A Powerful Reminder in the Heart of Westminster

A Powerful Reminder in the Heart of Westminster 

In the heart of Westminster, London, a profound message is etched in stone outside Westminster Abbey:

“May God grant to the living grace,

To the departed rest,

To the Church & the world peace and concord,

And to us sinners eternal life.”


Amidst the noise, this engraving stands as a reminder of our deepest need and greatest hope. It speaks to the living with the assurance of God’s grace. It honours the departed with the promise of rest. It lifts up the Church and the world, praying for peace and concord in a time when both feel fragile. And it humbles us all, sinners in need of mercy, pointing us to the gift of eternal life.

This prayer speaks of a greater power—the God who gives grace, rest, peace, concord, and eternal life. In the centre of a busy city, it calls us to pause, reflect, and remember that no matter how chaotic life becomes, we have a hope that is unshaken.

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