“Minerva” by Alan Collins
Image by Gordon T Lawson
Alan Collins completed several important works for Guildford Cathedral and was also the sculptor chosen to do the inscription on the Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede.
Collins also designed and carved three sandstone figures at Bradford Cathedral in Yorkshire, RAF squadron badges for St.Clement Dane Church in the City of London, seven portrait masks on keystones above the nave arcades in St.Mary-Le-Bow church, again in the City of London. He also executed a stone figure of the patron saint of sailors above the entrance to St.Nicholas’ Church in Saltdean, Sussex, and a replacement of the Royal Coat-of-Arms of King Charles above the portico of All Saints’ Church in Northampton.
Collins has resided in the United States of America for several years and has executed some major works there.
Collins was the sculptor of the “Minerva” work just by Southwark Cathedral. Here we see a photograph of that work.
At Guildford Cathedral Collins was responsible for the carvings at each end of both Garths, and several statues, namely “Charity”,”Courage”, “Temperance”, “Prudence”,”Wisdom”, “Understanding” “Counsel”, “Fortitude” and “Knowledge”. He was also the sculptor of the “Hand of God” carving on the Great West Window, and the statues of St Martha of Bethany and St Catherine on the buttresses of the Lady Chapel, He also designed the Golden Angel on top of the Cathedral, and inside the Cathedral worked on various badges dedicated to Cranleigh and St Catherine’s School, the Arms of Bishop MacMillan over the inside of St Ursula’s Porch,and the Fish and Greek Letters on the Font.
