Salisbury 2020: City on the Move

A year of celebration has been launched to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the founding of Salisbury and its iconic cathedral.

Named Salisbury 2020: City on the Move, celebrations will start in February with a light and sound spectacular inspired by the history of the Cathedral and the year-long activities will focus on three key strands: physical activities, technological projects, and exploration pursuits.

2020 is the Year of Cathedrals, Year of Pilgrimage. Find out more on the English Cathedral’s Website.

The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos said: “Salisbury 2020 was conceived more than three years ago, but the key partnerships were forged in a time of adversity in 2018, when the city of Salisbury was called upon to show its resolve and prove its determination to move ahead with optimism, much like our forebears when they made their epochal move.

“To reflect this extraordinary spirit and vision we have an exciting programme of activities planned for Salisbury 2020 with music, worship, art and a flower festival, and we begin our celebrations in February with a light and sound spectacular inspired by the Cathedral’s history.”

The year of celebrations has been put together by Salisbury Cathedral with Salisbury BID, Salisbury City Council , Visit Wiltshire, Wiltshire Creative,Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Partnership, plus several other local partners.

The decision to build the city’s cathedral all those centuries ago was made by Bishop Richard Poore, the medieval bishop of Salisbury.

This was driven by the need to access fresh water, and desperate to escape bad weather, royal supervision and regular harassment by soldiers stationed at Old Sarum Castle.

Legend has it that an archer stood on top of the hill at Old Sarum, and shot an arrow into the valley to the south and that the arrow, remarkably, landed two miles away, marking the location of what would become Salisbury Cathedral.

A year of celebration has been launched to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the founding of Salisbury and its iconic cathedral.

Named Salisbury 2020: City on the Move, celebrations will start in February with a light and sound spectacular inspired by the history of the Cathedral and the year-long activities will focus on three key areas: physical activities, technological projects, and exploration pursuits.

The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos said:

“Salisbury 2020 was conceived more than three years ago, but the key partnerships were forged in a time of adversity in 2018, when the city of Salisbury was called upon to show its resolve and prove its determination to move ahead with optimism, much like our forebears when they made their epochal move.

“To reflect this extraordinary spirit and vision we have an exciting programme of activities planned for Salisbury 2020 with music, worship, art and a flower festival, and we begin our celebrations in February with a light and sound spectacular inspired by the Cathedral’s history.”

The year of celebrations has been put together by Salisbury Cathedral with Salisbury BID, Salisbury City Council, Visit Wiltshire, Wiltshire Creative, Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Partnership, plus several other local partners.

The decision to build the city’s cathedral all those centuries ago was made by Bishop Richard Poore, the medieval bishop of Salisbury.

This was driven by the need to access fresh water, and desperate to escape bad weather, royal supervision and regular harassment by soldiers stationed at Old Sarum Castle.

Legend has it that an archer stood on top of the hill at Old Sarum, and shot an arrow into the valley to the south and that the arrow, remarkably, landed two miles away, marking the location of what would become Salisbury Cathedral.

By April 1220 the foundation stones for the building were laid and expansion of the city we know today had begun.

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