If you have walked past St Mary’s Church this week you may have spotted an 8 foot circular steel mesh structure at the end of Patten Alley. This is the Circle of Hope and everyone is encouraged to contribute by writing a few words reflecting on experiences over the past year on a ribbon and then tying the ribbon onto the structure.
Helen Stokes told Marlborough.news, “The idea was partly inspired by the padlocks that folk lock to bridges and railings as an expression of a relationship. St Mary’s have built an 8 foot circular rotunda type structure from a steel mesh at the end of Patten Alley to which everyone is invited to tie coloured plastic ribbons. These carry a few words expressing the things missed and that have brought sadness over the past year (white and orange ribbons) and the things we are now hopeful about, our dreams (pink and green ribbons). Woven within this are yellow ribbons that echo the words projected on the wall of St Mary’s during the 1000 Christmas Angels: “God is with you God is for you.”
The Circle of Hope is a place where we can all acknowledge our journey of the past year. For some people the losses have been very great. This Easter we can now join together in seeing light at the end of the tunnel and looking forward to so many things.
Tapes have been created by Marlborough St Mary’s children and a cross section of our community. Ribbons are available every day in the church and we will be out in the High Street with them on Saturday inviting everyone to take part.
For those of us who are believers Easter is a time of resurrection and hope and this is a bright and living expression of that hope!”