Creative and Prayerful

English Cathedrals are getting ready to open up slowly and safely when they can with announcements of creative and prayerful events and exhibitions to help and support their communities in recovery.

Creative and prayerful: Cathedrals announce latest events to help their communities in recovery.

Today (Tuesday) St Albans unveils Solace, an installation of glass wings by glass artist Layne Rowe designed as a reflective memorial to the pandemic.

He said:

“I want the glass wings to be a symbol of unity, a strength and a focus for people of all faiths and none to reflect on the past year.”

The installation is made up of 160 individually blown glass feathers which will be hung from the bones of wings forged in iron by Ryan Harms.

A spokesperson for St Albans said:

“People have been coming to the Cathedral seeking quiet reflection and relief for centuries and the installation of these glass wings will bring a new way of helping visitors and worshippers remember loved ones and contemplate all that has happened over the past year.”

Solace will be on display in the Cathedral until Friday 14 May. Admission to the Cathedral is free and full Covid-19 safety precautions will be in place.

And the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2A)

The Leaves of the Trees, another exhibition designed to give people the opportunity to reflect on the impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on them and their communities will open in Southwell Minster next month.

The Leaves of the Trees is designed by sculptor Peter Walker, currently artist in residence at Lichfield Cathedral, and is made up of 5,000 steel leaves, each featuring the word ‘HOPE’ and will be laid out on the cathedral floor, creating an impression of fallen autumn leaves when it opens on May 10.

It will be available until June 6 and the exhibition has been part funded by the Minster’s partners at Newark & Sherwood District Council. It will tour other cathedrals later this year.

The Dean of Southwell, the Very Revd Nicola Sullivan said:

“We have all been affected by the terrible impact of the pandemic. We have had so few ways to grieve and Peter Walker’s simple but powerful installation will help us find healing and hope amidst our tears and loss.

“This is for everyone – whatever age or faith, and we invite everyone to come to their Cathedral for moments of quiet reflection.”

The Leaves of The Trees is at Southwell Minster from May 10 until June 6. It has previously been seen at Exeter, Sheffield and Lichfield and is expected to tour other cathedrals this year including Rochester, Worcester, Southwark, Salisbury and Peterborough.