Cathedral sculpture has 5,000 messages of hope
FOR THE FALLEN: STEEL LEAVES LAID OUT FOR VIRUS VICTIMS
A POIGNANT large- scale sculpture honouring those who have lost their lives to Covid- 19 has been created to bring solace and resilience to the community in South Yorkshire.
The reflective memorial, titled The Leaves of the Trees and made up of 5,000 steel leaves engraved with the word “hope”, is laid out on the steps of St George’s Chapel down into the Nave, at Sheffield Cathedral, like fallen autumn leaves.
The project, supported by the Guild of Health and St Raphael, was created by sculptor and artist Peter Walker, who hails from Staffordshire.
Mr Walker, 46, is hoping the touring sculpture will offer the people of Sheffield solace during this period of hardship.
He said: “The inspiration
The message of hope is like steel – it’s a very resilient thing. Sheffield Cathedral’s vice dean, the Rev Canon Keith Farrow.
behind it was to do something peaceful, something beautiful and something reflective.
“I wanted to create something which allowed the individual to have a moment out, to reflect and to consider their own experience.”
The Rev Canon Keith Farrow, the cathedral’s vice dean and canon missioner, said it was a poignant message which he hoped would be well received.
He added: “The message of hope is like steel – it’s a very resilient thing. The message we want people to take home is that we can continue as a community, and we will move forward.”
Mr Farrow, who was previously the vicar of a parish in Wadsley Bridge and a chaplain at Wakefield Prison, and once trained as a psychiatric nurse, said Sheffield Cathedral has long been a place of remembrance in times of hardship.
The travelling installation is open to the public until October 28.