Robert Marshall, from Wareham in Dorset, salvaged the door from Toretsk, a city in eastern Ukraine that once was home to 30,000 people. It is marked with scorch damage from the blast and has a hole blown through it. 

Artist Robert Marshall explains the installation:  

“When Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2022 I saw in the news footage a door from a bombed out house being used as a makeshift stretcher and the image stuck with me. At the time I was working with doors as a medium as part of my ‘Portals’ series and I knew I had to obtain a door from the frontline.  

A door that could tell its story and the story of millions of others. Of the heartbreak war brings to a country; of the ‘collateral damage’ that is now happening in so many wars, (a term often used by the oppressors to dilute the atrocities and the war crime of deliberately bombing civilian populations).  

The door symbolises the loss of a home, the displacement and separation of families, the loss of friends and families, the toll war has on the children.  

The aim of this door is to become not just a monument, a memorial, to all those who have had their lives turned upside down, but to be a platform for the refugees from these war zones to tell their story. For them, not to be silenced but to be heard.” 

The sculpture is being exhibited alongside stories of Ukrainian families and refugees, to highlight their experiences of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The quotes below are from members of the English language class held at Bath Abbey by Bath Welcomes Refugees. 

 Reflections by members of the English language class at the Abbey: 

“This door was once a ‘security guard’ in people’s home in Ukraine. It’s one of millions of doors that was blown out from people’s homes during the Russian invasion. Many of us Ukrainians have seen either their own homes or neighbours homes being destroyed in the past several years. Behind each door there was a family, there was a home to a previously happy life. Russians came and took it all away.” 

Nikolay Katrechko 

 “This door is very symbolic, it evokes traces of the lost happiness to have a home, loved ones, relatives and friends when nothing mattered. It’s not worth the lives of those young people – beautiful, talented, smart, which this war took. I also associate this door with the door that was opened for us Ukrainian people in England, Germany, Norway and other countries. Everyone who sees this door remembers us and the main thing is not to forget that we are people!” 

Neyali Halan 

Revd Betsy Blatchley, Bath Abbey Missioner, said: 

“At Bath Abbey we are honoured to host ‘Collateral Damage’ by Robert Marshall.  This powerful installation brings us face to face with the reality of war across our world today, and the tragedy of loss for so many innocent people. But it also speaks of survival and incredible resilience in the face of unimaginable suffering.   

In Ukraine, doors are seen not just as a physical, but also a spiritual protection. We hope that this installation can provide a focus for reflection but also encourage us to pray persistently for protection, hope and healing for all victims of war. As the door stands alongside Peace Doves, created by Peter Walker Sculptor, we pray that it will also encourage each of us to consider how we can be bringers of peace in our families, communities and nations and to commit to pray and act for peace in our wider world.” 

A Prayer   

Lord God  

We remember and pray for all those who have lost everything through war and oppression—people like us—children, young people, adults who just want to live safely and joyfully within the comfort and security of their home.   

We pray for world leaders that you will fill their hearts with your compassion and wisdom that they will strive for peace and justice.   

Open the doors of our hearts that we might act with generosity and welcome to all who have had to flee their own homes and seek a place of safety and sanctuary.  

 Give us courage and commitment to be people of peace and justice in our troubled world. 

Amen 

Bath Welcomes Refugees is a local charity which helps refugees and asylum seekers feel welcome, access resources and find a new home and community.  

Since 2015 over 200 volunteers have supported over 800 people from diverse countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. The group has no religious or political affiliations. Its reach is wide but resources are limited, relying on donations, goodwill, and the funds raised locally.  

Fine out more about their work: bathwelcomesrefugees.org.uk 

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From family-friendly crafts to exclusive after-hours tours, Austens at the Abbey offers a unique chance to explore the fascinating ties between Bath Abbey and Austen’s circle. Austen herself lived in Bath for several years, and Bath Abbey’s connections to the people she and her family knew are beautifully brought to life through this programme.

Whether you’re a Jane Austen enthusiast, a local history lover, or simply looking for a fun family outing, there’s something for everyone in this celebration of one of literature’s most beloved figures.

‘Austens at the Abbey’ Events

Austens at the Abbey Exhibition
Saturday 5 April – Saturday 27 September

Immerse yourself in the fascinating connections the Austen family has to Bath Abbey through a brand-new exhibition. Through their memorials, discover the captivating stories of doctors, sailors, musicians, an actor and an international businesswoman who are all linked to Jane Austen and her family. The exhibition is included in Bath Abbey’s regular admission and offers a new and intriguing understanding of Austen’s world.

