Stained glass window with anti-racism message on display at train station

Published on 4 July 2024 1 minute read

Ministers are delighted with new artwork which carries a strong anti-racism message that has been put on permanent display in Gourock railway station.

Rev David Burt of Old Gourock and Ashton Parish Church and Rev Teri Peterson of St John's Parish Church attended the unveiling ceremony and said they hoped that the message ‘there is no other, just us' will resonate with people.

Pupils from Gourock, Moorfoot, and St Ninian's primary schools and St Columba's and Clydeview secondary schools worked on the project funded by Gourock Schools and Churches Together, a partnership that brings together clergy and head teachers serving the Inverclyde town in the west of Scotland.

Stained Glass
No room for racism here. Rev David Burt and Rev Teri Peterson (far right) are part of Gourock Schools and Churches Together which funded a project to create a new stained glass window to promote community cohesion. Photo credit - Father Gerry McNellis.

The striking stained glass window features hands of different colours and shapes reaching out to each other.

It was designed by stained glass specialist artist Alec Galloway in collaboration with pupils to send out a clear message that "everyone is welcome and everyone is valued".

Pupils and head teachers from all of the schools involved in the project also attended the ceremony on 28 June along with Father Gerry McNellis of St Ninian's Church.

Mr Burt, a chaplain at Gourock Primary School and Clydeview Academy, described the artwork as "absolutely stunning".

"All of the passengers will see it when they're travelling through the railway station," he said.
"It shows that everyone is welcome and everyone is valued, and stands as testament to what can be achieved.

"It's so important for us in Gourock that churches work so closely with schools.

"We're so grateful to the young people for their input."

No room for racism
The stained glass window by artist Alec Galloway in collaboration with pupils form Gourock schools.

Ms Peterson is a chaplain at Moorfoot Primary School and Clydeview Academy.

She said: "It has been such a privilege to play a small part in this, and to pair it with classroom visits at Moorfoot talking about different does not mean dangerous and how we can make our community a better place by being an upstander instead of a bystander.

"During times that are so divided and contentious, it's important that we come together and celebrate the fullness of our community and that everyone knows they belong here.

"I would encourage people to take a look when they're passing through the station and carry this important message wherever they are going."