Church of England Removes Cecil Rhodes Memorial, Citing Plant's Decline

A memorial linked to Cecil Rhodes, the imperialist and founder of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), has been removed from St. Mary's Church in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria. The object of the memorial was a hydrangea, donated decades ago, which had a plaque indicating its origin from Groote Schuur, Rhodes's former home near Cape Town, South Africa.

The Diocese of Carlisle, which oversees the church, stated that the removal was not a decision concerning Rhodes but a consequence of the hydrangea becoming "progressively weaker" and eventually dying last year. The diocese also noted uncertainty about when the plaque vanished.

However, the diocese has declined an offer from a local resident to replace the hydrangea with a cutting from the original Groote Schuur plant. A diocesan spokesman said that any decision on new planting would be a matter for the parish and added that in over 70 years of living in the area, the plaque had never been mentioned or discussed.

This account has been challenged by architectural historian John Martin Robinson, who lives nearby. Robinson asserts that the hydrangea was thriving last year and was not dead. He also stated that the missing metal plaque is of historical interest and is covered by the church's historical listing, urging for its recovery.

Robinson further criticized the diocese's claims of ignorance regarding the link to Rhodes, calling it "culpable ignorance." He pointed out that the Grade I-listed church is in a conservation area, yet suffers from a leaking roof and an empty rectory that the diocese wishes to sell. He contrasted this with the removal of historic shrubs and the installation of "bossy signs."

The Church of England has previously pledged £100 million in "reparations" to address its historical ties to slavery through a social impact fund.