Austen Family Fun Days
Saturday 5 April, Saturday 2 August, Saturday 20 September | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Bring your family to Austens at the Abbey for a series of exciting, Regency-themed craft activities for ages 4+, special tours throughout the day and a chance to chat to fun Regency characters from the Natural Theatre Company (5 April and 20 September only).

• Saturday 5 April: Create your very own high-society Bicorn hats and Easter bonnetso celebrate the opening of the Austens at the Abbey exhibition.
• Saturday 2 August: Write a letter or dance card with an ink pen and learn a simple Regency dance while dressing in period costume.
• Saturday 20 September: Get hands-on with a craft activity to create your own Regency-inspired portrait or silhouette

All Family Fun Days are included in admission or free with a Discovery Card.

The Spirituality of Jane Austen Talk with Revd. Paula Hollingsworth
Thursday 10 April | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Join Revd. Paula Hollingsworth, Chaplain at St. Paul’s Cathedral and author of The Spirituality of Jane Austen, for an enlightening evening exploring the spiritual themes in Austen’s novels. Discover how Austen’s faith and life experiences shaped her writing. This event includes a Q&A session and exclusive access to the Austens at the Abbey exhibition after hours.

For booking information, visit bathabbey.org/austen.

Regency Service
Sunday 14 September | 11:30am – 12:30pm
Experience a Sung Eucharist service with a Regency twist, celebrating Jane Austen and the era she immortalised. Regency attire is encouraged but not mandatory.

Film Screening of Pride and Prejudice at Bath Abbey
Saturday 13 September | 7:30pm – 10:15pm
Enjoy the special experience of seeing the film Pride and Prejudice, staring Keira Knightley, in the Abbey’s stunning surroundings. This immersive experience is a romantic evening you won’t forget. Regency attire is encouraged but not mandatory.

For booking information, visit bathabbey.org/austen.

Austens After-Hours Tours

Meet the residents of Jane Austen’s Bath on this exclusive after-hours tour of Bath Abbey.

For centuries, people have worshipped on this site, and at the height of Bath’s popularity in the 18th century many chose the Abbey as their final resting place. With its fan-vaulted Tudor ceiling, 52 windows flooding the space with light, magnificent brand-new sculptures and its central location, it’s easy to imagine why.

On this special after-hours tour, when the Abbey is closed to the public, costumed guides bring history to life as they introduce you to these 18th century residents of Bath. From an American millionaire to an innkeeper, doctor, actor, and musician, these fascinating stories are all linked to the Austen family. Enjoy a drink as you step back in time and experience the Abbey in a whole new way.

Tickets: Online at bathabbey.org/austen or from the Bath Abbey entrance.

Price: £20pp (includes a glass of prosecco or elderflower fizz)

Date and time: Various Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from April – September 6.00pm-7.30pm (check the Bath Abbey website for details)

Please note: The tour includes periods of standing and walking through the Abbey, with limited seating available at certain points. Please get in touch if you have any questions about accessibility for these tours.

For a full list of events, schedules, and booking information, visit bathabbey.org/austen.

Don’t Miss Out – Celebrate Austen’s 250^th Year at Bath Abbey!

This year, Bath Abbey invites you to celebrate the life and legacy of Jane Austen in the heart of Bath – her city of inspiration. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to Austen’s world, Austens at the Abbey offers an unforgettable experience.

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Gaia by Luke Jerram

Gaia will be suspended underneath the tower in the centre of the Abbey, providing an awe-inspiring view as people enter the building. The artwork was previously on display at Wells Cathedral.

Gaia creates a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

The artwork is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 18km of the Earth’s surface.

A specially made surround sound composition by BAFTA award winning Composer Dan Jones will be played alongside the sculpture. In Greek Mythology Gaia is the personification of the Earth.

Bath Abbey previously hosted Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon during November and December 2021, which proved to be very popular, with visitors coming from around the world to view the artwork.

Treasuring Creation Festival

The Treasuring Creation Festival brings together a full and varied programme of events for the duration of Gaia’s installation. Events include: Tours; Concerts; Art Exhibition; Teaching Series; Schools Programme; ‘Playful Planet’ Family Days & Activities Trail and Eco-crafting; Early Years sessions; Movement & Meditation Workshops. There will also be a screening of the film Race for the Future by local film director James Levelle, who will be presenting the screening and taking questions afterwards.

