A memorial hydrangea to Cecil Rhodes removed from Cumbria church garden

A hydrangea plant and an accompanying memorial plaque dedicated to Cecil Rhodes have been removed from the grounds of St Mary's church in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, the Daily Mail reported. The plant had been placed near the church porch. [1]

The plaque explained that the plant was donated decades ago in memory of Rhodes, who was the son of a clergyman. The Daily Mail noted the removal following the Church of England establishing a 100 million pound fund to address its historic links to slavery. [1]

Rhodes was a British mining magnate and politician who served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896. He and the British South Africa Company founded the territory of Rhodesia, which was named after him in 1895 and later became Zambia and Zimbabwe. Rhodes also established the Rhodes Scholarship before his death. [1][2][4]