Peterborough Cathedral is encouraging its visitors to confront the emotion toll Covid has had on their lives through displays and Bible verses to respond with.
The Cathedral has created a 'prayer trail' to help people find space to lament and acknowledge the effects of Covid-19 on their lives.
The trail, called Covid-19: All we have lost leads visitors on a route around the building, stopping at displays reflecting the areas visitors may have expereienced loss, such as jobs, education, music, culture and people. Amongst the displays will be a collection of crosses each marking the death of a person in Peterborough who has died from coronavirus.
Visitors are offered a booklet as they go in with questions, Bible quotes and suggested prayers to help them to think about their own response to the pandemic.
Canon Sarah Brown, who has worked with colleagues to develop the trail, said: "Lockdown has been a strange combination of loss and hope - so many good signs of love but also so much loss - death of course, but also security, innocence, freedom and a sense of identity. People of all faiths and none have a lot to think about and much to share. We hope that this trail will help us to make space for our feelings of devastation and also to move forward with hope."
Cast of a person from Pompeii, Credit Peterborough Cathedral
The main picture used throughout the trail is of a cast of person caught up in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii in the first century, covered by ash and burried.
Canon Sarah explained why they are using the image: "This is the posture of someone who is powerless in the midst of chaos, curled up in tears or prayer or both. Whilst we have faced a virus not a volcano, there is something in their plight that speaks to anyone whose world has been, even partially, turned upside down by loss or fear."
On Remembrance Sunday itself, 8th November at 3.30pm, there will be a special service in the Cathedral to remember those who have died as a result of Covid-19.
The prayer trail is open from 1st to 30th November.
