A Distinguished Guest from Notre-Dame, Paris visits Lichfield
The opening night of The Cathedral Illuminated at Lichfield Cathedral on Monday 16 December saw a very special visit from Canon Jérôme Bascoul from Notre-Dame, Paris.
Canon Jérôme Bascoul was the distinguished guest of the Very Revd Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield to witness Lichfield Cathedral’s moving tribute to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris. As part of the annual The Cathedral Illuminated, visuals based on Notre-Dame’s famous Rose windows have been projected onto the walls of the Nave to serve as an act of solidarity and raise awareness of the fragility of these treasured sacred spaces.
In a letter Canon Jérôme Bascoul said: “I thank the Very Reverend Dean for his generous decision to honour our cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris by associating us with the illumination of the Gothic splendours of your cathedral.”
He continues to express his thanks to all the clergy, staff, members of Lichfield Cathedral and the Luxmuralis team for the project, and conveys the greetings of the Archbishop, His Grace Michel Aupetit.
Commenting on the comparable gothic style of both cathedrals, Canon Jérôme Bascoul praises how Lichfield Cathedral use the space to create inspiring light and sound shows: “Lichfield, you have exploited your multi-faceted heritage – medieval, classical and contemporary – in the service of your “Cathedral Illuminated’ spectacle.”
“Today’s technology makes possible these light projections on the facades of our churches, which, far from being obstacles, become screens for transmitting the ancient message to our contemporaries,” Bascoul continues.
Part of The Cathedral Illuminated sees the illumination of this year’s community art installation: ‘In the Image and Likeness: A Constellation of Images’ by Peter Walker, Sculptor. Canon Jérôme Bascoul was impressed with the work, that incorporates hundreds of self-portraits suspended from the ceiling directly underneath the Great Tower. Canon Bascoul explains how the work reminds him that “We are linked to each other and linked by heaven, just like these ribbons streaming down from the vaults.”
The Dean of Lichfield, the Very Revd Adrian Dorber said “as an act of solidarity with the people of France, we decided to use the windows of Notre-Dame in our central projections this Christmas, enabling our 20,000 visitors to be immersed in their beauty and to remind them of what could have been lost.”
The initial concept to have the Notre-Dame tribute and to bring the links between Lichfield in solidarity with Paris was conceived by Artistic Director Peter Walker as part of the ongoing visual arts programme.
Artist Peter Walker says" We have been honoured to have the presence of Canon Bascoul to come and witness the artwork. It was my intention for a long time since seeing the tragic fire at Notre-Dame to develop a large-scale project which focused people’s attention on the commonality between the work of artists on the Gothic Cathedral in Paris over the centuries and that of artists and crafts people here in England. This contemporary installation does that justice."
The opening night of The Cathedral Illuminated saw over two thousand visitors to Lichfield Cathedral, with visitors complimenting the show and how it brings people together.