From Friday 3 January - Saturday 15 February we had artist Luke Jerram's Museum of the Moon installation in the Nave of the Cathedral. The moon has brought thousands of visitors through the doors of the Cathedral to experience its wonderful glow. We loved seeing all the fantastic photos and videos that visitors tagged us in on social media. 

Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon featured 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. It included surround sound compisition created by BAFTA and IVor Novello award winning composer Dan Jones.

The programme around the moon included special tours, talks, evening pilgrimages, choir concerts, school events, and a inflatable planetarium. Highlights included our sold out jazz concert and a Candlemas service under the moon.

With the moon finally departing over the weekend, Elouise Wathen, Events and Visitor Experience Executive at the Cathedral, reflects on the success and fantastic events and services we had around the moon.

"After parting ways with Luke Jerram's installation over the weekend, it has given me time to reflect on what an incredible 6 weeks we’ve had to start 2025 off. It is not every day you get to walk in to work and sit and absorb the energy being brought to the Cathedral by all ages and communities all being drawn together by the magnetism and pull of the moon.

Elouise Wathen poses in front of the moon - an image that made The Times newspaper, photo credit Toby Shepheard

Watching people sit in awe and connect more intimately with something that we all see every day and feel so closely connected too, yet is millions of miles away has truly been a gift. One gift of many that The Museum of the Moon has brought to us here at St Albans Cathedral. Another gift this moon has brought us was the ability to produce an extensive and broad program of events which included bringing back some of our well-known companies and choirs to working closely with local businesses such as Noisemakers, Sound baths under the moon with Wellness with Steph and yoga classes with Ali Parker. All of which sold out incredibly fast!

Jazz under the Moonlight - sold out concert

Not only did we get to work with local businesses and help support each other but we also got to work with local amateur dramatics company St Albans Musical Theatre, bringing the moon into a completely different element. It’s also been a joy to see the younger generation coming in with the education department and adult learning bringing in some eye opening and thought-provoking talks.

Sound bath under the moon - event by Wellness with Steph

Our final event Interstellar 10 performed by Roger Sayer which was a complete sell out offered a breath taking immersive experience of music and the moons cosmic allure. It was truly a spectacular event to bring the moon to a close with.

The energy and buzz this moon has brought to our day to day life in the Cathedral has been extraordinary and very evident in a multiple sell out events throughout the six weeks. It’s been amazing to see the Cathedral buzzing with energy, and it’s been a privilege to open our doors to both loyal and new visitors. This project has allowed us to present the Cathedral in a fresh and dynamic way, inviting people to experience this sacred space from a completely new perspective."

Look out for our next big installations coming to the Cathedral soon.

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