Sheffield Cathedral set to launch in to space

Sheffield Cathedral dates back to the 1400’s and is the oldest building in Sheffield in continuous daily use.

The previous event, The Angels are Coming in December, received rave reviews as more than 11,500 people visited Sheffield Cathedral over five nights.

The latest event, launched on Friday, March 13 called The Observatory, takes visitors to the edge of the universe and back as incredible illuminations will be projected onto the architecture of the Cathedral to reveal an array of stars and planets.

The show includes original footage of the first moon landing in 1969, you can experience ‘walking on Mars’ and contemplate the creation story and the Big Bang theory.

The Reverend Canon Keith Farrow, Vice Dean and Canon Missioner of Sheffield Cathedral said: “Ancient churches would at one time have been brightly painted and coloured on the interior and the images would have told people the stories of faith and depictions of events in the bible. Through imaginative and innovative use of sound and light we’re using modern technology to do the same.

“We hope through the experience of travelling through time and space, standing amongst the stars and journeying to the edge of the universe in this amazing place, will give people the chance to contemplate their own personal journey in life. Our strap line is, ‘Sheffield Cathedral, A Place for all People’. We hope The Observatory will introduce many people to this amazing place.”

Sheffield Cathedral has also teamed up with Sheffield Astronomical Society over the eight nights of The Observatory.

Volunteers from Sheffield Astronomical Society will be giving free talks every evening and there will be an interactive engagement area where you will have the chance to gaze into the night sky through powerful telescopes and children will be able to draw pictures of space, rockets and aliens.

The Observatory runs until March 20. Tickets are on sale from the Cathedral website or in person from the Cathedral Gift Shop.