New meaning for Year of Pilgrimage at Winchester

Coffee anyone? Year of Pilgrimage takes on new meaning at Winchester Cathedral.

People are being asked to help create a giant labyrinth in the nave of Winchester Cathedral …using coffee grounds and other coffee-related sustainable materials.

Pilgrim Grounds is a unique multi-dimensional community art installation. It is inspired by the theme of pilgrimage and the idea that pausing to drink coffee echoes the rhythm of pilgrim steps and prayer.

The Dean of Winchester, the Very Revd Catherine Ogle, said:

“Pilgrim Grounds comes at the start of the cathedrals’ Year of Pilgrimage as a creative opening to a year-long event.

“Labyrinths are an ancient Christian form of mindful journeying, with a purpose and destination, leading into prayer.
“I am excited by the scope of this ambition to lead a community arts project in the cathedral that combines art, music, spirituality and coffee,’ she added.

The project will start on Thursday 23 January and invites anyone of any age and ability to take part by creating a “coffee tile” with the help of local artists, art students and craftspeople. It is estimated 1,000 tiles are needed to create the labyrinth which should be completed by Wednesday 29 January for a finale Labyrinth Experience that includes performance poetry created from people’s submissions of snippets of their coffee conversations.

Artistic Director of the project, Gill Sakakini, said:

‘This is an engaging collaboration where everyone can make their mark at the start of the Year of Pilgrimage by participating both in the making and mindful walking of this giant labyrinth’.

More here

While we’re talking pilgrimage….Winchester Cathedral invites you to SURROUND SOUND VI on Saturday 25 January at 1pm when Index Cantorum returns to give a 30 minute performance of Thomas Tallis’ 40 voice masterwork Spem in alium, and other polychoral works that relate to a theme of ‘pilgrimage’. Experience the music as ‘promenaders’ or sit informally in the middle of the Nave, with the singers encircling the audience. Free on admission to Winchester Cathedral.

For the latest news from the Association of English Cathedrals, click here.