They were indeed originally meant to represent the Three Graces of Ancient Greek mythology, described in Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable as "goddesses who bestowed beauty and charm and were themselves the embodiment of both". Perhaps those who commissioned them were trying to bring a touch of classical Athens to our cold northern climes!

However, I find it thought-provoking that our Victorian ancestors quickly "Christened" the statues "Faith, Hope and Charity". These words would have been familiar to people brought up with the Authorized, or King James, version of the Bible. They are the three great Christian virtues listed by St Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13 verse 13: "And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity". By "charity" the 16th century translators meant the most profound form of Christian love, which gives willingly to others without thought of reward.

I took part in the dedication of the new statues in Church Street with Rev Peter Howson of Inverness Methodist Church, and Father Michael Savage of St Mary's Roman Catholic Church. The titles of these new Three Virtues were chosen, as you reported after a city-wide consultation.

The City Partnership website says that the artist who designed them, Matt Baker "is struck by how the original Faith, Hope and Charity still echo in the new Virtues — with Open- Heartedness close to Charity ('selfless love' from the Greek), there can be no Perseverance without Hope and there is a sense of belief in both Faith and Insight." There is more detail on all of this in a sermon I preached the following Sunday, now available on-line. Yours etc.

Rev Peter W. Nimmo, Minister of Old High St Stephen's Parish Church, 24 Damfield Road, Inverness

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