Sound and Light Shows Start Year of Cathedrals

Spectacular sound and light shows transform English cathedrals marking the start of 2020: Year of Cathedrals Year of Pilgrimage.

English Cathedrals will shine bright at the start of the new decade as a series of transformational sound and light shows mark a number of special events and commemorations.

Immersive sound and light exhibitions open in both Gloucester Cathedral and Guildford Cathedral this week.

Where there is Light – Gloucester Cathedral

Where there is light will see Gloucester Cathedral’s Lady Chapel transformed into an immersive virtual and physical sound and light environment that will change as visitors walk through it, while telling the stories of Gloucestershire’s refugees and asylum seekers.

Canon Richard Mitchell, Gloucester Cathedral said “The exhibition allows us to explore the world of music and light, and real and virtual realms during Epiphany echoing the Christian themes of different elements coming together to reveal something new for each of us.”

The exhibition marks the culmination of events celebrating 20 years of Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) and features artwork by Gloucestershire-based digital arts group, Squidsoup. A specially designed soundscape created by the Everyman Writers Lab and The Music Works gives an audio narrative featuring stories of people from various countries who are now living in Gloucester and who have used the services that GARAS offers.

Opens 16 January and runs until 23 February and more information can be found on the Gloucester Cathedral website.

Star of Wonder – Guildford Cathedral

After its success with Poppy Fields for Armistice 2018 which attracted over 10,000 visitors, Guildford Cathedral welcomes back Luxmuralis, the artistic collaboration of artist Peter Walker and composer David Harper, who this time will transform the cathedral with Star of Wonder to herald in the new decade.

It opens for four nights this Wednesday (15 Jan) when visitors will be able to go on a family friendly journey travelling in the footsteps of the Magi through an immersive sound and light show that will flood the interior of Guildford Cathedral with stunning starry skies. Tickets for Star of Wonder can be booked here.

There are more Sound and Light displays taking place at Carlisle Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, Exeter Cathedral and Sheffield Cathedral.