Chelmsford Cathedral invites people to 'pause and reflect' on past year
The country entered the first lockdown near the end of March last year.
Picture above: Chelmsford Cathedral will be marking the year anniversary since the announcement of the first lockdown.
As the country nears the one year mark since the first lockdown was announced, people are being invited to “pause and reflect” on the past year.
Chelmsford Cathedral will be marking the year anniversary of the first lockdown announcement on March 23, through its Colours of Hope event.
Representatives of the cathedral said the last year has been one of “loss and grief, challenges and hardship”, but added that it was also a year that saw communities coming together, and a year of “kindness and care”.
A “vibrant” space of “colour and light” will be created in the cathedral, to gather reflections and prayers from the community.
From Saturday, March 20, to Thursday, March 25, there will be a ‘prayer tree’ in the cathedral, and people are being invited to write their own prayer and either bring it into the cathedral to place on the tree, or to send it in to be placed on their behalf.
Canon Pastor Ivor Moody said: “We understand that not everyone will want to visit the cathedral at the moment, so we are very happy to have candles posted to us to include.
“Both adults and children can draw onto a plain or coloured card and send it in to include.
“We have Covid-19 secure measures in place for anyone who is local and wishes to visit whilst out on a daily walk.”
The backdrop to the tree will be a wall of colour and a piece of art specially commissioned to commemorate the year.
The Music and Liturgy Assistant, Elspeth Manders, created the oil painting on a stretched canvas, exploring “lockdown loss and hope”.
In addition to the prayer tree, a short act of reflection will be held on March 23, at 12pm, to remember the past year.
Led by The Dean, The Very Revd Nicholas Henshall, it will be live streamed through the cathedral’s Facebook page.
The address to send the candles to is: Colours of Hope, Chelmsford Cathedral, 53 New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1TY.
Anyone who would just like to make their candle at home and not send it in can also share it with the cathedral on social media, using the hashtag #coloursofhope.
Chelmsford Cathedral is open daily from 10.30am to 3.30pm, and 12pm to 3pm on Sundays.
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