ARCHBISHOP Desmond Tutu has opened a peace garden dedicated to his life and work.
After receiving a £10,000 grant from the National Lottery, the Grove Park Community Group created the garden in Chinbrook Meadows Park, Chinbrook Road.
At the garden’s official opening yesterday, schoolchildren read messages of peace and performed traditional African songs.
The South African archbishop was curate at St. Augustine’s Church, Baring Road, Grove Park, from 1972 to 1975.
Opening the garden, Archbishop Tutu said: “Most of you don’t know what it means to live in a country and be treated like rubbish.
“When we first came to England, and when we subsequently returned to live here, it was such a fantastic experience to be treated as a human being.
“Coming to England helped to free us and helped us to recognise that we were actually human beings and mattered to God.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here