Tears at St Edmundsbury Cathedral

“Tears speak volumes when there are no words” – St Edmundsbury Cathedral curate, the Revd Sarah Geileskey

Teardrop installation to mark one year anniversary of lockdown

A special teardrop installation created from over 200 tiny glass tea-light holders will be suspended under the Cathedral tower at St Edmundsbury Cathedral to mark the first anniversary of the national lockdown.

How cathedrals are commemorating the National Day of Reflection, Lockdown one year on.

Each individual teardrop symbolises one of the many people impacted by COVID-19 through death, illness, loss of work, anxiety, loneliness or isolation across the county.

The teardrop installation will be in place in the Cathedral from Tuesday March 23 to Maundy Thursday, April 1. Teardrops will be chalk marked on the Cathedral lawn at the same time and allowed to be washed away by the weather.

This unique installation is the inspiration of Cathedral curate, the Revd Sarah Geileskey, who said:

“As you look at this installation, the individual teardrops form one larger teardrop reminding us that we do not weep alone.

“Throughout this past year, at the Cathedral, we have connected with people through our daily prayers, livestreamed and online, as they have dealt with so many difficult situations.

“Now, at this moment, we have a chance to pause and reflect. Tears speak volumes when there are no words,” she added.

After Easter, the glass installation will be broken into individual tear-shaped tea-light holders which will be sold in the Cathedral Shop when it can re-open on April 12 with all proceeds going to support the Cathedral’s work with those affected by COVID.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral joins with the end of life charity, Marie Curie, churches, cathedrals and other communities across the country to mark the National Day of Reflection with opportunities to reflect and observe a national one minute’s silence. The Cathedral is open for personal prayer, reflection and worship only.

Full details of Cathedral opening times, online services and to leave a prayer on the virtual prayer wall please visit the cathedral’s website here.