Armistice 2018 – Poppies to fill our cathedrals

Poppies will fill four of our English Cathedrals creating a poignant and moving immersive sound and light display to mark the anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Poppy Fields, the installation by renowned artist and sculptor, Peter Walker can be seen this October in Guildford, Christ Church Oxford and St Albans Cathedrals before it returns to Lichfield Cathedral for Remembrance Day. It will form part of all these cathedrals’ programmes of events and commemorations to mark this Armistice year.

Peter, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, is in his fifth year as artist in residence at Lichfield Cathedral. He created Poppy Fields there for ‘Before Action’ in 2016 – with sound artwork composed by David Harper. The installation includes four readings of World War One poems by Oscar winner, Eddie Redmayne.

It will start its national tour in Guildford Cathedral with a two-day show on October 5th and 6th marking the start of the program of events taking place at Guildford Cathedral to commemorate WW1. This will include schools workshops, a family event, the lighting of the outside of the Cathedral with falling poppies and other local and national Remembrance Day commemorations taking place in November.

You can find out more here – Armistice 2018 Guildford

Poppy Fields will then go on display in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford on the evenings of 11th, 12th and 13th October.

Timed tickets will be available here. They are free of charge, but must be booked in advance.

It will fill the nave of St Albans Cathedral for two nights on 26th and 27th October for anyone to contemplate and reflect on the history of World War One.

Earlier this year, the Cathedral ran a campaign calling for local residents to submit the names of relatives or local people who had served their country in any conflict. Over two thousand names were collected over the summer and these names will be projected inside the Cathedral on the two evenings of the installation, as a way of honouring and commemorating their service.

Find our more here – St Alban’s Armistice 2018

Poppy Fields will then return to Lichfield Cathedral for three evenings on November 8th, 9th and 11th .

For tickets can be booked at Lichfield Armistice

Peter Walker said:

“Art in its many forms allows us to individually and collectively experience and share emotive moments. 100 years on from the end of WW1, Poppy Fields is an opportunity to become immersed in sound and light, and truly reflect and focus our thoughts.”

Find out how your local cathedral is commemorating Armistice 2018 here.