What words are inscribed on the memorial?
THE WINDOW-
DIEVS SVETI LAYVIJU/GOD BLESS LATVIA
SILVER PLAQUE-
To the Glory of God this window/the gift of the St. Cuthbert’s Latvian Congregation/was dedicated by the/RIGHT REVEREND H.D. HALSEY/BISHOP OF CARLISLE/and unveiled by/HIS WORSHIP COUNCILLOR ALAN GRAHAM/MAYOR OF CARLISLE/on Sunday 25th April 1982
EXPLANATON IN PICTURE FRAME BELOW THE WINDOW-
This Window was the gift of the Latvian Congregation/of this Church, who have worshipped here since 1949/They were helped by Latvians from all over Britain/Latvia is situated on the Eastern shore of the Baltic/Sea and has served as home for its people for 4000/years, after centuries of foreign domination, the/independence of Latvia was declared in 1918 and the/Republic lasted until 1940, when Latvia was annexed/by the Soviet Union. A reign of terror followed the/Russian Invasion, and thousands were jailed, tortured,/while thousands were executed or deported to Siberian/death camps. Again after a period of Nazi occupation/the Red Army returned in 1944.Over a hundred/thousand Latvians fled to the West. Under Soviet/Rule, the survival of the distinctive Latvian/culture and language and the Lutheran, Catholic,/Orthodox and other Churches is under constant threat. The window was designed by John Rees, a member of/the staff of Carlisle Art College, and was made by a local firm, Elders Walker Millican Limited