Cathedrals are preparing to be places of comfort and hope as we mark three years since the first national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The National Day of Reflection for 2024 is on March 3rd, find all the details here.
Cathedrals prepare to mark the third National Day of Reflection: March 23rd 2023
The National Day of Reflection next Thursday (23 March) is organised by Marie Curie to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
Bradford Cathedral is inviting people to join them for a day of reflection with opportunities to light a candle, to leave thoughts, reflections, memories or prayers on ‘trees of remembrance, join in the minute’s silence at 12 noon, or simply just to be.
The Revd Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts, said:
“The 23rd March 2023 marks three years since the first national lockdown. The impact of this on all our lives is still being felt and, although it can sometimes feel as though we have regained some normalcy, many remain scarred by it.
“Bradford Cathedral is a space for all the people of our city and district to come and reflect on the significant moments of our lives: joys and sorrows. We will have candles to light and ‘trees of remembrance’ to write down those people or things that we still grieve.”
Durham Cathedral will be turning yellow to mark the third anniversary. visitors are encouraged to join the minute’s silence and there will be prayers on the hour throughout the day.
Ely Cathedral will be marking the day with prayers and lighting their Octagon Tower yellow overnight.
Hereford Cathedral is hosting an event organised by a group of bereaved families who will come together to remember all those lost to Covid-19, those who could not be attended by loved ones or have fully attended funerals and thinking about those whose lives have been altered by long-covid, lockdown and loneliness.
A vigil will be held outside on the Cathedral Close at 10:30am with a minute’s silence at 11:00am.
The names of loved ones will be read out and their faces will feature in a memorial display.
Leicester Cathedral will offer a reflective Anthem during Choral Evensong held at 5.30pm St Nicholas Church – the cathedral is temporarily closed while work continues on its major renewal and redevelopment project Leicester Cathedral Revealed
In Ripon Cathedral, the Dean, the Very Revd John Dobson will light a special candle which will burn in the crossing and prayers will be said throughout the day.
Sheffield Cathedral will be open from 9– 5pm for visitors to mark the third National Day of Reflection and will have its own Wall of Reflection for people to leave their messages and prayers.
The Dean of Sheffield, The Very Revd Abi Thompson said all were invited to come and spend time in the space with the opportunity to write their messages and prayers of love for those who had died on their Wall of Reflection if they wished.
Worcester Cathedral – We will be marking the minute’s silence in the cathedral at 12pm and remembering those affected by the pandemic in our prayers throughout the day.
The National Day of Reflection was started by charity Marie Curie to acknowledge the devastating effect of the pandemic; ‘we need to come together, in our communities and as a nation, to acknowledge this lasting pain. Let’s make the legacy of the pandemic one of compassion, love, and being there for each other during the toughest of times.’
A Prayer for the National Day of Reflection from the Canon Chancellor of Rochester Cathedral.
For more information, visit the Marie Curie website here.
