Armistice 2018 – Bristol Cathedral’s rich programme of film, music, art and services

Bristol Cathedral marks the centenary of WWI with a rich programme of film, music, talks, art and services.

Click here for all Armistice events near you.

On until 19 November, At the Going Down of the Sun, is significant photography exhibition remembering those who lost their lives in the First World War. The culmination of a four-year photographic project by Marko Dutka, it features images of Commonwealth, civilian and enemy war graves, war memorials and associated bomb and air crash sites across the Bristol and Bath region, photographed between the hours of dusk and dawn.

A kickstarter campaign is currently being run to fundraise for a commemorative book, showing 50 of these powerful images alongside each other.
More details can be found at bristol-cathedral.co.uk

On Saturday 27 October at 11am, the Royal British Legion will launch Poppies on the Green, a large installation of poppies that members of the public will be able to contribute towards, remembering a loved one or saying ‘Thank You’ to the First World War generation.

The Bristol Military Wives perform as the first poppies are planted and the installation will remain outside the Cathedral throughout Remembrance. Two men who love the same woman – one her husband, one her lover – meet in the trenches of World War One. Their story becomes a microcosm for the horrors of war, in Abel Gance’s epic war film, J’Accuse, a silent film classic with live organ accompaniment. Released in 1919, the film includes real battlefields of the First World War on screen, and depicts the very real tragedy and horror of war. J’Accuse will be screened on Thursday 1 November at 6pm. Tickets £14 and are available on the Cathedral website.

On Saturday 3 November, families and children are invited to come and hear the fascinating story of WW1 as seen through the real-life experiences of 32 former pupils of St John’s, Bristol. This will be followed by some themed craft afterwards in the Cathedral’s medieval Chapter House. Suitable for children aged 10+.

As the centenary of the Armistice approaches, the Royal British Legion will be hosting The Bristol Festival of Remembrance, bringing together musical talent from across the region with orchestral pieces, choral works, readings and a feature from local children. The concert, held on Saturday 10 November at 7.30pm, will be compered by Terry Waite, CBE and the highlight of the evening, a performance of Karl Jenkins’ The Peacemakers.

The evening will be a centre-piece of the South West region’s commemoration attended by Dignitaries and Military Personnel, raising money for Bristol Poppy Appeal, directly supporting members of the Armed Forces, Veterans and their beneficiaries. Tickets can be bought via the Cathedral website.

At dusk on the eve of Remembrance Sunday, a WW1 soldier will appear on the side of the Abbey Gatehouse, adjacent to the Cathedral, fading into the rising sun at dawn. Created by artist Leo Jamelli, Sleeping Soldier portrays fallen soldiers awakening for one night to stand guard over our cities, protecting against danger, and searching for fallen comrades who lie in eternal sleep. Leo’s hand drawn animations with pencil-sketched imagery give an ethereal feel: the way in which each frame is drawn and shaded makes the final animation flicker and jump, reinforcing the idea of these servicemen being from two worlds and only awaking for one night. As the sun finally rises and the projection fades into the daylight, their watch is over and they pass once more into sleep.

Remembrance Sunday begins at dawn with Battle’s Over, where bell ringers, pipers, buglers and trumpeters across the country will be marking the centenary of the ending of the First World War, paying tribute to the millions that lost their lives.
Join our Cathedral congregation at 10am as we process together to the Cenotaph for the multi-faith remembrance service, beginning at 11am.

Regularly the most-attended civic remembrance service outside of London, this year’s service marking the centenary of the Armistice will be especially poignant and popular – attendees are advised to arrive in plenty of time.

At 5.30pm that afternoon, the Cathedral Choir will sing Durufle’s Requiem. This will be followed at 7pm by Ringing Out for Peace, where the bells of Bristol Cathedral join other cathedral and church bells across the country.