Elephants in Cathedrals

It’s not often a cathedral is filled with elephants but that’s how Lichfield Cathedral found themselves last night as they hosted a charity auction to raise much-needed funds for their local hospice.

Elephants take over Lichfield Cathedral

Thirty-seven colourful elephant sculptures went under the hammer – the culmination of the March of the Elephants summer sculpture trail around the county – and raised a massive £125,000 for St Giles’ Hospice.

The Rt Revd Jan McFarlane, Dean of Lichfield, said:

“We are so pleased to be working with St Giles on this wonderful elephant trail because we share so many values. The Cathedral, like St Giles, is a place where people can come to talk about the matters of life and death, profound issues that affect every single one of us. 

“The Cathedral has for centuries been a place where people can come with their hopes and their fears, and we can walk together as we explore those big questions in life. So, we are delighted to host this – huge, colourful elephants reminding us of wisdom, memories, strength and the power of caring for one another in community.”

Georgia Haynes, Project Event Manager at St Giles Hospice, said:

“This auction is a pivotal moment for St Giles Hospice. 

“While it’s certainly a celebration of community spirit and artistic talent, it’s crucial to remember its primary purpose – to raise vital funds for our essential services.

“With hospices across the UK facing a £77 million funding deficit, the proceeds from this auction are more important than ever to help secure the future of end-of-life care in our community.”