Apollo 11 – Cathedrals mark 50th Moon Landing Anniversary

Walk, cycle, worship, music and art – Cathedrals mark Moon Landing anniversary

Visitors can walk on the moon at Lichfield Cathedral, cycle to the moon and back at Ripon Cathedral, see Museum of the Moon at Derby and Gloucester Cathedrals, take in an astronaut’s view of Earth at Peterborough Cathedral, while a service to mark the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing will be broadcast live from Leicester Cathedral this weekend.

Moon Landing Radio 4 Broadcast, Leicester Cathedral
July 14

The service on BBC Radio 4, led by the Dean of Leicester, the Very Revd David Monteith will celebrate the achievement of the Apollo 11 Mission and asks whether the ‘giant leap’ has made us more, or less aware, of our own human limitations and of our longing for God.
Later this year, in October, Leicester Cathedral will welcome back Luke Jerram’s Museum of the MoonOctober 11-20.

Radio 4 live from Leicester Cathedral Sunday (14th) at 0810. Congregation must be seated by 0730. The broadcast and service will end at 0900.

Cycle to the moon and back at Ripon Cathedral
June 28 – July 31
Ripon Cathedral is urging its citizens to cycle to the moon and back (over 380,000kms!) as part of a month of Ripon Cycling Together – a series of events including workshops, triathlons, and exhibitions ahead of the arrival of the UCI World Cycling Championships coming through the city in September.

There’s a static bike in the cathedral and people can join in an online tally too.

Walk, worship and watch a film on the moon at Lichfield Cathedral
July 20 – Sept 25
Visitors can literally walk on the moon at Lichfield Cathedral thanks to One Small Step artwork by Artist Peter Walker. There will be a special service on the moon at the exact same time (21.17) that spaceman, Buzz Aldrin celebrated Holy Communion 50 years ago, before taking that one small stepwith fellow astronaut, Neil Armstrong.

One Small Step will run the full length and width of the vast nave and will form the centrepiece of the Cathedral’s annual summer show ‘The Great Exhibition 2019’, ‘Space, God, the Universe and Everything! an immersive sound and light art installation Peter says is inspired by space and the constellations which opens on August 8. August’s film festival on the moon in the Cathedral includes Apollo 13 and E.T.

A view from space in Peterborough Cathedral
19 August – 15 September
Following on from the huge success of Tim Peake’s Soyuz spacecraft and Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon, Peterborough will host Jerram’s Gaia this summer – offering visitors a chance to view our planet from space. The installation, which will hang under the central tower of the Cathedral, creates a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough, said:

“We are very excited to be able to exhibit this extraordinary work. The Museum of the Moon was a compelling installation and having this beautiful representation of our precious planet in Peterborough Cathedral promises to be an unforgettable experience. The planned programme of events alongside the exhibition will offer opportunities both for fun and for learning not least about the critical environmental issues we face.”

For full details of the events programme, opening times and to book evening tickets tap here.

Secret Symphony at Coventry Cathedral
23 August
Coventry Cathedral will celebrate the 50th anniversary Moon Landing with Secret Symphony’s 50-Piece Limelight Orchestra performing all things space, stars and Interstellar. With tracks from David Bowie, Coldplay, Muse, Public Service Broadcasting, ELO, Elton John and many more, the show will take place in the Cathedral with light and special effects, NASA footage, and an immersive 3D hologram show.
23rd August. 20.00 Tickets from See Tickets here.

Museum of the Moon at Derby Cathedral for Derby Festé
September 16 – October 6
From September 16th, Derby Cathedral will host Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon but it will take on a new meaning when it becomes part of Derby Festé – a two-day, city-wide festival launched on September 27 that this year has taken its inspiration from space, the moon and tides. Marking the Apollo 11 anniversary, and coinciding with a new moon on 28 September, it will feature a whole host of events, including a street parade of giant futuristic silver creatures including One Moon which brings together over 200 people from across Derby’s communities to create a choreographed human wave connecting the Museum of the Moon suspended in Derby Cathedral to the River Derwent, highlighting the unbreakable connection between The Moon, Tides and Humanity.

More here.

Museum of the Moon in Gloucester Cathedral
Wednesday 16 October – Monday 4 November
Museum of the Moon takes up residence later in the year in the Nave of Gloucester Cathedral. This floating seven metre replica of the lunar surface is accompanied by an atmospheric soundscape and is part of a series of city-wide events to mark the moon landing anniversary and part of the city’s Strike A Light festival.