The Importance of Civic Art to a Christian Nation

We live in an age when the West is under attack. This attack is on the West’s foundational values, which are Christian, and on the Faith itself. At the heart of a Christian society lies the triad of family, nation, and Church—institutions that form the bedrock of societal cohesion and guide individuals towards a path of spiritual fulfilment through the life of Faith.

There has been a growing focus amongst Christians on how to reinvigorate the Church and the family through evangelization. However, the value of the nation as an entity and the importance of the identification of Western nations as Christian are subjects that many shy away from. In the post-war liberal consensus, these have been unfashionable topics, to say the least. I think that we are now beginning to recognise that we are paying the price for this mistake, and unless we can once again assert the Christian identity of Western nations and especially the United States and England – two countries I care deeply about – we will always struggle to save the West. As a Christian, I know that the Faith will prevail, but if the United States especially does not survive as a Christian nation, we may have to go back to new dark ages and start to rebuild from the ashes! 

Civic art, particularly public statues and monuments, plays a vital role in shaping and preserving a nation’s cultural identity and values. Within the context of a Christian nation, these artistic expressions serve as tangible reminders of the foundational principles upon which the society is built and the ideals it strives to uphold. Public statues and monuments are important to society. They honor and celebrate the heroes and figures, including those who were not known for the Christian faith, who have nevertheless embodied these values and contributed to the nation’s growth and development. 

The choice of artistic style for these public works is a critical consideration. Classical realism flourished in civic art in the West during the 19th and 18th centuries and emerged as a particularly apt choice for a Christian nation. While some reservations may exist regarding its use in sacred art (I would argue for a more idealised form in church), the classical realist style finds its special purpose in the public square, where it can effectively convey the nation’s character and aspirations. It is a style closely connected to the classical forms of ancient Roman statues and was developed to communicate a sense of nobility and authority in the person, thereby engendering respect for them and, more importantly, the values they embody. 

Statues of religious, political, and cultural icons and individuals who have achieved remarkable feats in science and the arts serve as enduring symbols of the nation’s values and accomplishments. Their presence in public spaces pays tribute to these figures and inspires future generations. This is not to gloss over their faults and frailties, for no one is perfect. Rather, it is to acknowledge that they contributed positively to society despite their imperfections. This message resonates with all of us, who are well aware of our weaknesses yet can take heart that our flaws need not be a handicap against making meaningful contributions to society ourselves, with God’s help. 

Those who harbor animosity towards Western nations, inextricably linked to Christianity, often target such public art for destruction precisely because they want to work against this positive message. The vandalism of statues of Winston Churchill (in London) and George Washington and Junipero Serra by the neo-Marxist Black Lives Matter mobs exemplifies this sentiment. These acts are driven by a desire to erase the national character embodied by these figures, constituting an attack not just on national values but on Western values and ultimately on Christ himself. 

However, amidst the destructive tendencies of recent times, there are signs of hope. Commissions for new public art in the classical realist style, such as a sculpture commemorating the armed forces in the United States and plans for a World War I memorial in Washington, D.C., offer a glimmer of optimism. While these new works must remain true to historical accuracy, serving as faithful records of the sacrifices made by generations past, untainted by the ideological biases of the present, especially the Marxist-driven rewriting of history, their creation is a positive development. 

Recent visits to national parks in the Eastern USA, associated with the battles of the American Revolution and the Civil War, have revealed numerous statues commemorating key figures and events. This program should be encouraged, as it connects the public with the nation’s historical and cultural heritage. I would like to see us double down on commissioning such works to assert our national identity against those who wish to destroy it. 

Children, in particular, should be encouraged to engage with good civic art pieces, learn the stories behind the individuals portrayed, and draw inspiration from their lives and deeds. They can be encouraged, for example, to copy the statues – literally drawing inspiration – as an artistic exercise and summarize the stories in their own words, describing how these figures inspire them to be good Americans or Britons. This exposure can instill a sense of pride and a desire to contribute to the nation’s legacy as a Christian nation committed to serving its people and upholding its core values. 

Protection against vandalism in public squares within our cities and towns is also crucial – perhaps by installing railings around statues or making it an offence to trespass on designated areas around them and to deface or vandalize these public property statues. It was a cause of dismay to me to see the recent defacement of buildings around the White House in Washington, D.C., where pro-Gaza, anti-Israel graffiti remained unremoved for several days, and no one was prosecuted for this act of vandalism. This was just a few yards from the statue of Lincoln, completed in 1922.  

Who could do such work today? A Google search for sculptors producing civic art in the classical realist style produced a long list for me, so there are people around. I immediately thought of sculptors such as Dony McManus and Thomas Marsh in the United States, both believing Catholics and Alexander Stoddart in Scotland as people who could undertake such commissions. Stoddart’s sculptures, including one of Adam Smith, exemplify the classical realist tradition. It might be argued, that if contemporary Scottish nationalism incorporated Christian values and ideas closer to those of Adam Smith rather than the failing Marxist ideas of the failing Scottish Nationalist Party, then Scots might be persuaded that independent Scotland is a good thing (something that hasn’t happened so far), creating a nation that would flourish and in so doing would benefit England as well.