On the 23rd March 2021 the UK will have spent a year in lockdown, an unprecedented moment in our national life.
On the 23rd March 2021 the UK will have spent a year in lockdown, an unprecedented moment in our national life. The last year has been one of loss and grief, challenges and hardship but also of communities coming together, of kindness and care. Chelmsford Cathedral will be marking this unique day, and the incredible spirit of hope that has grown out of the darkness of the pandemic, with the Colours of Hope, a chance for us to pause and reflect as a community and move forward with renewed hope and faith.
Chelmsford Cathedral will be creating a vibrant space full of colour and light to gather reflections and prayers. And we would love you to be part of this by adding your prayers, as candles to our tree. The candle is a symbol of light and hope in amongst the darkness and fear many have felt this last year.
From Saturday 20th to Thursday 25th March there will be a ‘prayer tree’ in the Cathedral and everyone is invited to write their own personal prayer and either bring it in to place on the tree or send it to us and we will place it there on your behalf. Prayer candles will also be suspended in the air around the tree and every prayer will be read.
Canon Pastor Ivor Moody adds, ‘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 a candle onto plain or coloured card and send it in to include. We have covid-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. Music and Liturgy Assistant Elspeth Manders is also a talented artist and the oil painting on stretched canvas will explore lockdown loss and hope. There will be postcards of the piece to take away.
And on Tuesday 23rd March at 12 noon, The Dean, The Very Revd Nicholas Henshall, will lead a short act of reflection while we pause and remember the past year. This will be livestreamed on the Cathedral’s Facebook page @chelmsfordcathedral. If you simply wish to create your own candle at home, do share your images with us using the hashtag #coloursofhope. The address to send the candles to is Colours of Hope, Chelmsford Cathedral, 53 New Street, Chelmsford CM1 1TY and we will be sharing images of your prayers throughout the week.
The Cathedral is also open daily from 10.30am to 3.30pm (12 noon until 3pm on Sundays) and you are warmly invited to come in, to pray or light a candle to remember a loved one.
A template to use for your candle can be found here but you are welcome to draw your own.