'Victim no resurrection?' London church hosts controversial painting.

St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square will host 'Victim no resurrection?' the powerful and controversial artwork by the artist Terry Duffy. The 4.2 metre high cross will be suspended above the altar throughout Passion Week and Holy Week, 10-22 April and be the focus of the final part of the church’s Lent programme, ‘Out of the Depths’, which reflects upon the cross and its meaning today.

As part of this programme each week night from Monday 11 April until Wednesday 20 April , a different speaker will reflect upon 'Victim no resurrection?' and their own first hand experience of extreme violence and their response to it. The speakers will be: - Major John Catto, a British soldier who has recently served in Afghanistan - Sheila Cassidy, who as a young doctor was imprisoned and tortured in Chile, now works as a palliative care physician and is well known for her writing. - Simon Western, a father bereaved by his son’s homicide, - Richard Carter, a priest who in 2003 experienced the kidnapping and murder of seven members of his community, The Melanesian Brotherhood, by militants while they were working for peace. He is now working at St Martin-in-the-Fields. - Dr Swee Ang, a surgeon who has cared for the wounded in both Lebanon and the Gaza, - Bobby Baker, an artist who has struggled with the pain and fear of mental illness. - and Terry Duffy himself, who will talk about why he painted this cross and about its journey. On Sunday 17 April at 7.00pm: BBC World Affairs Correspondent Mike Wooldridge will chair an important discussion which focuses on three foreign correspondents’ witness to the victims of global conflict. In conversation with him will be Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor of Channel Four News, who has reported on the Rwandan Genocide, provided deep insight in covering the Iraq Conflict and who recently covered the violence from villages in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Sunday Times Correspondent Marie Colvin, whose remarkable work has covered conflict in many countries from Sri Lanka, where she suffered personal injury, to Afghanistan. ‘Victim no resurrection?’ Duffy’s painting is an outcry against violence in the world. Created in the aftermath of the 1981 UK riots, Duffy’s cross has become ever more pertinent within conflict today. It evokes a powerful response wherever it has travelled and been described as ‘the articulation of a scream’, often disturbing its viewers and never failing to spark important discussion. “We live in a culture of fear locally, nationally and internationally which creates many victims” Duffy said. “The painting screams- ‘enough is enough!’ and challenges us all, across nations, religions and cultures to do more to achieve greater peace and reconciliation.” St Martin’s will be one stop on the artwork’s long journey from Liverpool where it was painted to Jerusalem. It is a long road. Most recently it was installed in Coventry Cathedral where it marked the 70th anniversary of the Blitz. It is in planning to go to New York for 9/11, Auschwitz, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Palestine and many other places of historic and present day conflict. Revd Richard Carter, who has organised the programme at St Martin’s, commented: “Christ’s cross was an instrument of torture which speaks as powerfully to our modern world as it did to the ancient one. From the horror of violent conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Congo to the pain of mental illness and personal loss, this cross speaks of our struggle with suffering and how, or if, we can ever make sense of it. Duffy’s ‘Victim, no resurrection’ is real and immediate and draws us into responding to the question it poses” Revd Carter continued: “The cross calls us to confront the suffering in our world, and challenge our commitment to change. Our aim is to help people reflect on the nature of violence and our response to it, and be inspired to find ways to bring healing and hope.” Revd Nicholas Holtam, the Vicar of St Martin’s, concluded: “St Martin’s is an excellent place to host a programme like this. From campaigning against South African apartheid to our daily work of helping the homeless, we have a history of speaking out against injustice, and encouraging people to take action against it. We want to help bring hope and justice to the world, and Duffy’s work will inspire us to do this.” Notes to editors • Terry Duffy will be available in the church to speak to journalists during the time his work is on display here. Please contact marc.gascoigne@smitf.org if you wish to arrange to meet him. • The title of Duffy’s work is “Victim no resurrection”. The theme of “Out of the Depths” is taken from Psalm 130: “Out of the depths have I cried to thee, oh Lord”. The daily reflections will take place between 6.00pm and 6.30pm from 11 April 2011 to 23 April 2011. • You can find the times and dates of each of the speakers at www.tinyurl.com/smitfvnr • Please find attached an image of Terry Duffy’s 'Victim no resurrection?’ • Terry Duffy website: www.terryduffy.info For further information, please contact Revd Richard Carter on richard.carter@smitf.org or call 020 7766 1103.

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