Revd Stephen Girling, Abbey Missioner and Chair of Bath Abbeys’ Eco Group says:

“Gaia represents this wonderful earth which Christians believe is a gift of God who calls us to be good stewards in co-operation with him and one another. In the breathtaking setting of the Abbey, the Treasuring Creation Festival will provide many and varied opportunities for celebration and for learning how we can better work together.”

More details and ticket information is available on Bath Abbey’s website here.

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Image: Jacob King/PA Wire/PA Images

Platinum Jubilee Evening Prayer

2nd June, 5.30pm

We are delighted that the children of the Abbey’s youngest choir, Melody Makers, will be singing at Evening Prayer on the 2nd June at 5.30pm, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee. Do join us as we give prayerful and joyful thanks for the faithfulness and faith of our Queen.

Platinum Jubilee Peal

12pm, Friday, 3 June 2022

“On Friday 3 June, to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, a band of bellringers will attempt to ring the Abbey bells to a full peal of more than 5,000 changes of Cambridge Surprise Royal. This will begin at 12noon and, if successful, will last approximately three and a half hours.”

Matthew Butler, Tower Master

A Royal Celebration: Organ Recital

6.30pm, Friday, 3 June 2022

An evening of Music, Wine and conversation: Organ concert with Peter Holder of Westminster Abbey celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Join us as we celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday in style with Peter who has played at many royal occasions at Westminster Abbey. Music will include Walton’s stirring Crown Imperial written for the coronation of George VI and featuring other royal music by Handel (The Cuckoo and the Nightingale concerto) and Elgar (Pomp and Circumstance March No.3).

Buy your tickets here.

Tours: From Coronation to Queen Jubilee Tours

Thurs 2 – Sat 4 June

As we celebrate our longest reigning monarch, join us as we take you on a journey of Royalty at Bath Abbey.  A fun and engaging tour for all ages exploring the Abbey’s royal connections starting in 973AD at King Edgar’s Coronation and ending with Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 1973 one thousand years later. In between, hear about how Kings and Queens have made their mark on the Abbey for better or worse!

Family friendly 45mins length. Tickets £8 per adult or £4 per child.

Book at the welcome desk in Bath Abbey.

Exhibition and Free Family Activities: A Royal Abbey

Fri 3 – Sat 4 June

Come and celebrate the Jubilee weekend at Bath Abbey. In celebration of the Jubilee weekend, there will be an exhibition in the South Transept for visitors to enjoy. Kings, Queens and Emperors have visited the Abbey over the years to help us celebrate happy events and commemorate sad occasions. The exhibition will bring together precious documents and objects from our Archive that tell the stories of our royal visits and special occasions in the twentieth century, from Queen Victoria to our present Queen.

Running alongside will be a free Family Craft activity in the Learning Centre, located in the vaults. Make your own crown, inspired by the stunning examples all around the Abbey. Will it be Anglo-Saxon or Stuart in style, or perhaps your own unique design?

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Titled ‘Let There Be Light’, the exhibition will feature over 20 works by local artist, Shelley Ashkowski. Each piece is inspired by the stunning architecture of these buildings as well as many intricate studies of stained-glass windows. At the heart of the exhibition will be one of the artist’s newest pieces featuring Bath Abbey’s magnificent Great East Window. Completed in 1873 and repaired after World War II, the East Window tells the story of Jesus’ life from birth to resurrection in 56 scenes.

Much of Shelley’s collection uses acrylic gouache paint, specifically chosen for its high pigmentation and matt finish to provide vibrant colours. Some are also embellished with gold leaf to add opulence to the finished work.  The details are painstakingly drawn out to the point that some are only truly visible by looking through a magnifying glass. Many of the paintings are set against a pure white background to create a sense of abstraction from the original context. The results are beautifully decorative but also convey fascinating aspects of history and religion.

Shelley Ashkowski said: “I am delighted to be exhibiting my work at the Abbey. I can think of no better place to showcase my ‘Let There Be Light’ collection. Bath Abbey has been called the Lantern of the West because it has so many glass windows – 52 in total, and it’s a truly beautiful and inspirational Living Church.”

