Flock of 'Peace Pigeons' bring Stirlingshire community together

Published on 2 July 2024 2 minutes read

A flock of hand crafted "Peace Pigeons" have brought a Stirlingshire community together in the face of "great uncertainty" in the world.

The congregations of Bridge of Allan Parish Church and St Saviour's Episcopal Church in Bridge of Allan teamed up to deliver the inspiring project to send a message of hope that there is "more to life than violence and war".

Church members, uniformed organisations, school children and members of the wider community designed and made around 500 "Peace Pigeons" out of paper and card.

Peace Pigeon
The ecumenical project brought the community together.

The colourful creations were initially put on display in both buildings.

In the Christian tradition, doves are mostly associated with peace but the pigeon is a common bird in Scotland and one that people can easily relate to.

The ecumenical project was aimed at giving the wider community an opportunity to come together and offer their prayers for peace during a troubling time as war rages in places like Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.

A special service was held at St Saviour's Church on 19 June.

It featured a blend of music, readings and moments of silence, allowing attendees to reflect on the importance of peace in their lives.

The highlight of the service was the opportunity for everyone to share their desire for lasting peace in the world with one another.

Pigeon Bridge of Allan
Around 500 colourful pigeons were made out of card and paper in the name of peace.

It was led by Rev Dan Harper, minister of Bridge of Allan Parish Church and Rev Aaron Moffat-Jackman, rector of St Saviour's Episcopal Church.

"In the face of great uncertainty and wars being fought that might spill into wider conflicts, it is important to cry out," said Mr Harper.

"That is what, we as a community, did.

"We cried for peace, we looked to God with words unknown and placed hope in the belief that there is more to life than violence and war.

"We felt called to create an event that would engage all age groups and connect with the lived experiences of everyone in our community."

Rev Dan Harper
Rev Dan Harper, minister of Bridge of Allan Parish Church and Rev Aaron Moffat-Jackman, rector of St Saviour's Episcopal Church.

Mr Moffat-Jackman added: "In times like these, it is vital that we come together to support one another and work towards a peaceful future."

Around 50 people attended the service and the ministers said the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

One participant remarked: "That was a lovely service. Thank you. We need more like that."

The "Peace Pigeons" are now housed in St Saviour's Church where they will stay and visitors are able to visit the exhibition for the next few weeks.