Lincoln Lights up for Holy Week

Holy Week 2020. Lincoln Cathedral to light up every night.

Lincoln Cathedral will be illuminated in the colours of Holy Week this week as well as continue to turn blue every Thursday in support of all NHS staff and frontline workers.

The blue light for the NHS will continue each week until the Cathedral can reopen its doors and resume its worship in the building – apart from this week when there will be a special lighting scheme in place to signify this most important time in the Christian calendar.

This Grade 1 listed building turned purple on Sunday to signify the start of Holy Week and will remain purple until Wednesday. On Maundy Thursday (9 April) the cathedral will be lit white as Christians around the world remember the Last Supper before the lights go out completely for Good Friday and Easter Eve when the Church enters a period of mourning. Lincoln Cathedral will then turn gold on Easter Sunday to celebrate the joy of the resurrection.

The Revd Canon John Patrick, Sub Dean of Lincoln explained,

“The word Maundy comes from the command given by Christ at the Last Supper, that we should love one another. And there can’t be any more appropriate sentiment in the current climate; when people are anxious and vulnerable, sick or bereaved demonstrating our love for them in any way we can gives great comfort and hope.”

Lincoln Cathedral has turned blue for the NHS every Thursday since we went into lockdown and the Dean of Lincoln, the Very Revd Christine Wilson said:

“While our dedicated NHS staff and frontline workers continue to care for the ill, the vulnerable and the isolated, we continue to remember them in our prayers and do all that we can to support them. The weekly blue lights remain a symbol of our thanks, our prayers and our support.”

“Everyone at Lincoln Cathedral wants to re-iterate the advice that the most important thing anyone can do at the moment is to stay at home to limit the speed at which the virus can spread. Stay safe – stay at home.”

For those wishing to worship at home, the Cathedral has a range of resources on its website.