Leicester Cathedral will be filled with handmade, illuminated stars inviting people to pause, reflect and wonder as it welcomes the Light of Stars art installation this winter.
Light of Stars lights up Leicester Cathedral for pause and wonder this winter
Created by Paper Starlights, the internationally acclaimed social enterprise known for its handcrafted stars, each star is made from sustainable materials using ethical production methods involving artisans from diverse faith communities who bring together traditional craftsmanship, creativity and shared purpose.
Leicester is the first English cathedral to host the installation, which made its UK debut at Bath Abbey last year.
The Very Revd Karen Rooms, Dean of Leicester, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Light of Stars to Leicester Cathedral and to offer visitors a space where they can pause, reflect and experience a sense of wonder during the Advent and Christmas season.
‘Jesus described himself as ‘the light of the world’, light being a powerful symbol of hope in the community. We look forward to sharing this beautiful installation with our city, county and visitors from further afield.’
Beneath the Stars is a programme of events that will accompany the installation and runs through November and December. It includes an exclusive launch evening of Cocktails Under the Stars, an evening with Helen Sharman, Britain’s first astronaut, music from Interstellar by renowned organist Roger Sayer, a Ceilidh Under the Stars, plus festive concerts, performances, and seasonal events throughout November and December – including the annual sell-out candlelit Carol Concerts by the Cathedral Choir.
Visitors can explore the installation during Cathedral opening hours, with no booking required for daytime entry.
Admission is by voluntary donation, with a suggested contribution of £6 per person that will support future events, exhibitions and installations at the Cathedral.
Visitors to the installation when it was held in Bath Abbey last year said they found Light of Stars much more than a decorative light display. It offered visitors, and the local community, a place to pause, share a moment of stillness amid the busyness of daily life, and reflect on the values that bring people together.
That message is at the heart of the latest research by think tank Theos, Living Stones: English Cathedrals as Sacred Spaces in Changing Times commissioned by English Cathedrals and the Church Commissioners, which found that 77 per cent of English adults had visited a cathedral in the past three years.
Visitors described cathedrals as spaces of stillness, beauty and wonder with a third of non-religious visitors (35 per cent) said they experienced God through the calm and quiet of the space, and 94 per cent of non-religious respondents saw cathedrals as a hub for engaging in the life of the wider community.
Light of Stars – 31 October – 5 January, 2027.
See programme in full here.
