Plans are continuing for a national landmark dedicated to the power of prayer, with a fundraising campaign for the structure entering its final week and £400,000 raised so far via the Crowdfunder website.
The proposed structure aims to be a work of public Christian art. Once built, it will be 169 feet tall, made of one million bricks in a mobius shape, each representing an answered prayer.
After planning was approved by donations poured in, with more than £1 million given already. A further £600,000 is needed before construction can begin.
Upon completion there are further plans to generate more than £30 million for charities and good works as part of the project, and to donate one million bricks to local social housing. If all goes to plan, building will start in January and will be completed by the end of 2022.
The scheme was conceived and organised by Richard Gamble, a former businessman and chaplain to Leicester City football club.
He said: “The response has been amazing. A movement of people is being raised up across the UK. We have so many great stories. One church asked every member to bring their loose change and raised over £1,000, a local farmer is selling his eggs on the side of the road, and others have made contributions big and small. Everyone is doing their bit to make hope visible to the nation.
“This has been a 17-year journey with many ups and downs along the way. It’s pushed our team’s faith to the absolute max but there’s a sense we’re now in touching distance of making the dream a reality.”
Gamble is an evangelical Christian, but the wall is an ecumenical project which has received support from a wide range of Christian leaders, as well as a number of secular politicians.
The proposed structure will stand between the M6 and the M42 on the outskirts of Birmingham where, according to a statement from the Eternal Wall charity, it will be visible to pass drivers who make 500,000 journeys a week along the busy junction.
The plans have already met with the warm approval of Birmingham’s Catholic community.
Archbishop of Birmingham Bernard Longley said: “Eternal wall of answered prayer promises to be an exciting project. I hope that all those who visit it will find some space and inspiration to consider the value of prayer in their lives. The local Catholic community looks forward to playing its part in supporting this work so that together we can leave a legacy of faith for generations to come.”
Christian heritage is emphasised as part of the proposed embodiment of prayer, with 75,000 “heritage bricks” including some dating from as far back as 600 AD included as part of the design in order to represent the unbroken history of Christian prayer in the British Isles.
Gamble first conceived of the idea in 2004 whilst walking around Leicestershire carrying a cross, in order to recall people to the story of Christ’s passion during Easter.
As he was praying he was struck with a conviction that he must build a structure. This was to be “a wall where every brick within it represented an answered prayer”. Seventeen years later Gamble’s vision is close to a reality, and he thinks that it could not have come at a more appropriate time, with the exigencies of the pandemic inspiring people to seek God in prayer.
Gamble said the spiritual temperature of Britain has changed since the Covid-19 pandemic. A recent survey he commissioned showed 37 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds agreed prayer had a positive role in society, and 51 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds prayed, either alone, with a small group or at church.
Gamble said: “We’re not building this landmark to have something nice to look at, we’re seeking to provoke a national conversation about prayer and inspire generations for hundreds of years. Christians now have the chance to be a part of this movement.
“Recent surveys and reports in the media show that things are changing. We have already started a national discussion on prayer and that can only be a good thing. The UK has a rich heritage embedded in Christian prayer and while many will take the viewpoint that prayer is merely a false hope, a comfort blanket when you can do nothing more – let’s recognise the increased spiritual awareness our nation is currently experiencing.”
Stephen Timms MP, Labour’s Faith Envoy, and MP for East Ham said: “I think it’s an inspiring idea and it’s a fantastic design. It’s going to be visible from lots of motorways, railways, from the air, and I think it’s going to inspire a lot of people. I really look forward to seeing it up and built. I think it will make a big impact on the national consciousness. It’s a reflection of the fact that many, many people in Britain today, as well as in our history, have experienced answered prayer.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands said: “It’s an incredibly ambitious, stunning project in terms of a real statement, a landmark for the Midlands, I think it’s an incredibly progressive, ambitious piece of architecture.”
Steve Maxey, chief executive of North Warwickshire Borough Council said: “We are greatly excited by this project. I strongly believe it will come to be as loved by people locally and nationally as the Angel of the North, and brilliantly complements our work on improving mental health and wellbeing.”
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