“I have always had a love of church buildings, especially Gothic architecture, and in recent years have started to really appreciate the beauty of the stained-glass windows that often fill these buildings. Not only are they ever-changing, responding to external light sources but they also embody intriguing stories often told through symbolic imagery and colour.”

Newly commissioned exhibition merchandise will be available in the Abbey shop, including prints, cards and a selection of stationery items. The exhibition is available to view during Bath Abbey’s opening times; visitors are invited to make a donation at the door when they enter Bath Abbey. Please see www.bathabbey.org for opening hours.

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The diptychs exhibition, ‘Hope for the Nations’, will include a series of beautifully hand-crafted work that has been created especially for the Abbey by Bath-based artist Sue Symons. Each diptych will comprise one panel of calligraphy, with beautifully illustrated verses from the Bible, and an adjacent textile panel.

Bath Abbey’s Missioner, Revd Stephen Girling, who curated the exhibition, said: “We’re delighted to see a selection of our Bath Abbey Diptychs back in the Abbey again. This exhibition of selected Abbey Diptychs, explores the theme of Epiphany. From Christmas to early February Christians around the world celebrate the season of Epiphany. Over a six week period we explore how Jesus Christ is a manifestation of God. Through his appearance to the three Kings, his teaching, his miracles and his baptism we see Christ embodying the life of God.

As visitors enjoy these remarkable images in this new year, we invite them to join their thoughts and prayers with ours, that the example and life of Jesus Christ might be the ‘Hope for The Nations’. Visitors are invited to light a candle in the Abbey as a prayerful expression of this hope.”

This is not the first time that Bath Abbey has exhibited a collection of diptychs by Sue Symons. The Abbey’s first collection was received in 2007 and titled ‘One Man’s Journey to Heaven’ comprising 35 diptychs illustrating the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It has been proven to be very popular with the Abbey’s congregation and visitors alike with diptych merchandise a best seller in the Abbey’s shop.

The exhibition is free; visitors are invited to make a donation at the door when they enter the Abbey.

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The Bath Festival presents Symphony of Sorrowful Songs with Paraorchestra, soprano Victoria Oruwari and conductor Charles Hazlewood, also featuring Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon.

The Bath Festival is delighted to present a unique experience for Christmas in Bath Abbey as the acclaimed Paraorchestra performs Symphony of Sorrowful Songs in the round, under the magical giant moon created by sculptor Luke Jerram.

Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs is a cathartic and haunting piece of music, an astonishing meditation on loss and transcendence. Paraorchestra is the world’s only large scale virtuoso ensemble of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians. The concert takes place on Wednesday 8 December and will last an hour, starting at 7.30pm.

Sorrowful Songs will be performed with acclaimed Nigerian born soprano Victoria Oruwari. The London based singer,  has sung at international venues including the Royal Opera House and the Guildhall London. The founder of Paraorchestra, Charles Hazlewood conducts this harmonic ‘spiritual minimalist’ composition in the splendour of Bath Abbey. The interior of the historic church has been dramatically opened up following work on the Footprint project, begun to repair the abbey’s floor which was in danger of collapse.

Each of the three movements of Symphony of Sorrowful Songs features a Polish lament, including a message inscribed on the wall of a Gestapo prison cell from a teenage girl to her mother, and a mother’s folk song about her son lost in the Silesian civil war. Sung in Polish, it’s an evocative work that brings both tears and joy, taking audiences on an uplifting journey through grief and solace.

The audience will be able to enjoy a unique, fully immersive experience. The orchestra will be in the centre of the nave, beneath Luke Jerram’s magnificent Museum of the Moon, floating above them. People will be free to move around the abbey, observing and listening to the music from different perspectives. Luke Jerram’s piece has toured all over the world. The moon is seven metres in diameter and features detailed NASA imagery on its surface.

Charles Hazlewood, said: “After nearly two, pretty dreadful and anxiety-ridden years, Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs meets us in the current zeitgeist. You could say ‘Well let’s have some music to cheer us up, some happy music’ but it’s often more cathartic to experience music that mirrors our mood, not something that tries to change it.”

“Górecki’s symphony embodies the most intense form of loss; it’s authentic and visceral. But it also echoes somewhere we may have been in the past couple of years – or perhaps still are – and it’s my hope that it is in this achingly beautiful piece that we may find some solace and comfort.”

