It’ll be possible to take “one small step” in Lichfield Cathedral this summer in order to walk on the Moon’s surface while gazing at Earth and the Universe above.
Known affectionately as the Ladies of the Vale thanks to its unusual spires, the UK’s only medieval three-spired Cathedral has a history stretching back over more than 1,300 years. And visitors this year are being given the opportunity to take “one giant leap” in July towards celebrating the 50thanniversary of the Moon landings.
The magnificent tiled floor will be transformed into a map of the moon, creating a lunar landscape inside the medieval Cathedral, and giving visitors a chance to ‘walk on the Moon’. Continuing the inspirational and immersive space theme, the Cathedral’s August film festival will enable filmgoers able to sit on the Moon while watching some suitably themed movies.
This July marks 50 years since Neil Armstrong became the first man to step foot on the Moon’s surface, uttering the now famous phrase “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.
Taking that momentous event as its inspiration, Lichfield Cathedral has unveiled a programme of special services, artworks, exhibitions, lectures and worship for 2019 to explore the debate around man’s place in the universe and the meaning of the journeys that we make.
This moon floor art installation, called ‘One Small Step’, will form part of ‘The Great Exhibition 2019; Space, God the Universe and Everything’, the annual summer show by the Cathedral’s artist in residence, Peter Walker, in collaboration with Luxmuralis.
The installation will see the lunar landscape running the full length and width of the vast nave, while the Cathedral will be flooded with light and sound projections inspired by space and the planets.
Visitors will be able to stand on the Moon’s surface and look back at the Earth, projected on to the nave ceiling along with the galaxies and universes.
‘One Small Step’, the moon floor art installation, will be unveiled for the first time on 18 July and will open to the public on 20 July, the 50th anniversary of the moon landing by Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in Apollo 11.
‘The Great Exhibition – Space, God, the Universe and Everything’ featuring the sound a light show inspired by the moon landing will run from 18-25 August.
Meanwhile, the cathedral will also launch a poetry competition and festival asking people to explore the ideas of light in the darkness. Lectures will continue the dialogue between science and religion and August’s film festival will provide the rare chance to sit on the Moon to watch films.
For full details about the art installation and events, see www.lichfield-cathedral.org.
For information about where to stay and more things to do in Staffordshire, visit www.enjoystaffordshire.com.