The Wales Window of Alabama

This is the story of what links the people of Wales, with one of the worst atrocities of the American Civil Rights movement.

In 1963, racist bombers, blew up the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham Alabama, killing four girls in the blast. The murders marked another low in the violent resistance to civil rights.

News of the bombing was broadcast worldwide.

Welsh sculptor John Petts heard about it on the radio as he worked in his studio. He was so upset, he contacted a local newspaper and a campaign was launched to raise money to help rebuild the devastated Church.

No one was allowed to give more than half crown - to ensure that no rich benefactor could take credit for the money raised. There were reports of children, black and white, queuing up in Cardiff to donate their pocket money.

Tens of thousands of people contributed to the fund.

With the money that was raised, Petts was commissioned to make a new stained-glass window for the Church.

Grand in scale, it's now a focus of worship and one of the most famous pieces of art to come out of the darkness of the civil rights period.

Produced at BBC Manchester by Nicola Swords.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2011.