A throng of 10,000 paper angels will be looking down from on high in Ripon Cathedral early next month.
When the doors of the cathedral closed in March due to Covid-19, its development team was tasked with creating a new project to support the community during lockdown.
This led to the Wing and a Prayer initiative, which was run in partnership with Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).
With the cathedral out of bounds, even for private prayer for many weeks, the project enabled people to pray for loved ones and key workers by sending prayers online through the cathedral website.
The prayers were then said by the cathedral’s priests during online services.
Phase two of project saw the creation of thousands of origami angels to reflect the prayers offered.
The final phase will see the creation of an awe-inspiring art installation of the angels that will fly over the nave of the cathedral. Its aim – to inspire quiet reflection and contemplation during these challenging times.
Donations to the appeal have raised more than £130,000, which will be shared between the cathedral and YAA.
The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson, said:
“We never anticipated that this project would capture the imagination of people right across the region in the way that it has.”
Yorkshire Air Ambulance has raised valuable funds through the Wing and A Prayer project (Photograph courtesy of Yorkshire Air Ambulance)
“The thousands of angels speak of gratitude and prayer; adorning the wonderful space that is the nave of Ripon Cathedral. They will be a spectacular arrangement of beauty for all, and an expression of praise for the faithful.”
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YAA and the cathedral appealed for volunteers to help create the angels and within four weeks they had been made.
The volunteers, whose ages range from three to 90 – all live in the area covered by YAA. A number of schools also became involved with making the angels.
Volunteers are now invited to come to the cathedral to help with the preparation of the angels ready for hanging from Monday. They will be attached to a large net that will be fixed in place high across the nave.
The installation will be in place during August and September. Further details are available on the cathedral’s website.