On April 25-26, hosted its annual Churchill Fellows Weekend and marked the successful progress of the current phase of preservation of America's National Churchill Museum (ANCM), including the masonry conservation of the magnificent Christopher Wren church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. ANCM is the home to a world-class collection, which is widely regarded as the finest of its kind in North America.
Select talks in St. Mary Aldermanbury are archived on our YouTube channel.
11:30 am — Museum
Tour of St. Mary Aldermanbury with Steve Stinson
Steve Stinson, a member of the Westminster College Class of 1973, shared his fascinating and entertaining stories about the establishment of the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library in the United States, now known as America’s National Churchill Museum. In the 1960s, Steve’s father, Churchill Fellow Dave Stinson, served as Westminster College’s Vice President and played a pivotal role in the Churchill Memorial project. As a young man, Steve became the first tour guide for the memorial during the restoration of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, on the Westminster College campus. He has also produced two documentaries about the ANCM, including Franta and Winston (2021), which highlights Czech-born sculptor Franta Belsky and his iconic statue of Sir Winston Churchill. The statue will be rededicated during Churchill Fellows Weekend. Steve is also the author of the upcoming children’s book 7,000 Stones, which chronicles the rebuilding of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, on the Westminster College campus.
Churchill Fellows Weekend Colloquium
in memory of Fellow Richard M. Langworth
1:00-4:10 pm — Church of St. Mary Aldermanbury
1:00 – "We Shape our Buildings, and Afterwards they Shape Us" Preservation of Christopher Wren's St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury and America's National Churchill Museum
Angie Gaebler, President of Kansas-City based STRATA Architecture + Preservation and Sanra L. and Monroe E. Trout Director and Chief Curator Timothy Riley discussed the recent and ongoing preservation of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, the Christopher Wren church Winston Churchill called "a symbol of our hopes for peace for the future of mankind."
1:40 – The Churchill Image
Winston Churchill understood the profound impact a powerful portrait could have in inspiring and stirring emotions. But what truly defines a successful portrait? America’s National Churchill Museum boasts some of the most iconic sculptural representations of Winston Churchill, featuring remarkable works by artists such as Oscar Nemon, Franta Belsky, Lawrence Holofcener, Sir Jacob Epstein, Robert McFall, Ivor Roberts-Jones, and Don Wiegand. Churchill Fellow and sculptor Don Wiegand, alongside Julia Holofcener, whose late husband crafted the renowned Allies sculpture for New Bond Street in London, discussed these iconic works.
2:20 – The Future of the Past: Museum Studies: Yalta @80 Exhibition
As centers of research and education, and as repositories for cultural heritage, museums play a vital role in our society. They allow us to celebrate humanity’s soaring achievements while also providing lessons on how to avoid the mistakes of our past. Assistant Professor of Museum Studies Dr. Nichol Allen and Carter Murray, class of 2026 and Museum Studies minor, presented a new exhibition Yalta@80, a product of Westminster College's Museum Studies program.
3:00 – A Churchill Treasury
Brian E. Krapf, discussed his 2024 book, A Churchill Treasury documenting memorabilia from Sir Winston Churchill’s decades of public service. Globally called Churchilliana, these items encompass over 60 years of materials, including badges, ribbons, textiles, porcelain, glassware and ephemera with the last Churchilliana book being published over 20 years ago as a collectors’ guide. Since its release, A Churchill Treasury has been enjoyed by collectors as well as readers interested in history since it uses period items to portray and explain Sir Winston’s public service, starting with his father and chief inspiration, Lord Randolph and ending with retirement after Sir Winston’s second premiership.
3:40 – Collecting Churchill: Museums and Markets
America’s National Churchill Museum is the premier repository for Churchill-related materials in North America. Its collection, which includes some of Winston Churchill's most renowned paintings, has been displayed at both the museum and esteemed venues across the United States. Managing and showcasing a world-class collection demands a high level of expertise, connoisseurship, and a deep understanding of Sir Winston Churchill. Miller Gaffney, along with ANCM’s Sandra L. and Monroe E. Trout Director and Chief Curator Timothy Riley, explored several works from the ANCM’s collection, delving into what makes each one a truly remarkable.
5:15 pm — Backer Dining Room in Mueller Leadership Hall
Sinews of Peace Society Reception
6:00 pm — Backer Dining Room in Mueller Leadership Hall
Churchill Fellows Dinner
9:30 am — Latshaw Plaza
Rededication of Franta Belsky’s Sculpture of Winston Churchill
After a successful conservation treatment, Franta Belsky's monumental sculpture of Winston Churchill was rededicated outside America's National Churchill Museum.
