May What’s On

From Peace Doves to Paddington we are in for an exciting month at the Cathedral.

Open to the public from Friday 2 May until Tuesday 17 June Peace Doves by sculptor Peter Walker will be on display in the South Transept. The impactful installation is made up of over 8,000 paper doves all with individual messages of peace, love, and hope written on them by visitors, school children, and local community members.

Not only can you spend time under the Peace Doves as a visitor but there are also a variety of events taking place underneath them this month. 

Every Monday from 5 May to 16 June come along to Monday Midday Mindfulness at noon. These sessions will be twenty minutes (…or so) of companionable silence under Peace Doves accompanied by music composed for Peace Doves by David Harper.

We have added a bonus Assemble at Chester Cathedral taking place under the doves on 15 May at 6.45pm looking at peace in terms of racial justice. No Justice, No Peace will question what progress has been made in the church and wider society in the five years since George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis and the global protests that followed. Hear from Canon Theologian Chine McDonald (author of ‘God is not a white man’), Chester Diocese’s Racial Justice Officer Nadene Wright, Liverpool Diocese’s Director of Social Justice Canon Dr Eleen Loudon, and Canon Theologian and Deputy Head of Humanities, Cultures and Environment at the University of Chester Dr Ben Fulford. Book your free ticket here. 

Continuing with the theme of peace, on Tuesday 20 May at 7pm join us for Poetry for Peace with award-winning poet Imtiaz Dharker. She will be joined by fellow poet Julia McGuinness as well as contributions from local poets who have taken part in recent workshops. Complimentary tickets are available for students and children under 18 from the Cathedral box office. Book your tickets here. 

For the first time in the Cathedral there will be a classical Indian concert, Jugalbandi, on Tuesday 27 May at 7pm. Did you know the Beatles were influenced by sounds similar to what you will hear on the night? Join us under the Peace Doves for an enchanting evening as three British-born musicians come together, taking you on a journey of Indian classical music. Jugalbandi, meaning 'tied together', describes how two different musicians communicate without words in playful competition and collaboration. Concession rates available for students and seniors with free entry for under 16s. Book your ticket here. 

Have you been following along with Paddington’s adventures through Chester? Grab your Andean Adventure Passport (don’t worry if you don’t have one already, we have some available at Admissions) and come find Paddington in his new location at the Cathedral. He’s enjoying the lovely weather in the Garth. Find out more about the Andean Adventure Trail here. 

Creeds exhibition is on now until 19 September with a display in the North Quire Aisle and the Cathedral Exhibition Library. Creeds: a formal statement of belief….but who writes them and how do we put into words what we believe in? Explore the treasures in the collections of Chester Cathedral and friends in this engaging exhibition to discover how ‘creeds’ have been expressed through the centuries. Visitor access to the Exhibition Library is available on some Tuesdays during the exhibition run – make sure to check the website when planning your visit (we aim to give at least two weeks’ notice with library opening times). Book Library visit here. 

Friday 9 and Saturday 10 May join us for The Music of Coldplay by Candlelight. Featuring a spectacular cast of world-class vocalists and an epic live band. Book tickets here. 

On Tuesday 13 May at 11am, we will have a special Stained Glass Tour. Chester Cathedral has an impressive collection of internationally significant stained glass, ranging from medieval fragments to the 21^st century 'Creation Window'. On this engaging tour you will learn about the makers, designers, and restorers of these magnificent works of art and hear some of the fascinating stories connected to them. Not sure about the difference between stained from plain glass? No problem! This tour is suitable for absolute beginners and enthusiasts alike. Book here. 

From 14 to 22 May, The Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize will be in the South Transept with student artwork nominated by their teachers and shortlisted by art professionals. Come have a look for yourself. Find out more here. 

Friday 16 May come along for the King of Pop with the world’s leading MJ tribute artist Navi who will be joined on stage by Michael Jackson’s iconic guitarist – Jennifer Batten. Tickets available here. 

Chester Music Society return with Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle on Saturday 17 May. Tickets available here. 

The Cheshire Print Fair is back on Saturday 24 May. Cheshire Print Fair celebrates the best of print design and paper-based crafts. Primarily local artists, designers, makers, and printers together to showcase their amazing work and hopefully bring a fresh contemporary market and community to the city and Cathedral.

Saturday 24 May also marks the beginning of the Chester Heritage Festival. Immerse yourself in 2000 years of history at Chester Heritage Festival, from 24 May to 8 June. There's something for everyone, from those keen to explore our city's enchanting past to families seeking a free, engaging day out that sparks the imagination. As usually, the Cathedral will take place in the festival with a few events. All are welcome to come along to Family Activities taking place Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 from 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm both days (free, but donations to our education team are always welcome). We will also be opening up the Cathedral in LEGO for visitors to walk through and see all the incredible detail inside on Tuesday 27 May at the same time as Family Activities. There will also be a Silent Tour of the Cathedral allowing visitors to interact with the building and its noises on a guided tour with no talking! Booking link coming soon. 

Tuesday 27 May at 12pm we have our next Werburgh Street Talk. Join Chester Cathedral and friends for an ongoing series of talks exploring everything and anything related to 30 St Werburgh Street as it is developed as an exciting space in Chester. Here from Marta Sienkiewicz, Archivist for Barclays Bank A good-enough desk and a below-par picture of a Spanish dancer: The story of Barclays in Chester. Book your free ticket here. 

On Thursday 30 May London Concertante presents Bond by Candlelight. Get ready for a showdown and indulge in the ultimate luxury for any James Bond fan as live orchestra London Concertante present their thrilling classical music concert 'Bond by Candlelight: Music from James Bond Movies'. Book here.

Tribute to Hans Zimmer and Film Favourites Illuminated will be at the Cathedral with two showings on Friday 31 May. Fist show at 7pm tickets available here and second show at 9.30pm tickets available here.

Special Services in May

This month we are hosting several special services, in our role as the mother church of the diocese and at the heart of civic life. 

Choral Evensong for 80th anniversary of VE Day
Thursday 8 May | 5.30pm
Doors open at 4.45pm. Please note bag checks will be in place for this special service.

Choral Evensong for 80th anniversary of Christian Aid Week
Thursday 15 May | 5.30pm

Civic Service to welcome the new Lord Mayor
Sunday 25 May | 3pm

Choral Evensong sung by Bradford Cathedral Choir
Wednesday 28 May | 5.30pm

Eucharist for Ascension Day, sung by the Nave Choir
Thursday 29 May | 7.30pm