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Teardrop installation to mark one year anniversary of lockdown...

To mark the first anniversary of the national lockdown, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, will unveil a special teardrop installation created from over 200 tiny glass tear-shaped tea-light holders suspended under the Cathedral tower. Each individual teardrop symbolises one of the many people who has been impacted by COVID-19, whether that is through death, illness, loss of work, anxiety, loneliness or isolation. The teardrop will be in place in the Cathedral from Tuesday 23 March to Maundy Thursday, 1 April.

This unique installation is the inspiration of Cathedral curate, the Reverend Sarah Geileskey, who comments, “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.”

In addition, on 23 March, weather permitting, teardrop shapes will be chalk-painted on the Cathedral lawn, as St Edmundsbury Cathedral joins with churches, cathedrals and other communities across the country to mark this poignant anniversary with opportunities to reflect. The chalk tears will gradually be washed away by the rainfall in the coming days. During this period, the Cathedral is open for personal prayer and worship only.

After Easter, the glass installation will be broken into individual tear-shaped tea-light holders. These will be available for sale from 12 April in the Cathedral Shop, priced £4 each, with proceeds supporting the Cathedral’s work with those affected by COVID. Full details of Cathedral opening times, online services and to leave a prayer on the virtual prayer wall please visit https://stedscathedral.org