Photo by Jean-Christophe Benoist

commissions: westminster abbey

1998         John is commissioned to carve three life size limestone figures of Twentieth Century Martyrs, part of a series of ten new works installed on the west front of Westminster Abbey.

Bishop Oscar Romero, 1998, French limestone, Richemont, 180cm

Manche Masemola, 1998, French limestone, Richemont, 180cm

Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia, 1998, French limestone, Richemont, 180cm

Above the Great West Door, ten 20th-century Christian martyrs from across the world are depicted in statues, three of whom were carved by John Roberts; from left to right: St Maximilian Kolbe (d.1941), Manche Masemola (d.1928), Janani Luwum (d.1977), Grand Duchess St Elizabeth of Russia (d.1918), Martin Luther King, Jr (d.1968), Óscar Romero (d.1980), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (d.1945), Esther John (d.1960), Lucian Tapiedi (d.1942), Wang Zhiming (d.1973).