ANCM gratefully acknowledges Fellow Hal Oakley and his wife, Kathy; mother, Signe; and their extended family for making possible the conservation of the Franta Belsky sculpture.
10:00 am — Church of St. Mary Aldermanbury (and live-streamed on YouTube)
Enid and R. Crosby Kemper Lecture on "World Peace, Free Trade, and Rules-Based Order" by The Rt. Hon. Sir Conor Burns and induction of new Churchill Fellows
12:00 pm — Backer Dining Room in Mueller Leadership Hall
Churchill Fellows Luncheon
Born in Belfast in 1972 Sir Conor Burns attended St Columba's College in St Albans a school run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, United States Province. He graduated with a degree in Modern History and Politics from the University of Southampton.
A previous Councillor in the City of Southampton, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Bournemouth West in 2010. He served on the Culture, Media and Sport Select and the Education Committees. He was a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Departments of Business and Energy, Northern Ireland, Treasury and the Foreign Office to Boris Johnson. He was appointed Minister for Trade Policy by Mr. Johnson. He also served as Minister of State for Northern Ireland.
Most recently. Sir Conor was the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to the United States for Trade and Investment. He served under UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who asked him to lead the state-level MOU program to bolster UK-US trade.
He was appointed to the Privy Council by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2019. In 2023 Conor was appointed Knight Batchelor and knighted at an investiture by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle.
His home is in Bournemouth, and he works from London and Dallas, Texas.
The Association of Churchill Fellows is an honorary society recognizing leaders in industry, commerce, statecraft, and in the arts and sciences. It is among the key organizations that support America's National Churchill Museum, the only museum in North America that commemorates the life and times of former British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill and his legacy of leadership.
We welcome the following class of 2025 to the Association of Churchill Fellows: The Rt. Hon. Sir Conor Burns, Sen. Josh Hawley, Julia Holofcener, Bob Kelly, Judith Mueller, Kent Mueller, David Richardson (posthumous), Rep. Louis Riggs, and John Schaperkotter.
Special Relationship – $25,000
Includes two tables of eight for dinner and luncheon, preferred seating, and name in the program.
Iron Curtain – $10,000
Includes one table of eight for dinner and luncheon, preferred seating, and name in the program.
Statesman – $5,000
Per person includes dinner, luncheon, preferred seating, and name in the program.
Admiralty – $1,000
Per person includes dinner and luncheon, and name in the program.
Sponsor a Student – $220
Sponsor a Westminster College student to attend both the dinner and the luncheon.
Please contact Tim Riley if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Churchill Fellows Weekend 2025.
Check out visitifulton.com to find restaurants, shops, and activities to make the most of your trip to Fulton.
Where to stay: We have reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate at the Hampton Inn off of I-70 in Columbia, MO, under the title "Churchill Museum Fellows Weekend." Call (573) 303-9426 or book online at https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/churchillmuseumfellowsweekend/ before April 11.
Address: Hampton Inn Columbia, A Hampton by Hilton Hotel, 3410 Clark Lane, Columbia, Missouri 65202
Numbers in parentheses correspond to the Westminster College campus map.
Building entrances
Museum (31): enter on the corner of Westminster Ave. and 7th St.
Church of St. Mary Aldermanbury: enter through the Museum entrance and take the stairs up to the church.
Accessible church entrance: follow the drive off Westminster Ave. to the north of the Museum/church and enter though the north church door. Please allow the staff member stationed at the door to assist you with the ramp/stairs as they are still under construction.
Mueller Leadership Hall (39): enter from the parking lot, through the doors to the right of the patio.
Check-in for registered guests (guests attending meals)
Friday, 10 am – 4:30 pm: Museum front desk (31)
Friday after 4:30 pm: Backer Dining Room in Mueller Leadership Hall (39)
Saturday, 9 am – 10:30 am: Museum front desk (31)
Saturday after 10:30 am: Backer Dining Room in Mueller Leadership Hall (39)
Parking
Friday until 5:00 pm: along Westminster Ave.
Friday after 5:00 pm: along Westminster Ave., any parking lot on map
Saturday: along Westminster Ave., any parking lot on map
Handicap accessible parking
Museum access: one spot on Westminster Ave. in front of the Museum (31)
Church of St. Mary Aldermanbury access: drop-off only at the north church door via the drive to the north of the Museum (31, drive not shown on map)
Latshaw Plaza access: several spots in the parking lot north of Champ Auditorium (37)
Mueller Leadership Hall access: several spots in the parking lot (39)
Staff will be available to shuttle guests between locations in golf carts throughout the day
Audio Assistance
There will be ASL interpretation for the Kemper Lecture on Saturday.
“Leave the past to history especially as I propose to write that history myself.”
