Church memorial planned for Charles Kennedy

A STAINED glass memorial for former MP Charles Kennedy and his parents is to be placed in their church in the Highlands.
Charles KennedyCharles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy

A fundraising campaign has so far raised about half of the £7,500 cost of the project.

Mr Kennedy, the former Lib Dem leader who died of a drink-related haemorrhage at the age of 55, was a lifelong member of St John’s Church in Caol, Lochaber.

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His parents, Ian and Mary, provided the music for the church vigil mass for more than 40 years.

Father Roddy McAuley, the parish priest, said: “People are being very kind and very generous.

Money has come in from Lochaber and all over the UK. I even had one donation from Canada.

“We are hoping to hold the unveiling service on the anniversary of Charles’ death.”

This would be on Wednesday, 1 June, the first anniversary of when the politician died.

Artisan Stained Glass of Perth have worked with a team from the parish to come up with a design.

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Father McAuley said: “The central image is a golden eagle, which is the symbol of John the Evandelist, catching a salmon.

“The background includes Ben Nevis, the sun, a musical notation of the Camerons’ March, which was one of Charles’ favourite songs, a treble clef representing his parents, with a border of violets and bull rushes representing humility, as Charles was a very humble man.

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“The design also contains his date of birth and the day he died..”

He added: “The stained glass window will give glory to God and be a fitting memorial for Charles and his parents.”

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