Peace statue
In the roofless ruins of St Luke’s Church in Liverpool — known locally as the Bombed-Out Church — stands a striking bronze sculpture commemorating the Christmas Truce of 1914. The work depicts a British and a German soldier meeting across a football, reaching out to shake hands just as soldiers did during that remarkable moment of peace on the Western Front. The statue is often referred to as the Christmas Truce Football Statue or All Together Now.
The statue was designed and sculpted by the British artist Andy Edwards. A passionate football supporter, Edwards was inspired by the way the sport became a symbol of humanity during the First World War’s first Christmas. The initial concept was developed in response to interest from the Football Association in marking the centenary of the truce and commemorating the many footballers who served in the war. A smaller maquette was created first, followed by a quarter-size bronze that was installed at St George’s Park, the FA’s national training centre, in 2012.
Although the original large-scale commission did not proceed, Edwards and his collaborators decided to fund and complete a full-size version themselves. Their intention was to create a memorial that emphasised peace, fraternity, and shared humanity rather than conflict. The sculpted figures are life-sized and highly expressive, with realistic uniforms and facial features that convey both caution and goodwill. The football placed between them is a simple but powerful symbol of the moment when opposing sides briefly chose games and camaraderie over violence.
The setting of the statue enhances its emotional impact. St Luke’s Church was completed in the early nineteenth century and once stood as a prominent landmark near the heart of Liverpool. During the Liverpool Blitz of May 1941 the church was gutted by incendiary bombs, leaving only its walls and tower standing. Rather than being rebuilt, it was preserved in its ruined state as a permanent memorial to those lost in the war and to the devastation the city endured. The open-sky interior and fire-blackened stone provide a haunting backdrop for a sculpture dedicated to peace rising out of conflict.
The full-size bronze statue was completed and installed in 2014 to coincide with the centenary of the Christmas Truce. Since then it has become one of Liverpool’s most admired pieces of public art. Visitors often remark on how the calmness of St Luke’s contrasts with the chaos it once witnessed, and how the sculpture’s handshake captures a timeless message: even in the darkest circumstances, individuals can choose understanding over hostility.
