Chester Cathedral is honoured to host Peace Doves, an extraordinary installation artwork by internationally acclaimed sculptor Peter Walker. This impactful installation, featuring thousands of paper doves decorated with messages of peace.

Peace Doves is a large-scale artwork inviting communities to reflect on the values of peace, unity, and harmony. Each dove carries a unique message, written by visitors, schoolchildren, and community groups, and together they form a breathtaking installation that offers a serene space for contemplation and hope. Bathed in gentle, evocative lighting and accompanied by an original score by David Harper, the exhibit transforms the venue into a sanctuary of quiet reflection.

Bringing Peace to Our Community:
Local community members, schoolchildren, and various groups are invited to participate in decorating their own paper doves, adding their messages of peace and personal reflections. This unique opportunity enables participants to engage with art as a means of expression, contributing their voices to the collective work. Chester Cathedral also encourages schools and community groups to create their own smaller Peace Doves displays, bringing the project’s message of unity and tranquility into classrooms and community spaces.

Creed: a formal statement of beliefs.

But who writes them? And how do we put into words what we believe in?

In the year that we mark 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea – one of the most influential and widespread declarations of Christian faith in 325AD - explore the treasures in the collections of Chester Cathedral and friends in this engaging exhibition to discover how ‘creeds’ have been expressed through the centuries.

On display in the Cathedral Library and North Quire Aisle between 1 May – 19 September.

Visitor access to the Exhibition Library is available on some Tuesdays during the exhibition run - check the website before planning a visit. We aim to publish Library opening times with two weeks' notice.

On 25 May 2020 George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis sparking global protests calling for racial justice. Five years on, what if anything has changed in the church and wider society?

What could peace look like in terms of racial justice? To explore these questions and more, join an expert panel under the Peace Doves, including:

Canon Theologian Chine McDonald (author of 'God is not a white man')

Chester Diocese's Racial Justice Officer, Nadene Wright

Liverpool Diocese's Director of Social Justice, Canon Dr Ellen Loudon (author of '12 Rules for Christian Activists')

Canon Theologian, Dr Ben Fulford, Deputy Head of Humanities, Cultures and Environment at the University of Chester

An evening of poetry on the theme of peace under Peter Walker’s stunning Peace Doves installation in the Cathedral’s South Transept. With award-winning guest poet, Imtiaz Dharker, and contributions from local poets who have taken part in recent workshops.

Enjoy an enchanting evening at Chester Cathedral as three British-born musicians come together, taking you on a journey of Indian classical music at the Cathedral.

Jugalbandi, meaning 'tied together', describes how two different musicians communicate without words in playful competition and collaboration.

Set exclusively against the backdrop of Chester's most iconic building and underneath Peter Walker's stunning Peace Doves installation, immerse yourself with the enticing melodies of internationally renowned sitarist Akash Parekar, accompanied by Sandeep Singh Kandola and Harkiran Sahota as they give their solo performances before coming together for a dynamic ending. Their soul-stirring performances bridge the gap between old traditions and the new.

Concession rates are available for students and seniors for £10 per ticket. Children under 16 attend for free. To book concession or child tickets, please call the box office on 01244 500 959

It is 200 years since the first intercity train carried passengers, in this year of Railway200, what better way to celebrate than with another year of Making Tracks with Pete Waterman OBE and the Railnuts.

In honour of Railway200, you will see a variety of trains from the 1820s to the present day

This year’s model railway is 64 feet long with the route going from Bushey to Wembley Central.

Come along and see if you can spot all the hidden details and even have a go at driving the trains for yourself.

Making Tracks V runs from Thursday 24 July until Saturday 30 August. Opening hours Monday to Saturday from 10am – 4pm.