Bishop's statue is reminder of suffering children

A thought-provoking sculpture depicting the suffering of children around the world has been unveiled in the grounds of the Bishop of Bath and Wells’ palace.

The work, ‘The Weight of our Sins’, was created by the late Josefina de Vasconcellos and unveiled last week by award-winning photojournalist Donald McCullin.

It depicts eight children bearing the weight of the cross, with each child symbolising a crime against children in today’s world. They include a child suffering from Aids, a baby victim of genocide, a child blinded by a land mine and a homeless child.

Many of De Vasconcellos’ works were inspired by her belief that loving God was the way for people to love one another and therefore create a peaceful world.

Joining the Mr McCullin at the unveiling were the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Peter Price, and local youths.

The unveiling of the statue coincided with the opening of a temporary exhibition at the palace displaying some of Mr McCullin’s photographs from his extensive career.

Mr McCullin, a former Times photographer, is especially lauded for his photographs of society’s marginalised and downtrodden and victims of war.

The sculpture was made from a cast of the original plaster version of the work made by de Vasconcellos in 1999. The final resin sculpture was handed over to the palace by her friend, Professor Romaine Hervey, who had promised to find it a permanent home.