A large monument paying a reverent tribute to the martyrs who lost their lives in pursuit of their beliefs. The name is inspired by the words of Paul which read:
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
The majority of this reformation monument will be a creative piece of landscaping with 401 rocks each representing a Protestant martyr and 380 steel rods each representing a Catholic Martyr. The names of a few of them will be engraved on the rocks and rods, and their stories will be told on a free audio tour. Interspersed will be a few statues, stained glass and relevant quotes honouring particular martyrs or events.
At the entrance to the Cloud of Witnesses is the statue of the Saviour and the Woman at the well – Living Water. An upturned jug has water flowing from it to feed a small stream which runs through the monument. This is symbolic of the Living Water which inspired these martyrs with their courage to stay true. At the far end of the monument will be another statue of Christ – the ultimate martyr – at which point the stream disappears. However, when you walk around the lower terrace the Living Water will reappear at the statue of the First Vision representing continuing revelation.