Eric’s Scottish heritage with native Scottish plants including heathers (his daughter’s name). Not only did he attend Edinburgh University, but his family church was here at Morningside United, making it a special place for him. He also played international rugby for Scotland.
A large bed reflects not only China but reconciliation with Japan and The Cross of Nails. Thus, tell of his birth and life as a teacher in China. Although, a prisoner of war, the importance of peace and reconciliation feature heavily in the plants, from acers to Japanese anemones. Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”.
The final bed is the family bed with plants important to Eric and his family, either directly such as carnations he had in his wedding bouquet to Mondrian ‘Cambridge Scarlet’ as lived on Cambridge Street in China. Eric let his wife and children go to Canada while he remained in China.
This final bed will feature a mural painted by local children to tell of not just Eric’s life as a teacher, but fitting with the Eric Liddell 100 campaign of educating people who Eric was and how we can use his legacy to what his values and beliefs are today. Just as we are all God’s children.
In the middle will be a sundial as a way to reflect the light Eric gave to the world to those that seek peace and quiet today.
The peace garden has now become the first Scottish member of the Community of the Cross of Nails. CCN is a network of Churches and Christian organisations who, inspired by the story of Coventry Cathedral, share a common commitment to work and pray for peace, justice and reconciliation.
