Peace Doves comes to Lincoln Cathedral

Visitors invited to share their hopes and dreams: PEACE DOVES comes to Lincoln Cathedral

Visitors are invited to leave messages of hope and peace this summer to become part of Peace Doves, an art installation that will open in Lincoln Cathedral in early September.

Peace Doves arrives at Lincoln in September

Peace Doves is a large-scale mass-participation artwork created by artist Peter Walker and will feature around 12,000 paper doves suspended on ribbons from the nave.  The installation will then be lit in different colours and accompanied by a soundscape by composer, David Harper.

The doves will be available to make in the Cathedral from Wednesday 1 May and visitors, schools and local community groups are being invited to add messages of peace, hope and love to the paper birds.

It is hoped that more than 10,000 doves will be created which will then be turned into the artwork which will hang from the ceiling of the nave and be available to view from the beginning of September.

Samantha Mellows, Director of Visitor Experience and Enterprise at Lincoln, said,

“Every day we witness conflict in the world, both on a global scale and in our own lives. But we also see acts of kindness, friendship across barriers and people pursuing peace in small but important ways.

“Doves have long been recognised as a symbol of peace, and for Christians they are seen as a symbol of God’s presence on earth and as a promise of hope. 

“This is a great opportunity for diverse communities, individuals and groups to come together and create something unique, which will then be on display in the cathedral.

“We hope that the finished piece will inspire a sense of peace, unity and hope in all those who see it and that visitors to the cathedral enjoy the beauty of the huge flock of doves soaring above the nave.”

Special digital packs are available to schools, community groups and other organisations that would like to create peace dove displays in their own spaces.

And anyone wishing to get a pack for their group should contact Samantha Mellows on events@lincolncathedral.com.

You can find out more information about the Peace Doves installation, and how to join in and share your message of peace at www.lincolncathedral.com/peace-doves

PEACE DOVES will be on display in the nave from 5 September to 14 November.

Peace Doves was first staged at Lichfield Cathedral in 2018 when it was designed to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War.  It has also been seen at several other Church of England cathedrals including Liverpool, Derby, Rochester, Sheffield, Chichester and St Albans.

Photo credit : Peter Walker Sculptor