“And what better place to share this work than Bath Abbey? Deep within this astonishing and magical space the orchestra will be placed right in the centre of the nave, in a circle, facing inwards. Like all our projects, making orchestral music accessible and presenting it in new and unexpected ways is fundamental. So, the audience will not be seated, they will be licensed – and encouraged – to roam this vast space at will. We want to give audiences deeper agency than they get watching an orchestra on a stage.”

“You might approach the back of Victoria Oruwari, the soprano, and all you can see is her torso expanding as she breathes and sings but then looking across the circle, you’ll lock eyes with a cellist and experience a whole new level of intimacy. This audience on the move, with a perpetual sense of movement, I hope will be like a pilgrimage; a walking in witness to the suffering and grief of the world these past many months. And, of course, offering totally different sonic experience depending on where in the space you go.”

Event information and social distancing

There are no designated seats for this performance, although some seating will be available and will be marked out with a 2m distance in the corporation stall and benches. For this concert audiences can manage their own safe attendance requirements. Everyone is asked to wear a facemask (unless medically exempt) and to make space between themselves and other audience members, musicians, and staff.

Tickets are £25 (excluding fees), with discounts for students and the under 26s, from: https://bathfestivals.org.uk/the-bath-festival/event/sorrowful-songs/ or from Bath Box Office, tel: 01225 463362.

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From 20 November to 24 December, visitors will be able to experience the Museum of the Moon every day during Abbey opening hours, while joining in a series of carols, concerts and services under the light of the Moon – certain to get everyone into a celebratory mood this Christmas.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, Luke Jerram’s Moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally-lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface.

Over its lifetime, the Museum of the Moon has toured different venues around the world both indoors and outdoors and at each location, the viewer is offered an unique experience and personalised interpretation of the artwork. As the Moon ‘lands’ right in the centre of Bath in the iconic Abbey, it will be seen in the church’s distinctive setting of honey-coloured Bath stone, intricate carvings and a magnificent fan vaulted ceiling. Visitors will also get to enjoy a series of events running alongside the installation, including lunar-themed story-telling, a ‘Cosmic Wonder’ trail and stargazing with the Bath Astronomers. However, as this will be the lead up to one of the most significant dates in the Christian calendar, there will also be Christmas carols, concerts and services made all the more magical this year as these will take place under the Moon.

The Revd Canon Guy Bridgewater, Rector of Bath Abbey said: “We are delighted to host this inspirational artwork during Advent – the season of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, heralded by signs in the heavens. As we marvel at the beauty of the Moon and its reflected light, may Christ the true ‘Light of the world’ find welcome and wonder in our hearts.”

Jess McKenzie, Senior Visitor Experience Manager, Bath Abbey, said, “We’re delighted to welcome this touring artwork to Bath Abbey during a very special time of year for us. This Advent and Christmas, our visitors have even more to look forward to than usual. An already festive Abbey will be made even more special with this spectacular illumination. We appreciate that the Museum of the Moon as it’s illuminated from inside, is truly at its best after-dark – which is why in order to enable as many people as possible to experience the Moon in all its glory we’ve scheduled a series of events after dark.”

On selected Sunday and Monday nights, the Abbey will stay open after hours for Moonlight Lates to give people the opportunity to experience the magic of the moon after hours in the stunning Abbey. The accompanying soundtrack created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello winner Dan Jones can also be enjoyed during these magical evenings.

As part of the Moonlight Lates, visitors can meet and interact with the Bath Astronomers and there will be a ticketed opportunity to climb the Abbey Tower for some moon and stargazing (weather dependent). Tickets for the evening will cost £6 per Adult; £3 per Child with an additional £15 per adult and £10 per child for a stargazing Tower Tour. Please note a ticket for the evening needs to be purchased prior to a Tower Tour Ticket.

For more information about the Museum of the Moon at Bath Abbey and a full schedule of accompanying events please see https://www.bathabbey.org/luke-jerrams-museum-of-the-moon/

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You can watch Mark performing his poem here or read it in full on our commitment to racial justice webpage.

Bath Abbey has one of the largest collection of memorial stones of any church in the country – 891 ledgerstones and 635 wall tablets. Dated between 1572-1845, these commemorate around 20% of the approximately 7,000 people buried in the church. Research carried out by the Abbey so far has found over 200 connections with the British Empire including involvement with the Transatlantic slave trade from the 1700s and 1800s, and there is currently an exhibition on at the Abbey which offers a re-evaluation of its memorials in the context of the historical injustices of slavery.

As part of the ‘Monuments, Empire & Slavery’ exhibition, Bath Abbey invited Mark De Lisser to write a poem on his interpretation of the memorials and their links to the past and present.

Mark De’Lisser was inspired to write the poem after a visit to the Abbey during which he spent some time looking at the memorial stones and having conversations with the Abbey’s Learning Team about the Abbey’s historical links to slavery.

Mark explained: “‘Dark Shadows’ is a poem about acceptance, meeting ourselves where we are and moving forward from that place together. Rather than continually turning away and ignoring the parts of our past that make us uncomfortable or uneasy, I wanted ‘Dark Shadows’ to instead invite the audience to feel that discomfort, to re-examine our history and in turn begin to heal the deep wounds that still affect us today.”

Mark added: “Working with the Abbey has been an absolutely fantastic experience. They have been so open and willing to listen to and share the voices of the black community. I really do admire the fact that the Abbey are willing to challenge themselves and look deeply at their connection with the transatlantic slave trade. Hopefully this will inspire other institutions to do the same. In this way we can begin to have open and truthful conversations about Britian’s colonial history.”

Polly Andrews, Bath Abbey’s Learning Officer, said: “We are delighted that Mark has written and performed his personal response to the Abbey’s monuments. ‘Dark Shadows’ movingly conveys the importance of looking closely at the history of Bath Abbey’s memorials. As Mark says, they are “reminding us never to forget or to let go” of past atrocities and the loss of millions of lives for the expansion of the British Empire. Mark’s poem is a powerful call to all of us to examine our “shared history”. Bath Abbey is committed to continue its work to reveal, learn from, and help others understand its colonial past through creative sessions, talks and tours, school workshops and projects with other organisations in the city.”

The Revd Canon Guy Bridgewater, Rector of Bath Abbey, has said: “Slavery should have no place in society, and must be renounced utterly. It is shameful that it was practiced for so long, without effective challenge by church or nation. At Bath Abbey we deeply regret the hateful industry of human exploitation, whether by ignorant complicity or evil design, that certain of our 18th and 19th century memorials make evident.

‘Monuments, Empire and Slavery’ seeks to expose that guilty heritage, and to learn from it. I am most grateful to the Abbey team who is leading this important work, and to our partners from University of West of England (UWE), Black in Bath Network, and the Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association (BEMSCA) at Fairfield House who are helping us learn from a significant range of contemporary perspectives and multi-racial voices – with the goal of both learning from the past, and working for a more just future for all.”

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There will be three opportunities to see the Moon at three different Church of England buildings, in three different seasons.

In the summer (11-30 August 2021) the moon will light up Bristol Cathedral, where there will be a range of events from children’s crafts, folk concerts, and opera to visit.

In the autumn (12 October – 3 November 2021) you can visit Wells Cathedral to hear Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, see Dark Side: the Pink Floyd Show, and more.

Finally, in the winter (19 November – 26 December 2021) visit Bath Abbey, for Christmas carols, magical storytelling and moon-gazing with the Bath Astronomers all under the light of the Moon in the Abbey’s newly restored worship space.

Over its lifetime, the Museum of the Moon is being presented in a number of different ways both indoors and outdoors, so altering the experience and interpretation of the artwork. As it travels from place to place, it gathers new musical compositions and an ongoing collection of personal responses, stories and mythologies, as well as highlighting the latest moon science.

The Very Revd Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol said: “We are thrilled to be hosting this wonderful installation, by world renowned Bristol artist, Luke Jerram, in Bristol Cathedral. I hope that the Moon will inspire stories, songs, adventures, awe and wonder in everyone who visits us this summer.”

The Very Revd John Davies, Dean of Wells said: “Cathedrals and Abbeys are beautiful buildings. They have glorious worship and are hives of activity. They are also unafraid to do something different. And a visit from the Museum of the Moon is different! Come and see!”

The Revd Canon Guy Bridgewater, Rector of Bath Abbey said:  “We are delighted to host this inspirational artwork during Advent – the season of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, heralded by signs in the heavens. As we marvel at the beauty of the Moon and its reflected light, may Christ the true ‘Light of the World’ find welcome and wonder in our hearts.”

This is an exceptional opportunity to see the Museum of the Moon in three stunning locations, providing three very different experiences.

Details of events that will take place in Bath Abbey while the Moon is in place will be shared soon – keep an eye on our website for details.

Image credit: Luke Jerram.

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